K-State opens Big 12 play tonight in Provo
#13 Kansas State takes on BYU tonight in Provo. It’s the Big 12 opener for both teams. Kickoff is scheduled for 9:30 PM GOTZ and the game will air on ESPN. As always, these details and more can be found in the How To Watch post.
Some fun facts about this matchup:
- BYU will take the field tonight in all-white throwback uniforms for a white-out game. What are they throwing back to? Oh, just their Cotton Bowl victory on January 1, 1997 over Kansas State in the Wildcats’ last Big 8 game. The Cougars were led that day by Steve Sarkisian, but he’s Texas’ problem now, so never mind.
- Why is BYU commemorating that particular game? Well, 2024 is the 100th anniversary of BYU football and the 40th anniversary of the school’s lone national championship. The Cotton Bowl was the last iconic bowl game BYU played in, and since they’re lining up against the same opponent, it only seemed right.
- Classic quote from that particular Cotton Bowl, courtesy of Frank Luska and the Dallas Morning News:
Want to restore the Cotton Bowl to pre-eminence? Make K-State and The Wheat People who follow it the permanent host team. The Wildcats came to play. Their fans came to watch, in record droveBoth schools play in stadiums named after their former Hall of Fame coaches.
- In honor of Bill Snyder, BYU.tv will air a short tribute film titled Revival: the Bill Snyder Story right before the game. (If you haven’t already done so, watch it. Keep the tissues handy).
- Not only is this Kansas State’s latest kickoff in a while (possibly ever?), but our Wildcats haven’t played at altitude since the last time they played Colorado way back in 2010.
- Although Kansas State has never won a game in Provo, the teams have played 8 times beginning in 1957 and are tied 4-4. This is the Cats’ first trip to Provo since 1977.
- Weirdly, this game is not sold out, despite being a night game featuring a ranked opponent. There’s some speculation that ticket prices at BYU are too high.
- This game has “trap” written all over it. If recent history is anything to go by, a road game following a three-game win streak and a lot of positive momentum is usually followed by a Kansas State loss. Let’s hope this is the year that trend goes away.
- Avery Johnson is a good quarterback, but more importantly, he’s also a good person. This week, Avery dedicated the rest of his season to Maize High School’s former principal, Chris Botts, who is fighting cancer. It’s part of a fundraising campaign to raise $20,000 which will be boosted every time Johnson scores a touchdown. More details from Avery himself can be found HERE.
There is a LOT of football to be watched before the Cats play tonight, so sit back and relax and use this as your open thread.
Go Cats!