4 Reasons Kansas State Wildcats Football Will Win Big 12

Just a few groups are nonetheless in rivalry for the Massive 12 soccer championship in 2022. With three weeks left within the common season, any mixture of Baylor, Kansas, Ok-State, TCU, Texas, and Oklahoma State might win a spot within the convention title sport. The 2 fortunate groups will then face off on December 3 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Out of all these groups, TCU at present carries one of the best document. Nevertheless, we really feel that it’s the Kansas State Wildcats who will finally win the Massive 12 championship. Right here we are going to talk about the 4 the explanation why Kansas State Wildcats soccer will win the Massive 12 title over Texas and TCU.

4. Kansas State is in a fantastic spot after beating Baylor

Earlier than this weekend, it positive appeared just like the Wildcats not had any management of their destiny when it comes to the league title race. That modified in an enormous method after they beat Baylor and after Texas misplaced right this moment.

Ok-State mainly wanted to beat Baylor and go on to brush its final two video games. If the Wildcats can pull that off, then they need to be off to Arlington to face the Horned Frogs for all of the Massive 12 marbles.

The Kansas State victory over the Bears actually put the Wildcats in place to compete within the Massive 12 title sport. By defeating Baylor, the Wildcats clinched at the very least a tie for second place within the standings. The Wildcats are actually a full sport forward of the Bears, and so they personal the head-to-head tiebreaker. Texas’ loss to TCU additionally put the Wildcats forward of the Longhorns. Nevertheless, the Wildcats must beat each West Virginia (2-5) and Kansas (3-4) to keep away from any tiebreaker problems with Texas. Keep in mind that Kansas State soccer misplaced to the Longhorns final week, 34-27.

Nonetheless, all issues thought-about, Ok-State is within the spot they need heading into their final two video games. They’re favored in each, and they need to prevail.

3. Rock-solid protection

Kansas State soccer’s protection got here to play in opposition to Baylor this weekend.

Recall that after their opening drive acquired halted by the Bears, Kansas State managed to cease Baylor within the crimson zone. That was thanks primarily to 1 Kobe Savage.

Take be aware that Baylor was capable of transfer down the sphere and into the crimson zone. That was when a Blake Shapen ball deflected off the fingers of tight finish Ben Sims and proper to a ready Savage, who acquired his third interception of the season.

That turnover not solely resulted in a 97-yard Ok-State drive that broke a scoreless tie, nevertheless it additionally sucked the wind out of Baylor’s sails. The Bears punted on their subsequent two possessions, finally giving the Wildcats a 17-0 lead.

Regardless of an 11-play drive on the conclusion of the half, the Bears additionally needed to accept a 37-yard discipline objective by John Mayers as time expired.

Baylor was subsequently stopped on its first 4 drives of the second half. They have been stopped on downs 3 times and as soon as pressured to punt. By the sport’s finish, Kansas State restricted the Baylor offense to a complete of simply 306 yards.

Bear in mind that other than Savage, Ok-State additionally has Felix Anudike-Uzomah, who leads the Massive 12 in sacks (7.5). It’s that sort of protection that can assist the Wildcats clinch the Massive 12 title.

2. RB Deuce Vaughn is elite

In current weeks, Kansas State soccer has discovered Deuce Vaughn as a receiver. That has allowed him to remain efficient even when groups load the field and attempt to cease the run.

Vaughn is a 5’6 junior from Spherical Rock, Texas who’s high 4 within the Massive 12 in speeding yards with 1,081 complete. Which means he averages 108.1 speeding yards per sport.

In right this moment’s sport in opposition to Baylor, it positive appeared just like the Bears have been unaware of simply how good Vaughn is. Consequently, he completely destroyed Baylor. Vaughn rushed for 106 yards on 25 makes an attempt for a 4.2 common. He additionally had eight receptions for 50 yards and one landing. He did no matter he wished, and Baylor clearly didn’t know methods to cease him.

What makes Vaughn nice is how he can damage opponents on the bottom and thru the air. He arguably does that higher than different elite Massive 12 RBs like Kendre Miller and Eric Grey.

1. QBs pushing one another to excel

Incumbent starter Adrian Martinez returned to play right this moment, however he appeared to injure his knee on a 1-yard quarterback sneak for a primary down early in Kansas State soccer’s preliminary drive.

Tremendous sub Will Howard then got here in and finally led a 12-play, 97-yard scoring drive within the second quarter. At 5:57 left within the first half, Howard additionally led the Wildcats on one other drive that resulted in a discipline objective for a 10-0 lead.

Even when we’re speaking a few comparatively small pattern dimension, Kansas State has appeared like an completely robust soccer workforce at any time when Howard is within the pocket.

The junior quarterback led the Wildcats to their large 31-3 victory over Baylor and enabled the workforce to reclaim management of its Massive 12 destiny. Keep in mind that he was additionally the beginning quarterback when Kansas State defeated Oklahoma State, 48-0, a number of weeks earlier.

Are these coincidences? We don’t suppose so.

Does this imply the Wildcats ought to fully bench Martinez in favor of Howard? Not essentially… but.

Head coach Chris Klieman has gone on to say that each Howard and Martinez are in terrific form. He feels snug and content material to start out both quarterback. As issues stand, although, except Martinez is injured, Howard would be the backup.

This can be a “joyful drawback” to have for Kansa State since these two QBs clearly push one another to excel. It additionally makes all of them the harder to scout and put together for. That may solely result in constructive outcomes for this offense as they look forward to their final two common season assignments.