Kansas State has one final chance to become bowl eligible. That’s Saturday against visiting Colorado.
The Wildcats have tremendous motivation to defeat Colorado and become bowl eligible. K-State has never won three straight bowl games, something that could be in play with a win over the Buffaloes as a starting point.
Another goal: K-State hasn’t had four consecutive Big 12 seasons with a winning record since 2011 to 2014. A win over Colorado would improve the Wildcats’ conference record to 5-4.
“We’ve got to try and win for these seniors,” K-State coach Chris Klieman said at a news conference this week.
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“I’ve been a part of it and have seen it where you don’t win your Senior Day game, and that’s a tough locker room.
“Been a part of it where you win that game, whether it’s the last game of the season or not, and that lasting effect for those kids to be on the field and come into the locker room where they’ve spent so much time with some euphoria of winning the game is something special.”
Last Saturday, 13th-ranked Utah outscored the Wildcats, 30-16 in the second half, and scored the final 16 points of the game in the final seven minutes to take the victory. Final score: Utah 51, Kansas State 47.
Kansas State is 5-6, 4-4 Big 12. Colorado is 3-8, 1-7. Kickoff is 11 a.m. CT. K-State is a 17.5-point favorite.
For every game, we will give you three reasons the Wildcats will win, and three reasons they won’t.
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In a season gone sideways, the Wildcats have plenty to play for, as mentioned above. K-State started the season ranked 17th in the AP Top 25 Preseason Poll. Ambitions ran high, with a possible Big 12 title game berth, a shot at the College Football Playoff.
That’s all gone, but K-State has plenty to play for, and before a big home crowd Saturday, the Wildcats will get the job done.
The sophomore running back was awesome against Utah. He rushed for 293 yards, a school record, on 24 carries. He had touchdown runs of 66, 80 and 24 yards. He was named the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week, and the Wildcats’ offensive line was named the Big 12’s offensive line of the week by the conference.
“It was next level,” Klieman said. “It was something that hadn’t been done to that group at Utah for a long, long time.”
Jackson broke the school record, by one yard, owned by Darren Sproles against Louisiana in 2004. Sproles is elite company.
The Wildcats rushed for a school-record 472 yards, the most by a Division I team in a losing effort since Army ran for 534 against North Texas in a 52-49 loss on Nov. 18, 2017.
K-State is tied among Power 4 teams with seven one-score games. But the Wildcats have only won two of them. Last season, the Wildcats won 4-of-6 one-score games.
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When these teams met last season at Boulder, K-State scored on a 50-yard touchdown pass from Avery Johnson to Jayce Brown with 2:14 to play. Then, the defense stopped the Buffaloes for a 31-28 victory.
K-State has fresh memories of last season’s thrilling victory. Those emotions, plus superior talent should carry the Wildcats to victory.
Colorado was 9-4 in 2024, as Deion Sanders hype overtook the nation. This year, with quarterback Shedeur Sanders and Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter in the NFL, it’s back to reality for the Buffaloes. And a hard reality it is.
Colorado is coming off a 42-17 loss to defending Big 12 champion Arizona State.
The Buffaloes have lost 6-of-7 games, the only win over No. 22 Iowa State, 24-17. Iowa State has had a rough second half of its season but the Buffaloes’ win shows they still have the capacity to pull an upset.
Colorado will start Kaidon Salter, who was the starter at the beginning of the season. Julian Lewis started the last two games but he decided to take a redshirt.
Switching quarterbacks to one with less experience often is asking for trouble. In Salter, the Buffaloes have a seasoned hand at the position.
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Colorado quarterback Kaidon Salter will start against K-State after not starting the last two games. / Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
Salter has thrown for 1,242 yards, 10 touchdowns and six interceptions. He has completed 113-of-178 passes (63.1 percent). He provides a threat to run the ball, too. He is the Buffaloes’ second-leading rusher with 293 yards and has the most rushing touchdowns with five.
Sanders is known as a master motivator. It’s Colorado’s final game of a lost season. Deion will pull out every motivational tactic he has gathered over a two-sport career in the NFL and Major League Baseball.
Maybe the Buffaloes can keep the score close in the second half and come out blazing in the season half.
The winner: Kansas State should be too much for a struggling Colorado team. K-State 34, Colorado 17.
Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-GAMBLER.
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The No. 1 Arizona Wildcats play against the Kansas State Wildcats in a Big 12 basketball game tonight. The matchup is scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. CT on FS1. Fans can watch this game for free online by using the free trial offered by DirecTV. Alternatively, fans can purchase a monthly subscription offered by Fubo TV/Sling.
The Arizona squad has played at a high level this season, as it enters this matchup with a 14-0 record. The team is coming off a 97-78 win against the Utah Utes.
In order to win tonight’s game, Arizona will need to rely on its forward Koa Peat. He leads the team in scoring this season, as he averages more than 14 points per game.
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The Kansas State squad enters this matchup with a 9-5 record, but the team is coming off an 83-73 loss against BYU.
In order to bounce back tonight, Kansas State will need a great performance from its guard P.J. Haggerty. He averages 23 points per game, which leads the team.
Fans can watch this Big 12 basketball game for free online by using the free trial offered by DirecTV. Alternatively, fans can purchase a monthly subscription offered by Fubo TV/Sling.
LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Darryn Peterson scored 32 points, including three crucial free throws in regulation to tie the game, and No. 22 Kansas erased a double-digit deficit to outlast TCU 104-100 in overtime on Tuesday night.
Kansas (11-4, 1-1 Big 12) trailed by 16 points midway through the second half, but cut the TCU lead to three with 34 seconds left in regulation.
The Jayhawks’ next trip down the court was fruitless, leading to a foul and two free throws by TCU’s Liutauras Lelevicius. Kansas’ Flory Bidunga cut the lead back to three on a tip in with just over six seconds remaining.
After a turnover on the ensuing TCU inbounds play, the Jayhawks got the ball to Peterson, who drew a foul beyond the arc and knocked down all three free throws to tie the game at the end of regulation.
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Kansas held the lead throughout overtime and ultimately secured the game at the free-throw line, converting 9 of 11. TCU (11-4, 1-1) went 2 for 4 in the same frame. Kansas guard Melvin Council Jr. scored nine of his 18 points during overtime.
Lelevicius led the Horned Frogs with a career-high 23 points. He shot 7 for 9 and hit five 3-pointers, another career high. He entered the game averaging just 8.5 points per game and shooting 35.8% from 3-point range.
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Lelevicius outscored sophomore David Punch, who recorded his 10th consecutive double-digit performance with 20 points. He also pulled down a team-high nine rebounds.
Tre White and Bidunga also finished in double figures for the Jayhawks, recording 22 and 16, respectively.
Up next
Kansas: Plays at West Virginia on Saturday.
TCU: Hosts Arizona on Saturday.
Find more TCU coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.
Kansas State football’s transfer portal needs, what to know
K-State reporter Wyatt Wheeler breaks down the Wildcats’ needs and key information ahead of the transfer portal window opening.
MANHATTAN — Right when you thought Kansas State football might be done for the day, the Wildcats landed a seventh commitment from the transfer portal on Monday, Jan. 5.
Gardner-Webb defensive tackle De’Arieun Hicks committed to K-State, according to On3’s Pete Nakos. The 6-foot-4, 285-pounder has three years of eligibility and totaled 21 tackles, with 4.5 being for a loss in 2025.
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Hicks reportedly had a visit to Iowa State on Monday, after spending Jan. 3 with the Wildcats, and he chose to play football in Manhattan.
Hicks was a standout for the FCS program out of the Big South, playing 373 snaps and making four starts on the Runnin’ Bulldogs’ defensive line. He was the Big South’s sixth-highest graded defensive lineman, according to Pro Football Focus, with the league’s 12th-best pass rush grade.
Hicks totaled 10 pressures, with seven quarterback hurries and a pair of sacks across 12 games.
Out of high school in Richmond, Indiana, Hicks wasn’t given a grade by 247Sports.
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Kansas State was in desperate need of defensive linemen from the transfer portal following the departures of Malcolm Alcorn-Crowder and Andy Burburija, the latter of whom reopened his recruitment after initially signing with the Wildcats. The Wildcats also signed Adrian Bekibele, Kingston Hall and Carnell Jackson Jr. during December’s signing period.
Hicks’ size is certainly appealing, giving the Wildcats a solid prospect to develop. Given the Wildcats’ need at the position, Hicks could have an opportunity to get on the field quickly.
Hicks joins Oklahoma State running back Rodney Fields Jr., Texas A&M receiver Izaiah Williams, Illinois corner Kaleb Patterson, Oklahoma State linebacker Jacobi Oliphant, Miami (Ohio) safety Koy Beasley and Missouri offensive lineman Keiton Jones as those who committed to the Wildcats on Monday.
Wyatt D. Wheeler covers Kansas State athletics for the USA TODAY Network and Topeka Capital-Journal. You can follow him on X at @WyattWheeler_, contact him at 417-371-6987 or email him at wwheeler@usatodayco.com
