Kansas State Reaches Bowl Eligibility Amid Disappointing Season

Well, Kansas State took down the Colorado Buffaloes 24-14 on Saturday to cap off the regular season at 6-6. That’s not really a shock to anyone who’s followed the Big 12 this year, but for K-State barely scraping bowl eligibility in a year they were expected to be a College Football Playoff contender? That’s not great.

It was a turbulent season for the Wildcats, which started overseas in Dublin, Ireland, and ended in Manhattan, Kansas. They dealt with key injuries on both sides of the ball, Dylan Edwards leaving the program mid-season, and even a fist-fight involving their star player’s family members. All of that aside, the one question that persists is whether it’s time for new voices in the room.

K-State would be ridiculous to try and fire Chris Klieman. He’s been an incredible coach throughout his seven years with the program and led the group into a new era post-Bill Snyder. Still, with multiple health scares, inconsistent play, and a program that just genuinely looks defeated, it wouldn’t be the most shocking thing to see him reevaluate how long he wants to continue coaching.

Another element of all of this stems from Collin Klein. Like it or not, Kansas State has had its eyes on Klein as the next head coach since he left Manhattan in 2023 for Texas A&M. Since then, he’s become one of the hottest names on the coaching market, and with this cycle featuring a record number of job openings, it’s safe to assume Klein will end up elsewhere.

What’s next for Kansas State? It’s tricky to say. The program enters an interesting era, which could either be simply chalked up as a down year or something much bigger. A low-end bowl game, significant roster turnover, and one of the most disappointing seasons in K-State history are all ahead for the Wildcats, and it’s up to Gene Taylor and Chris Klieman to try and keep the ship on course.