2026 K-State Football Schedule Preview: Mid-Season Game Breakdown
A comprehensive game-by-game breakdown of Kansas State's middle schedule stretch, featuring score predictions, opponent roster analysis, and coaching dynamics.
In this episode of 3Maw, hosts John Kurtz, Derek Young, and Cole Manbeck preview the second four-game block of Kansas State’s football schedule. The discussion covers home games against Houston and Kansas, followed by consecutive road trips to Arizona State and Colorado.
The preview opens with a high-stakes matchup against Willie Fritz’s Houston squad. Derek and Cole favor K-State in a tight contest, citing Kansas State’s coaching staff familiarity with Houston quarterback Conner Weigman from Colin Klein’s previous stint at Texas A&M, while John predicts a Houston victory due to Fritz’s historical success against the Wildcats.
Up next is the rivalry game against Kansas. All three hosts project a comfortable Wildcat win, agreeing that despite offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki returning to scheme plays, Kansas lacks the defensive depth and overall firepower to break K-State’s winning streak.
The schedule then shifts to a challenging road trip to Tempe to face Kenny Dillingham’s Arizona State Sun Devils. John and Derek predict an Arizona State victory due to a brutal travel schedule and hostile environment, while Cole picks K-State, citing Arizona State’s grueling early-season schedule that includes a trip to London.
Finally, the stretch concludes with a Halloween road matchup against Deion Sanders and Colorado. Cole and Derek foresee a dominant physical performance by K-State’s offensive line, whereas John picks Colorado in an upset, pointing to the altitude factor, back-to-back road games, and unpredictable game flows.
Key Takeaways
Coaching Staff Intel vs. Houston: K-State’s offensive coaches have direct familiarity with Houston QB Conner Weigman from their time coaching him at Texas A&M, providing a strategic edge despite Willie Fritz’s strong head coaching record.
Kansas Rivalry Dominance Expected to Continue: While KU offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki brings creative scheming, Kansas lacks the defensive personnel and offensive playmakers needed to snap K-State’s long-standing rivalry streak.
Late-October Road Trip Hurdles: Back-to-back road games against Arizona State in Tempe and Colorado in high-altitude Boulder present significant scheduling and environmental traps for the Wildcats during the second half of the season.
This recap was produced in part by AI.