In this episode of Three Maw, hosts John Kurtz, Derek Young, and Cole Manbeck address mounting injury concerns on Kansas State’s offensive line following recent open practices. With key contributors like John Pastor, Tanner Morley, and George Fitzpatrick missing time, true freshman Oliver Miller and redshirt freshman Dylan Villarouel are stepping into critical roles. Despite the sudden loss of power-four playing experience, the crew highlights the raw athletic upside of the young unit, the adaptability of offensive coordinator Collin Klein, and the mobility of quarterback Avery Johnson as key factors that will help navigate the early-season transition.
The episode then shifts to completing the team’s 2026 schedule preview for the final four games of the season. First, K-State hosts an explosive Oklahoma State squad led by new head coach Eric Morris and transfer quarterback Drew Mestemaker. While Oklahoma State brings a high-powered passing attack, all three hosts predict a Wildcat victory in a high-scoring shootout at home.
Next, K-State travels to Fort Worth to take on TCU. Despite off-field locker room turmoil at TCU, Cole and Derek predict a road loss for K-State due to offensive line depth concerns, while John projects a Wildcat win. The team returns home to face Noah Fifita and Arizona on November 21, where the hosts unanimously predict a K-State victory over the Arizona Wildcats in a cold-weather Manhattan environment.
Finally, the season concludes in Ames against Jimmy Rogers and Iowa State, with the crew projecting a physical, low-scoring Wildcat road win to close out the regular season.
Three Key Takeaways
Young Offensive Line Steps Up: Injuries to veterans like John Pastore have forced true freshman Oliver Miller and Dylan Villarouel into starting contention, shifting the unit from a veteran group to a high-upside, high-ceiling rotation.
Avery Johnson’s Playmaking Mandate: With a restructured offensive line, Collin Klein’s offense will rely more heavily on Avery Johnson’s mobility, instinctual running, and rollout passing concepts to mitigate pass-rush pressure.
Strong Home-Field Advantage Down the Stretch: The hosts view late-season home games against Oklahoma State and Arizona as prime opportunities for K-State to secure crucial conference wins, even as road trips to Fort Worth and Cincinnati present potential trap spots.
This recap was produced in part by AI.