There was no doubt that senior Chris Tennant was going to make the 51-yard game-winning field goal.

At least no doubt within the confines of No. 16 Kansas State football’s sideline. 

“The last month of watching Chris Tennant, I knew that was going in,” head coach Chris Klieman said. “I had no doubt in my mind, there was nobody on our sideline that had any doubt because for one month that kid had done nothing at practice but drill the football.”

K-State extended its winning streak over rival Kansas to 16 consecutive games, winning 29-27 at Bill Snyder Family Stadium. K-State, 7-1 and 4-1 in the Big 12 Conference, preserved the streak and its hopes for a Big 12 title game berth. 

“Honestly, I hated to have somebody lose that football game,” Klieman said. “I know how much it would have meant to KU and I know how much it would have meant to [head coach Lance Leipold].”

With a fourth-quarter lead for the second straight year, Kansas appeared to finally snap its losing streak in the Sunflower Showdown. However, Jayhawk quarterback Jalon Daniels, who has struggled to protect the football this season, gave the Wildcats the chance they needed with his second turnover of the game. 

Sophomore linebacker Austin Romaine forced a fumble on Daniels with 3:44 left on the clock, stopping Kansas from having a chance to put the game away. Romaine said it was about “making a play” in that situation and that’s exactly what he did. 

With 1:47 left on the clock, it was Tennant’s time to shine. The senior from Shawnee, Kansas stepped up and tied his career-long field goal to give K-State its 29-27 lead. 

Tennant had a “gut feeling” his number would be called on Saturday night. He said it was hard to put into words what that feeling was like, but he had all of the confidence in the world. 

“First quarter, I knew there was going to be a big kick,” Tennant said. “It’s unexplainable to someone who’s never felt it, but knowing that going into it [the kick] was helpful. … Right when I made contact, I knew it was good.”

In fact, in the moments leading up to the kick, Tennant was preparing his post-make celebration with punter and holder Simon McClannan.

K Chris Tennant on his game-winning 51-yard field goal:

Very insightful response by the senior. pic.twitter.com/jVKae49jb5

— Toby Hammes (@toby_hammes) October 27, 2024

There was still plenty of time left on the clock for the Jayhawks to make their own game-winner but the K-State defense stepped up, pitching a scoreless fourth quarter with backs against the wall. 

Defenders kicked it into high gear and blitzed Daniels relentlessly late, not allowing him to get comfortable and make big plays.

“I was proud of the defense, hats off to [defensive coordinator Joe Klanderman] because he heated them up on that last series,” Klieman said. “We were not going to sit there and let them take it.”

Kansas, which dropped to 2-6 and 1-4, gave K-State fits all night and appeared to play spoiler in a year K-State was a 10-point favorite. 

Sophomore quarterback Avery Johnson went 19-34 passing for 253 yards and two touchdown passes. On the ground, he added 14 rushes for 67 yards and another score despite losing a fumble. 

Junior DJ Giddens and sophomore Dylan Edwards pair with Johnson for a backfield of homegrown Kansas kids. The trio rushed for 226 yards behind an offensive line of majority Kansas natives. 

K-State heads to Houston next Saturday for a 2:30 p.m. kickoff. The Cougars at 3-5 are coming off a win against preseason conference favorite Utah, which struggled mightily in its Big 12 debut.

The Box

No. 16 Kansas State 29, Kansas 27

Kansas (2-6, 1-4) — 7; 7; 13; 0 — 27

K-State (7-1, 4-1) — 0; 16; 7; 6 — 29