The Kansas State Wildcats wrapped up last season with a 9–4 overall record and a 5–4 mark in Big 12 play. They completed it with a loud 44–41 victory over Rutgers in the Rate Bowl, powered by a spread offence and a disciplined 3–3–5 defence that averaged 30.8 points per game and allowed 23.4. That ranked in the top half nationally for both scoring and defensive efficiency. All of this sets high expectations for 2025. Let’s see how those expectations are playing out in 2025 in this article.
Resilient Midseason Turnaround
Kansas State Wildcats odds are increasing at the perfect time of the season. They have beaten three of their last four, including victories over UCF 34–20, TCU 41–28, and Kansas 42–17, and fell short against Baylor 35–34. Those wins give them a 4–4 record and improve their standing in Big 12 play. ESPN Analytics projects an 86.1% likelihood of bowl eligibility, which would support the team advancing to the postseason.
Offensive Coordinator Matt Wells settled the spread attack as he fine-tuned timing and restricted turnovers. The quarterback play was more consistent; the running game provided scoring opportunities. The Wildcats have adopted adaptive alignment, such as the 3 3–5 and 4–2 5 that can keep pace with fast teams. They quieted down opponents, allowing fewer big plays, while pressuring quarterbacks. The defense-offense ratio so far has helped Kansas State win close games and build momentum as it enters November.
Road Struggles
Although Kansas State is in the hunt to stay relevant in the playoff race, a number of early-season games revealed issues. The Wildcats lost their opener against Iowa State in Dublin and narrowly beat North Dakota 38–35 in Week 2. That was followed by a 24–21 home loss to Army, after they surrendered a 13-point lead. Those games highlighted the struggling areas in turnovers, missed tackles, and closing out tight games. They also had a close defeat to Arizona in Week 4 as the Wildcats fell 31–28 after allowing a late touchdown in the fourth quarter.
On the road, they have overcome crowd noise, travel fatigue, and slow starts that put them in holes early. The defeat to Iowa State was a culmination of special teams mistakes and missed red-zone opportunities, continuously burying their comeback hopes. Breakdowns on defense with minutes remaining led to the winning score in the game against Arizona. With these performances on the road, focus and execution in pressure situations have been exacerbated in subsequent away games planned in November.
Defensive Struggles
The Kansas State defense has not fared very well against quick offenses this year. In numerous ball games, they allowed big plays on the offensive side in the fourth quarter of games. The Wildcats lost their leads against Army and Arizona because of missed tackles or because they didn’t react quickly enough. They have also been really poor at pass coverage, with far too many passing yards allowed. Even with the 3 3–5 and 4 2–5 defensive formations that would be strong, they have had trouble with quick passes and deep throws.
Another problem is depth. Kansas State lost key defenders like Brendan Mott, Jacob Parrish, and Marques Sigle. While coaches say the unit is still strong, the lack of experienced backups has shown in high-pressure moments. This can eventually increase the workload on starters. With fewer reliable backups, the key players are staying on the field longer, especially in close games. And that not only wears them down physically, but it also increases the possibility of mental mistakes late in games.
High-Stakes November Matchups
The Wildcats are bracing for a demanding final month of the regular season, with four crucial games that could define their postseason fate. Kansas State opens November at home against No. 13 Texas Tech on Saturday, Nov. 1, in a high-stakes Big 12 clash at Bill Snyder Family Stadium. Road challenges follow, starting with Oklahoma State on Nov. 15 and a tough Pac-12 test at No. 24 Utah on Nov. 23. The Wildcats return home to host Colorado on Nov. 30, a matchup that could determine bowl eligibility as Kansas State pushes for the six-win mark.