K-State has completed a perfect 3-0 start to nonconference play and created an electric offensive scheme that could be feared across the Big 12.
How good has this Wildcat defense been?
Going into Tulane, K-State ranked third nationally in points allowed (five per game) and second in yards allowed (144 per game).
After Saturday’s game, the Wildcats saw a slight drop-off — allowing an average of 10 points per game and ranking 12th nationally — but still ranked third in the Big 12 and second nationally in total defense.
The comparison becomes even more interesting when looking back at K-State’s 2022 Big 12 championship season. The Wildcats finished third in the conference in points allowed per game, while TCU ranked sixth. Despite TCU leading the conference in scoring offense, K-State’s defense helped the Wildcats win the Big 12 Championship.
https://x.com/CFBONFOX/status/1599147651018420224?s=20
The Wildcats may not win on paper. Luckily, they play on a football field.
K-State has paired a defense that has played remarkably sound football with an offense capable of producing at a high level.
Last week, Greg Luca of the San Antonio Express-News, the only AP Top 25 voter who ranked K-State, said the Wildcats “may have to get in as a conference champion” if they want a bid to their first College Football Playoff.
Based on recent Big 12 history, that path may not be as far-fetched as it sounds. Every Big 12 champion since 2020, except the 2020 Oklahoma Sooners who won behind the offensive talent of Jalen Hurts and CeeDee Lamb, has had a defense ranked among the conference’s top three in points allowed per game. K-State’s current defense, featuring players with NFL potential, fits that profile.
If Collin Klein and the Wildcats reach the College Football Playoff, the numbers suggest they could compete with the nation’s best. Since the College Football Playoff’s creation, every national champion except one has ranked first in defensive points allowed per game. The exception was the 2025 Indiana Hoosiers, who ranked second.
We could make 2025 Indiana comparisons for a while and discuss how similar these two teams may be. But that’s a conversation for next week. Until then, let’s trade the numbers for a steak dinner.
Why can’t you have a steak dinner without the potatoes?
If we sat down at a nice steakhouse, we could break down K-State’s defense into a plate of food.
Wendell Gregory is obviously your 16-ounce ribeye. He’s no Felix Anudike-Uzomah, your filet mignon, but Gregory is the guy who gets the job done in the trenches. Each week, the trenches are one of the biggest storylines. Gregory has answered that question with defensive-line dominance, tying for third in the conference with 2.5 sacks. He’s your medium-rare steak — the one we all hope doesn’t stay on the grill too long, get burned and taste terrible by the end of the season.
Following your steak is your beverage, there to fall back on in case the main course makes you choke.
Koy Beasley has become a familiar name on Saturdays at Bill Snyder Family Stadium for his consistent tackling in the secondary. I have never been a fan of a safety leading a team in tackles, as, in theory, a last line of defense working overtime means the players in front of him have failed. But Beasley is someone K-State can count on.
He flows like water on the field, filling gaps and making the game look fluid.
Finally, it’s time for the potatoes — the true star of the meal.
Imagine you’re at Texas Roadhouse. A small child has whipped his napkin around on the saddle because it’s his birthday. The food finally arrives, but there’s a catch — your steak isn’t cooked right.
You send it back, but you keep the potatoes, which save the meal and keep the whole experience enjoyable. Those potatoes go by the name of Gabe Powers.
Powers said he was “mad at himself” after Saturday’s performance, even though he finished with four tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and a forced fumble. Klein made it clear after the Tulane game that Powers’ impact goes beyond the stat sheet.
“There’s a mentality,” Klein said. “His football IQ is elite, his process speed is elite and his communication is elite. I couldn’t be more proud of him.”
When a head coach speaks that highly of a player, his leadership should not be overlooked. Wildcat fans should keep an eye on No. 35.
The verdict
If Powers and the K-State defense continue to play at this level, the Wildcats could find themselves in the middle of another Big 12 championship battle and potentially fighting for the right to play for a national championship.
