Where were we? Oh, that’s right! Since I last wrote to you all, K-State has continued its winning streak against the Kansas Jayhawks — winning 35-24 on Oct. 17  — and earned its 18th consecutive victory in the Dillons Sunflower Showdown.

I know what you all may be asking: What even is a Jayhawk?

Well, I actually have no idea. What I do know is that it may be time to revisit some of my former opinions and prove why I was right. After all, everyone needs a reminder that I know what I am talking about.

This defense will win championships

I made this argument knowing K-State has an excellent offense when Avery Johnson can put his hair in a messy bun and complete a pass.

This defense, however, continues to show why it may be the most important piece of the Wildcats’ success. It could also prove essential to a second-half push up in the Big 12 standings.

K-State ranks seventh in the 16-team conference in points allowed per game. The Wildcats also rank third in the Big 12 and 18th nationally among Power Four teams in average yards allowed per game.

The defense has done an excellent job limiting points, but its biggest accomplishment might be its work against opposing quarterbacks. Through their first six games, the Wildcats have allowed the fewest passing yards in the nation.

That kind of defensive production can keep a team competitive even when the offense struggles to find its rhythm.

There’s a new steak in town

Rewinding the clock back a few articles, Gabe Powers is still the potatoes. This dude understands his assignment, and with Logan Bartley, the Wildcats have a security blanket they can rely on. Their consistency gives fans a reason to exhale and trust that these players will do their jobs.

On the other side of the plate, Wendell Gregory may not be the steak dinner we were all expecting. In my expert opinion, he’s the bread that starts the meal.

Gregory is the perfect appetizer for this defense. His consistent pressure and ability to force Isaiah Marshall out of the pocket and on the move were gorgeous to watch Saturday. Gregory has not lost his medium-rare ribeye status, but the title now belongs to Nick McClellan.

McClellan recorded two tackles for loss and a pass deflection, establishing his presence on the defensive side of the ball.

The true freshman could be a diamond in the rough for a K-State secondary that needs young players to step up. McClellan needed an opportunity to prove himself on game day, and his performance against Kansas offered a glimpse of what he could become.

If he builds on that performance, McClellan could emerge as a major contributor in the Wildcats’ defensive backfield. It is too early to predict his place on the depth chart by season’s end, let alone his NFL future, but the potential is there.

Injury problem? Linkon is still the cure

K-State’s sophomore tight end Linkon Cure got the opportunity many K-State fans had been waiting for after the coaching staff ruled Garrett Oakley out for the Sunflower Showdown following a game-time decision.

Cure finished with 16 receiving yards on two catches and three targets, but a costly fumble dampened his performance Saturday. The issue wasn’t that Cure failed to catch the ball. It was that the play-calling did not seem to feature him enough.

With how the offense is set up, Johnson has relied heavily on play-action throughout his career, and that approach makes sense for a run-heavy offense. However, it may be time for the Wildcats to direct more passing opportunities to their former five-star tight end.

Cure’s limited production raises a question about opportunity. With a banged-up group of wide receivers and tight ends, could giving him more targets help ease the burden on the rest of the receiving corps?

Now that he has a top of the depth chart role, Cure could become a more prominent option in the passing game. More opportunities would let him prove it, especially if K-State needs another reliable target in the middle of the field.

The Verdict

With head coach Collin Klein saying Oakley’s return is “probably unlikely, but we’ll see” while describing the situation as “day to day,” K-State may need Cure to take on a larger role at tight end.

Cure and McClellan are two young players who have opportunities to make their marks as the season progresses. Their recent performances and increased opportunities could make them important pieces of the Wildcats’ second-half push.

Expect these two to bring extra juice against Arizona State, who have allowed the third-most yards per game in the Big 12.

The Wildcats need their defense to keep setting the tone, and they need young playmakers to turn opportunities into production. If McClellan continues to develop and Cure becomes a bigger part of the passing game, K-State could have the pieces to make a stronger push in the conference standings.

And if the defense keeps playing at this level, I might have to remind you all one more time — I told you so.