College & Kimball

Sugar Bowl Recap: Continue the Climb

Kansas State's 2022 season came to a bitter close in the 89th edition of the Sugar Bowl as the Alabama Crimson hammered the Wildcats 45-20. While the loss dropped K-State to 10-4 to close out the year, the Wildcats still finished with a 10-win season and conference championship for the first time since 2012. In this game recap, Jeff Burkhart @jeff_burkhart reviews the buildup to the game against the Crimson Tide, discusses where the game got away from Kansas State, offers thoughts on contributions from some of the individuals who played their final games as Wildcats, and posits where the program is heading into the 2023 offseason. 

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Hey Big 12, Let’s Go Bowling

Still haven't come down from your Big 12 championship high? Good, neither have we. Let's keep those good times rolling. Bowl season is upon us, and the Big 12 has 8 games over the next 10 days. Justin Nutter @JNutter is joined by Calvin Johnson (no, not THAT Calvin Johnson) of the 3 Man Rush podcast to discuss each matchup. If you like what you hear, give Calvin and his crew a follow on Twitter @3manrushfb for more college football coverage.

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Big 12 Championship Recap: Kings

In a game LOADED with drama, Kansas State managed to outlast 3rd-ranked TCU in overtime 31-28 to claim the third Big 12 Championship in program history. The Wildcat defense turned away TCU on a 4th and Goal play in the first overtime period. When the Wildcats took their possession, it was placekicker Ty Zentner who delivered the game-winning 31-yard field goal to lift the Wildcats to the victory. Kansas State's Deuce Vaughn was named the game's most outstanding player after accounting for 160 all-purpose yards and one touchdown. The win gave coach Chris Klieman his first Big 12 Championship as well as his third victory over an AP Top 10 team this season. In this game recap, Jeff Burkhart @jeff_burkhart contextualizes the victory, analyzes key stats and performers on both sides of the ball, discusses this team's standing in K-State Football lore, and offers a few thoughts regarding K-State's bid to play Alabama in the Sugar Bowl.

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GAMEDAY: K-State vs TCU (Part II) [Big 12 Championship]

Kansas State is BACK in the Big 12 Championship game for the first time since 2003! The 10th-ranked Wildcats are geared up for a rematch with the undefeated and 3rd-ranked TCU Horned Frogs, looking to avenge the 38-28 setback it suffered earlier this season and claim the school's third Big 12 title. In this preview episode, Jeff Burkhart @jeff_burkhart and Justin Nutter @JNutter revisit the 'Cats first meeting against the Horned Frogs, discuss how Joe Klanderman's defense will look different in the rematch, ponder what level of involvement Deuce Vaughn will have for the Wildcat offense, project the type of game that results in a Wildcat victory, make their offensive and defensive "picks to pop" for the Wildcats, and offer up score predictions!

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Kansas Recap: On to Bigger Things

Rain showers did not deter the sellout crowd at Bill Snyder Family Stadium as 12th-ranked Kansas State rose to the occasion in its final home game of 2022 by downing Kansas, 47-27. Deuce Vaughn ran for a touchdown and accounted for 229 all-purpose yards, Malik Knowles added two more scores on the ground, and Will Howard tossed touchdown passes to Sammy Wheeler and Phillip Brooks in the victory. The win secured the Governor's Cup for Kansas State, which defeated its in-state rival for the 14th consecutive time. The victory also earned Kansas State a bid to the Big 12 Championship game where it will get a rematch against undefeated TCU. In this game recap, Jeff Burkhart @jeff_burkhart recounts the build up, analyzes key stats, and provides his main takeaways ahead of the Big 12 Championship game.

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West Virginia Recap: Business Handled

A chaotic first half did not derail 15th-ranked Kansas State as the Wildcats offense torched West Virginia 48-31 at Milan Puskar Stadium in Morgantown, WV. Kansas State's Will Howard threw for 294 yards and two touchdowns while also running in another score. The Wildcat defense was led by Brendan Mott, who registered three sacks in the victory. Cincere Mason and Julius Brents also picked off passes for the K-State secondary. K-State head coach Chris Klieman cleared yet another hurdle in winning in Morgantown for the first time in his four years as head coach. The 48 points proved to be most by a K-State team on the road in Big 12 play since the Wildcats rang up Texas Tech for 49 back in 2013. In this game recap, Jeff Burkhart @jeff_burkhart contextualizes the Wildcats' frenetic win, grades the Cats on the keys to victory, and sets the stage for K-State's upcoming contest against archrival Kansas.

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GAMEDAY: K-State @ West Virginia

Thanks to an emphatic 31-3 victory over Baylor, along with some help from TCU, Kansas State has retaken control of its Big 12 Championship destiny. The next hurdle in front of the Wildcats is a pesky West Virginia team fresh of its 23-20 upset of Oklahoma. In this preview episode, Jeff Burkhart @jeff_burkhart examines a retooled West Virginia offense with Garrett Greene's emergence quarterback, discusses the loss K-State safety Kobe Savage, posits how Will Howard can attack a porous Mountaineer secondary, makes his offensive and defensive "picks to pop" for the Wildcats, and offers up his score prediction!

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GAMEDAY: K-State @ Baylor

With its Big 12 Championship game hopes hanging in the balance, Kansas State looks to circle the wagons in Waco when it squares off with a surging Baylor team. In this preview episode, Jeff Burkhart @jeff_burkhart and Justin Nutter @JNutter discuss the task of containing Baylor's wide-zone run concepts, ponder where the Wildcat offense goes with Adrian Martinez now back as QB1, address the challenge of moving the ball against the Bears' defense if wide receivers Malik Knowles and/or Kade Warner are unavailable, make their offensive and defensive "picks to pop" for the Wildcats, and offer up score predictions!

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GAMEDAY: Texas @ K-State

After throttling a top 10 Oklahoma State team, 13th-ranked Kansas State looks to build off its recent outing as it gets set to play host to 24th-ranked Texas at Bill Snyder Family Stadium. In this preview episode, Jeff Burkhart @jeff_burkhart and Justin Nutter @JNutter discuss the challenge of containing Texas runningback Bijan Robinson, analyze the progress made by the Wildcat offense under the direction of Will Howard, offer opinions on how to utilize Adrian Martinez, make their offensive and defensive "picks to pop" for the Wildcats, and offer up score predictions!

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Oklahoma State Recap: Good Will Howarding

Kansas State's Will Howard stole the show on homecoming as the backup signal-caller tossed four touchdown passes in the Wildcats dominant 48-0 triumph over the 9th-ranked Oklahoma State Cowboys at Bill Snyder Family Stadium. K-State head coach Chris Klieman cleared a huge hurdle in defeating Mike Gundy after falling in the three previous head-to-head matchups. The win proved to be the most lopsided defeat of a top 10 team by a lower-ranked team in college football HISTORY. In this game recap, Jeff Burkhart @jeff_burkhart contextualizes the Wildcats' decisive win over the Pokes, grades out the three units, and sets the stage for K-State's upcoming home date against Texas.

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