As Kansas State attempts to redeem itself from last season, it will be on the shoulders of coach Collin Klein and quarterback Avery Johnson.
Thankfully, though, this isn't the first time the two have worked together. In fact, Klein was the coordinator who helped usher in Johnson to Manhattan, KS, serving as the offensive coordinator during his freshman season.
One fan reposted a video of Johnson's performance against Texas Tech in 2023, where the team dominated behind a young, brimming quarterback under Klein's offensive system. Johnson went 8-of-9 for 77 passing yards, while rushing 13 times for 90 yards and five touchdowns.
It was performances like these that had Johnson in Heisman conversations among his Big 12 peers the next season. Those didn't pan out, as Johnson had a disappointing 2024 season and even worse numbers last year. He got away from his rushing style of play, playing relatively conservatively in 2025.
However, with Klein back in the mantle, the hope is that Johnson steps up in his final season and returns to the dual-threat that made him so dangerous. He announced his return to the program earlier this month, citing "unfinished business" with the team as his primary motivation.
"After a lot of prayer, conversations with my family, and talks with my coaches, I've made the decision to return to Kansas State for my final year," Johnson said in his returning Instagram statement. "There is unfinished business here, and I'm not done yet. This place, this program, and this fanbase mean everything to me. The relationships I've built, the culture we've created, and the goals we still have ahead of us are too important to walk away from. I believe in this team. I believe in our coaches. And I believe the best is still ahead."
He and Klein have the same outlook for the team's elevation in 2026.
“I love challenges and doing hard things," Klein said in his introductory press conference. "To go and take this program where it’s never been is gonna be hard. I want it to be hard, I want it to be difficult. We’re gonna attack it together as a staff, as a fanbase, and as an administration, and we’re gonna take this program where it hasn’t been before.”