Can Kansas State Wildcats Finally Start Playing Better In Close Games?

The Kansas State Wildcats have hit a wall this season. 

After having so much promise following the win against the Kansas Jayhawks in the Sunflower Showdown last month, they have lost two straight games. A season that began with Big 12 conference title and College Football Playoff aspirations is now nothing more than just a middle-of-the-pack year. 

But it's not as bad as most think. In fact, the Wildcats are much closer to being in the thick of the Big 12 race than some would imagine. They have played relatively well in every game except for the loss to the Houston Cougars last month. 

In that game, they were dominated even when the team was at full strength. What first-year coach Collin Klein should harp on with his players is how close they have been in all of the other losses. 

"Obviously, playing on the road, one-score games the last three years through a lot of different sets of circumstances, we haven't been good in those situations," Klein said at his weekly press conference. 

Klein is correct. The Wildcats have played much better than their record. Just look at the losses. 

-They led the Cincinnati Bearcats at halftime. They had the ball to open the second half but then fumbled on the first play. That completely swayed momentum. The Bearcats then dominated the second half to steal a victory at home. 

-After the blowout loss to the Cougars, the Wildcats regrouped with the win against the Jayhawks. That's when problems began to arise. Quarterback Avery Johnson sustained an undisclosed injury, creating instability at a position that was stable for the past three seasons. In the first game without Johnson, they fell 28-17 to the Arizona State Sun Devils. It was a game that was very winnable if their starting quarterback was available. 

-Last week the Wildcats started Dillon Duff, a sophomore who had never taken a college snap, on the road against the Colorado Buffaloes. It showed early and it led to him being relieved before the first quarter was completed. The Wildcats turned to another backup, Blake Barnett, who rallied his team from a halftime deficit. They tied the game on the final drive of regulation before forcing overtime. Some have said Klein should have gone for the two-point conversion because the Wildcats had the momentum. 

But there were three very winnable games that could have completely changed the outlook of this season. Just imagine the buzz if they were 7-1 instead of 4-4?