After a disappointing 2025 season and an abundance of star departures, Kansas State's near-future outlook isn't the most favorable.
ESPN analyst Greg McElroy disagrees. The college football analyst even went so far as to declare that the Wildcats will be the most improved team in the Big 12 next year.
"I think Avery Johnson’s got his best football sitting right in front of him," McElroy said Thursday on his podcast. "He's played a lot, got a ton of starts under his belt. He's got a head coach who can speak his exact language. I think the schedule sets up beautifully for a run. Collin Klein isn’t just a sentimental hire. I think he’s the right hire to get the Wildcats back on track to be back in the 9-10-win range and squarely in the hunt to secure a college football playoff spot. It feels like the family is back, they’re very hungry and I would expect Kansas State to be a consistent problem in the Big 12."
McElroy acknowledged the lackluster start to last season, echoing the standards many had set for Kansas State heading into the year. It was widely expected to win the Big 12 and potentially make the playoffs.
"They looked the part coming into August, but kind of lost the script by October," McElroy said. "They were the consensus Big 12 favorite. They had the safest coach in the Big 12 in Chris Klieman and an explosive young star in Avery Johnson. But they went to Ireland and lost the season opener to Iowa State, and never really regained their equilibrium after that disappointing Week 0 loss."
He believes the team hiring legend Collin Klein will re-establish some of the magic he brought during his tenure, bringing back the winning culture in Manhattan, KS, that had been established for so many seasons beforehand.
"They went out and brought home the guy who defined the modern era of K-State football," McElroy said. "In a move that surprised no one but delighted everyone, K-State hires its former quarterback, Collin Klein. He's kind of the ultimate cultural fit. Klein is a guy who’s done a pretty good job coaching offense and understanding what it’s like to play quarterback under the lights in Manhattan with expectations. He’s already made some tweaks to the passing game, and they’re gonna go back to utilizing a dual-threat system that plays really well to Avery Johnson's strength."
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