When Kansas State acquired coach Collin Klein, the immediate hope was that the program would return to glory. Alas, a rough portal season saw several of the Wildcats' stars depart after Chris Klieman's retirement.
The duality in the waves has many trying to predict which direction Kansas State is going next season. Some believe the return of the program legend will take it to new heights, but others think the star losses will be too much to overcome. ESPN ranked all the Power Four programs' offseasons, pinning the Wildcats at No. 10 among their Big 12 peers for their moves the past few months.
"Is Year 1 going to be more win-now or rebuild? It's an intriguing question during this transition," the article wrote. "The Wildcats lost a number of prominent starters to the portal. Osunsanmi and fellow defensive lineman Chiddi Obiazor joined Indiana, Romaine transferred to Texas Tech, receiver Jayce Brown went to LSU, and four defenders followed DC Joe Klanderman to Baylor. Klein and his new staff had a lot of work to do to reload along the offensive and defensive lines and ended up with only six returning players who started nine or more games for last season's squad."
Klein brings a lot of hope, given his track record with the team.
"When Collin Klein left Kansas State to become Texas A&M's offensive coordinator, many expected him to eventually return and lead his alma mater," the article wrote. "The homecoming came sooner than expected after Chris Klieman's exit. Klein, a Heisman Trophy finalist as K-State's quarterback and a Wildcats assistant from 2017 to 2023, is in charge now."
In addition to his personal resume, Klein created a coaching staff with veteran experience to help him fulfill the Big 12 title aspirations he established in his opening presser.
"He brought several assistants from Texas A&M, including defensive coordinator Jordan Peterson and quarterbacks coach Christian Ellsworth, retained defensive line coach Buddy Wyatt, and hired special teams coordinator Stanton Weber from Toledo. Sean Gleeson, the former offensive coordinator at Rutgers and Oklahoma State, will serve as OC," the article wrote.
Still, there's reason for concern. Even with his years on the sidelines, Klein hasn't had any experience as a head coach. The roster boasts potential, but losing proven stars is never the direction you want to go.
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