What Do Kansas State Wildcats Have To Play For The Rest Of Season?

The Kansas State Wildcats football team's season has gone from promising to disappointing in a span of three weeks. 

After defeating the Kansas Jayhawks Oct. 14 in the Sunflower Showdown, there was hope of a successful season under first-year coach Collin Klein. The Wildcats stood at 4-2 overall as they prepared for the meat of the Big 12 schedule. 

Nearly a month later, they are now just searching for motivation to finish the rest of the season. That's the tough task Klein has now that the Wildcats have lost three straight games and fell under .500 for the first time this season. 

The goal for Klein is keeping the players fired up these last three games, with hopes of building momentum for Year No. 2. 

“That’s not what K-state has been about for a long time," Klein said after Saturday's 66-28 loss to the Oklahoma State Cowboys. "That’s not what it’s been about since we’ve been with them as a program, and what they have invested in their teammates, and everyone will finish how we’re supposed to.”

It was easily the worst loss of the season for the Wildcats, who had played mostly close games. On Saturday, they were manhandled in every phase in front of the home fans at Bill Snyder Family Stadium. 

At 4-5 overall and 1-5 in the Big 12, the Wildcats are among the bottom-feeders in the conference. Their only league victory came against the lowly Jayhawks, who are once again in the basement. 

It's not all the Wildcats' fault. 

After the Kansas victory, they began dealing with quarterback issues. Starter Avery Johnson has been sidelined the last three games because of an undisclosed injury. He had started 32 straight games before the problems began. 

It left the Wildcats with limited experience at the position. In Johnson's first absence, they went with senior Jacob Knuth. He played solid in a loss to the Arizona State Sun Devils but sustained an ankle injury that has kept him out the past two games. 

The Wildcats were forced to go with a combination of Dillon Duff and Blake Barnett against the Colorado Buffaloes and Cowboys. Neither had much success, resulting in two more losses. 

Still, Klein refuses to give up on the season. 

Battling through tough times is what separates the good coaches from the mediocre. That's why he views the next three games as so important. How the team responds for this Saturday's game against the TCU Horned Frogs will show a lot about Klein.