Kansas State Wildcats College Football Preview 2023

August 30th, 2023, 4:38pm CST ? By Ryan J. Van Dever

2022 Record: 10-4 overall, 7-2 in Big 12, Head coach: Chris Klieman, 5th year: 30-20

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Kansas State is coming off the program's best season under coach Chris Klieman, and another run at the conference title is not entirely out of the question with quarterback Will Howard leading the way in 2023. The Wildcats must replace Deuce Vaughn and reload a secondary that will be tested by the high-powered offenses. It's about upholding the success under Chris Klieman, as he just got his contract reworked – around 5.5 million per year until 2030. The timing is flawless as Kansas State strives to expand the 2022 season and become one of the elites in the conference post-Oklahoma/Texas departure.

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No, Kansas State is not on the verge of becoming another Georgia or Clemson. However, they will continue to hit the ceiling talent-wise at some point when it comes to football programs working with what they have – that isn't a snub by any means. However, you aren't getting any 5-star blue chip athletes walking through the front doors of Bill Snyder Family Stadium either.

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Significant gaps on the team need to be filled this year. Pass rusher?Felix Anudike-Uzomah?(8.5 sacks) was drafted in the 1st round by the Kansas City Chiefs; Deuce?Vaughn, the copious running back, and both starting cornerbacks left for the NFL.

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Safety?Kobe Savage?does return, completing a successful season and second-team All-Big 12 awards last year. K-State found a complement in the transfer portal in the name of North Dakota State's?Marques Sigle.?However, there should be a reversal as the loss of three starters in the secondary points to a slight issue.

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The biggest shoes to fill are perhaps the smallest ones in shoe size. Vaughn rushed for over 3,000 yards (1,558 last season) and combined for 43 touchdowns from scrimmage. The 5-foot-6 running back was the heart of the Wildcat offense.

Kansas State investigated the transfer portal once more for assistance here as well. The Florida State running back Treshaun Ward, an All-ACC honorable mention last season, was a talented player. Iowa wide receiver?Keegan Johson?is heading to Manhattan as well, and he will be a blooming starter this upcoming season.

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The main factor of this team is not Will Howard – it is the big uglies playing in front of him. Kansas State slanted to start one of the best offensive lines in the nation, being led by?Cooper Beebe. Beebe and?Christian Duffie?are top-notch NFL draft picks, with Beebe potentially going in the 1st round. The big unit returns all its five starters on the line and is ranked No. 11 nationally, per Phil Steele.

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Kansas State will have a difficult road in front of them, as they play the 14th-most difficult schedule in the country and have a road lineup that encompasses Oklahoma St, Texas, Missouri, Texas Tech, and finally rival Kansas.

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Now, you won't have to peek too hard into the schedule to find eight wins. With one of the top offensive lines, a talented and even more experienced quarterback, and solid coaching, Kansas State should be in line for another Big 12 Championship Game appearance. Unlike the preceding champions, the Wildcats return the lion's share of the talent that brought them to Arlington in the first place.

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Despite intriguing players such as Keegan Johnson and Philip Brooks, the receiving group leaves much to be desired. Phil Steele ranks this group 11th in the Big 12, and Athlon Sports has them 8th. Howard did a lot more with less last season; he will spread out the receptions and touchdowns to many players, just like he did last season.

Most of K-State's production will return this season, but the top-notch talent they had last year that helped them to the Big 12 title will not. With a brutal schedule, more importantly on the road, Kansas State will find it hard to win ten games for the second season in a row. I'm not ruling it out, but the ball will have to bounce their way a few times. Undoubtedly, they will be one of the best teams in the Big 12. Stability at the quarterback position and head coach is difficult to beat in College Football.