Kansas State football: Will Year 2 of Chris Klieman bring Big 12 title contention?

Kansas State football has much to do on the offensive and defensive sides of the ball if it wants to compete for a Big 12 title in 2020.

The Big 12 remains one of the three Power Five conferences planning to play a fall season. Teams like Kansas State are pressing forward for a potential conference title by knocking off the Oklahoma Sooners. The Wildcats are one of three current Big 12 teams that have won at least two league titles.

The last time that the Wildcats won at least a share of the Big 12 was in 2012 along with the Sooners. Kansas State finished that season with an 11-2 overall record (8-1 in conference play) and finished 12th in the AP Poll. This was also the last time that the Wildcats won more than nine games in a season.

While the Wildcats are on a path back to conference relevance, it will take more time for them to be a threat again. Second-year head coach Chris Klieman faces a tough task leading a program after many successful years of long-time Bill Snyder. In 2019, Klieman helped the Wildcats to an 8-5 (5-4 in conference play) record.

The Wildcats were going in a very positive direction after their 48-41 victory over No. 5 Oklahoma last season. They soon followed it up with tough losses at Texas, 27-24, and at home to West Virginia, 24-20.. They finished the season with a 20-17 loss to Navy in the 2019 Liberty Bowl.

For the Wildcats to be a serious contender for the Big 12 title, they will need to avoid these upsets and win close games. They’ll have to play conference games primarily and one non-Big 12 matchup. They will need to remain focused during the season especially with the lack of offensive starters returning.

There is potential for the Wildcats on both sides of the ball as they are young but talented. As long as they are coached by Klieman, a proven winner, they will have a chance.