Kansas State football: Realistic expectations for the Wildcats in 2023

Did anyone think we’d be seeing Kansas State football winning a Big 12 title in 2022? I know I didn’t expect that but I did have some early stock in Chris Klieman.

The veteran head coach has taken over the program and turned it into a legitimate contender in a short time and it feels like the excitement is back in Manhattan. Not only is the basketball team on the rise under Jerome Tang, but the football program is already winning titles under Klieman.

After a 10-4 season and conference title win over eventual national runner-up TCU, the Wildcats are looking to replicate that success and fend off Texas and Oklahoma in their final year in the Big 12.

Do the Wildcats have enough returning and coming in to make a push for a second straight conference title? I think so, but it won’t be an easy task.

Realistic expectations for Kansas State football

Will Howard is returning at quarterback after splitting time with Adrian Martinez last year. He played in seven games and led the team with 1,633 yards and 15 touchdowns with just four picks. He could afford to improve his completion percentage (hovering around 60) but he is a talented quarterback with experience.

Gone is Deuce Vaughn which will hurt, but coming in is Treshaun Ward who had 1,143 yards and 11 touchdowns on 6.5 carries for Florida State over the last two seasons combined. He’ll be really solid at Kansas State.

They lose Malik Knowles at receiver but bring back Phillip Brooks and Iowa transfer Keagan Johnson will be solid.

Defensively, I think the Wildcats will be above average.

Looking at the schedule, I see the Wildcats starting 2-0 and then stealing a win at Missouri before beating UCF, heading into a bye week at 4-0. They’ll split the Oklahoma State and Texas Tech road games before beating TCU and Texas in back-to-back games to improve to 7-1. They’ll lose their remaining road games against Texas and Kansas while beating Iowa State and Baylor at home.

A 9-3 record isn’t too bad for a team that finished last regular season 9-3 and loses arguably its best offensive player in Vaughn. That’s the realistic record. Best-case scenario would be 10-2 and worst-case would be 7-5.

I’d be shocked if Kansas State finished worse than 8-4.