Editor’s note: Tenth in a series previewing each team in the Big 12 in 2026.
New Kansas State football coach Collin Klein had one primary objective after taking over for Chris Klieman when the 2025 season ended with the Wildcats finishing 6-6 and turning down the opportunity to play in a bowl game.
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The main task for the former Heisman Trophy candidate in his playing days as a quarterback in the Little Apple was to retain the Big Man on Campus — senior quarterback Avery Johnson.
“This is home for me. It is a dream come true and I am so grateful for our administration and our players and all the effort that has been put in over the last six months as we build this thing and move it forward. Our culture has been very, very strong. This is a good situation to walk into as a first-time head coach.”
Consider that mission accomplished, as the school’s single-season leader and career co-leader for touchdown passes stayed in Manhattan despite having had the opportunity to get a bigger paycheck somewhere else. Because of the return of Johnson, who fell off as a junior after outstanding freshman and sophomore campaigns, Kansas State is predicted to finish in the middle of the Big 12 pack in most compilations.
Had the blond bomber gone the route of many of his teammates when Klieman retired, K-State would likely have been tabbed to finish near the cellar. That’s how much the departures rocked the program, and how much is thought of Johnson by writers who cover the league.
In a preseason poll of beat writers — one for each of the 16 schools in the league — Kansas State was picked to finish eighth. That after Johnson led the Wildcats to a 5-4 conference record last year.
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Klein was K-State’s offensive coordinator in Johnson’s freshman season before taking the same role at Texas A&M for two seasons. He personally recruited the four-star dual-threat QB to Manhattan and said he’s “thrilled” to be reunited with the 2023 MVP of the Pop-Tarts Bowl.
“Our relationship goes back a long way. It is incredibly special to me. I would argue that some of his best attributes are not physical. I know everyone sees how fast he is and how well he can run. Everybody sees the arm talent and the zip and spin on the football. He’s one of the best competitors I’ve been around,” Klein said of Johnson. “He works hard at his craft, and he’s a very stoic, laid-back guy. But that process is going (internally) and his motor is going hot under there even though he’s very, very calm and collected on top.”
Klein seemingly delivered on a promise to surround Johnson with speed and talent on the perimeter in 2026, something that was lacking last year. Hawaii‘s Brandon White, Missouri‘s Josh Manning and Texas A&M’s Isaiah Williams should give KSU considerably more receiving options.
At running back, Joe Jackson is back after showing flashes of brilliance in 2025. When he played for K-State, and before his brief stint at A&M, Klein liked to utilize 12 personnel (two tight ends) and run the ball as much as possible.
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It will be interesting to see if he brings that back to Manhattan, after using a lot of spread offenses at College Station and throwing the ball all over the place. If he can cobble together a good mix, K-State should have a Big 12-caliber offense, and Klein should have the purple Cats closer to the top of the league than the bottom.
“This is home for me. It is a dream come true and I am so grateful for our administration and our players and all the effort that has been put in over the last six months as we build this thing and move it forward,” he said. “Our culture has been very, very strong. This is a good situation to walk into as a first-time head coach.”
Most of the questions are on defense, as K-State had to get help from the transfer portal at every position group on that side of the ball after the mass departures. Oklahoma State‘s Wendell Gregory, rated as the No. 6 edge rusher in the portal, is the key acquisition there.
Also, Klein brought new defensive coordinator Jordan Peterson with him from Texas, where they ran a 4-2-5 scheme and created a lot of havoc for SEC offenses.
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“With his experience level and the different places that he’s been, I feel very, very confident that we’re going to be able to put the package together that will fit our personnel and also be multiple,” Klein said of Peterson, who will also coach the defensive backs.
If the Wildcats can bring back a pass rush, and stop the run, they could be a force in the Big 12 because their schedule is fairly favorable in 2026. Five of their first six games are at home, and they don’t have to face three of the expected top teams in the league: BYU, Utah and Texas Tech.
The Wildcats’ three nonconference games — Nicholls, Washington State, Tulane — are all winnable and at home, and their toughest Big 12 opponents (Houston, Arizona) are also at home.
“My past success as a player, our past success as a program, is going to have zero impact on our ability to win football games this fall,” Klein said. “It will obviously help, but that comes down to our players, our staff, and us doing the work that is necessary.”
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2026 Kansas State Wildcats at a glance
• 2025 record: 6-6 (5-4 Big 12)
Utah ties
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New BYU linebacker Jake Clifton played in 19 games for Kansas State (2022-23) before a church mission to Nicaragua
2026 schedule
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Sept. 12: vs. Washington State
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Oct. 24: at Arizona State
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Nov. 7: vs. Oklahoma State
