By Rock Westfall
Head coach Chris Klieman and QB Avery Johnson must keep Kansas State winning for its long-term viability.
At the beginning of February, the Big Ten and SEC announced a joint venture of partnership to address the future of college football. Notably excluded from this so-called alliance are the Big 12 and ACC. If fans of schools in those latter two conferences feel like they are on the outside looking in, they are correct.
The alliance of the Superpower Two is in its initial stages. Out of the “generosity” of its heart, the alliance gave lip service to including outside interested parties in some discussions. But nobody believes anything else other than the eventual outcome will be a new Super League comprised of anywhere from 24, 32, 48, or, at most, 64 programs potentially breaking away from the NCAA to form an independent college football association of some kind.
This development has fans at programs such as Kansas State worried. And it should. Kansas State represents everything right about the sport. Wildcat Land brings strong and passionate fan support, a tremendous game-day experience, iconic Aggieville, and winning football. Visiting fans will verify it’s a hidden gem and a bucket list experience once experienced.
But Kansas State’s margin for error to secure its future is small. And a losing cycle could be catastrophic for its viability.
As the 2024 offseason begins, head coach Chris Klieman and QB Avery Johnson bear the burden of sustaining Kansas State’s success to secure its future.
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Say what you want about Kansas State but when Oklahoma leaves they are the face of Big 12 Football.https://t.co/bEE2y84tGF
— CFB Home (@CFBHome) January 17, 2023
Klieman Up the Ladder in a New Neighborhood
The Big 12 has a distinctly new look for 2024. Gone are its final two marquee brands, Texas and Oklahoma, who are now in the SEC. Without a historic superpower program, the Big 12 lacks its previous stature. With that comes an opportunity for its remaining programs to fill the void. Kansas State certainly qualifies as a lead candidate.
Since his arrival in 2019, Chris Klieman already ranks second on the all-time Kansas State coaching wins list behind the program savior himself, Bill Snyder.
Klieman is second to Snyder in career win percentage for K-State coaches who had at least 31 games in a KSU career. Klieman has produced four bowls in five seasons, a Big 12 championship in 2022, and a top-25 finish in 2023.
In 2023, Kansas State lost four games by a total of 21 points and suffered heartbreaking road game defeats against top ten programs Missouri and Texas. The Wildcats had a legitimate shot at the second straight Big 12 title in 2023.
Klieman’s performance is much more reassuring than the last man to follow Snyder, Ron Prince, who went 17-20 in three seasons.
If Klieman and athletic director Gene Taylor remain in Manhattan, success is assured. But to what extent remains to be seen. Certainly, Kansas State can emerge as the premier program in the Big 12 Conference. If they achieve that status, their future is secured.
A fired up Chris Klieman embraces AD Gene Taylor. Wildcats beat Iowa State 10-9. pic.twitter.com/GrfJPwEgse
— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) October 9, 2022
A Freshman Phenom Emerges
Freshman QB Avery Johnson started gangbusters for his Kansas State career. Against Texas Tech and TCU, he saw significant playing time and electrified fans with his speed and running ability. Although Will Howard remained the number one quarterback, nobody doubts that Johnson will be at least Howard’s equal, if not an upgrade.
In the Pop-Tarts Bowl win over NC State, after Howard hit the portal, Johnson started and ran for 71 yards on seven carries with a TD and threw for 178 more yards with two TDs. Kansas State is in everyone’s 2024 preseason top 25 based on Johnson’s potential and Klieman’s track record.
Avery Johnson runs it in on 3rd and 10
vs Texas Tech pic.twitter.com/y4jqropTh3— The Kansas State Fan (@Thekstatefan) January 5, 2024
Offensive Coordinator Continuity
Following two years as offensive coordinator, Kansas State’s legendary former QB Collin Klein left home for the bag at Texas A&M. Klien was at the final table for the 2012 Heisman Trophy and was an outstanding OC for Klieman.
Subsequently, Klieman quickly promoted offensive line coach Conor Riley to offensive coordinator for the Pop-Tarts Bowl. Riley’s unit amassed 435 yards in a 28-19 win.
Next, Klieman added former Utah State and Texas Tech head coach Matt Wells to the staff as QB coach, associate head coach, and co-offensive coordinator. Wells was hired off the Oklahoma Sooner staff, where he served two years as an assistant.
Riley has been with Klieman for eight years, so there is plenty of familiarity. Wells and Klieman have known each other for a long time, and Wells has a strong reputation for offensive and QB tutelage. Wells is best known for his development of Green Bay Packers QB Jordan Love when Wells was his HC of Utah State.
QB Avery Johnson. On va juste l'adorer la saison prochaine.
Kansas State mène 21-10 à la mi-temps face à NC State dans ce Pop-Tarts Bowl.
📽️ via @KWCH12 | #BowlSeason🎄 pic.twitter.com/LABKQXdOzV
— TBP College Football (@thebluepennant) December 29, 2023
Fearless in the Face of an Uncertain Future
Klieman and Taylor see the future and realize the responsibility they carry. The offseason coaching moves are impressive and indicative of a full commitment to winning. Kansas State finished with a top-40 recruiting class, which is standard for a program that has long focused on development. Kansas State will be in the hunt for a 2024 Big 12 championship and has the potential to emerge as the marquee program in the league.
The necessary leadership, support, and commitment are all there for Kansas State to remain successful and with a well-deserved place in whatever college football becomes, whenever that is.
K-State assistant Conor Riley made his case for offensive coordinator last night at the Pop-Tarts Bowl.
Here’s what Chris Klieman and players said about his audition for the job ⬇️
— Kellis Robinett (@KellisRobinett) December 29, 2023
