Kansas State football is in a flat-out crisis. What should have been a bounce-back year with one of the most talented quarterbacks in program history has instead turned into a nightmare start that has fans questioning everything about the direction of Chris Klieman’s team.
The Wildcats didn’t just lose to Army — they looked uninspired and outmatched by a service academy that got pushed around by Tarleton State the week before. That’s not a “one-off bad day,” that’s a program flashing warning signs all over the place.
Offensive Line: Once a Strength, Now a Liability
Kansas State built its identity for decades on physical play in the trenches. This offensive line is breaking that tradition. They couldn’t move Iowa State, they barely held off North Dakota, and against Army, they flat-out collapsed. When your leading rusher can’t crack 40 yards against a service academy, you’ve got real problems.
Secondary in Shambles
If you’re looking for the worst unit on this team, the secondary is making its case. Multiple games in, it’s fair to call this the weakest pass defense of the Klieman era. Missed tackles, blown assignments, and zero consistency. And here’s the scary part: the Big 12 is stacked with quarterbacks who will shred that weakness wide open.
Wasting Avery Johnson
Avery Johnson is not the problem. In fact, he might be the most talented quarterback Kansas State has ever had. But the way he’s being used? That’s criminal. He had just three rushing attempts against Army. Three. This is a dual-threat quarterback with the build of Lamar Jackson and the ability to take over games with his legs. Instead, he’s being forced into a box, and the program risks wasting his prime. And if they do? Don’t think for a second that other Power 4 schools won’t come calling with NIL money and a promise to actually unleash him.
Bigger Picture: Locker Room, Buy-In, and Future
The vibes are bad. You can see it on the field. Flat starts, careless mistakes, and no urgency against opponents that Kansas State should dominate. That’s how locker rooms get fractured. In the transfer portal era, once buy-in slips, stars walk. Avery Johnson, Jayce Brown, Dylan Edwards — guys like that don’t stick around for a sinking ship.
And then there’s Klieman himself. If this team falls flat against Arizona, UCF, or Baylor, the whispers will get louder. You can’t sell a “player-led program” if the players are heading for the exits.
The Verdict
Kansas State is in a bad spot. Not just for 2024, but for the program’s trajectory moving forward. The offensive line isn’t physical, the secondary looks lost, and the coaching staff refuses to unlock its biggest weapon. Unless changes happen fast, this season won’t just be disappointing — it could be the start of a mass exodus that rewrites the Wildcats’ future.
