K-State football, men's basketball stories from busy weekend

It was a busy weekend for K-State Wildcats athletics, albeit one that ended in close defeats for both the football and men's basketball teams.

The K-State football team went down to the wire with Utah, but a late sequence changed the course of the game despite a record rushing performance by the road team. After the game, an emotional Chris Klieman defended his team (and himself) from fan criticism.

The basketball team, meanwhile, was in action Friday and played within a point of Nebraska at T-Mobile Center in KC. The Wildcats' PJ Haggerty led with 27 points but couldn't prevent the last-second loss.

Joe Jackson #4 of the Kansas State Wildcats rushes for a touchdown against the Utah Utes during the second half of a game at Rice-Eccles Stadium on November 22, 2025 in Salt Lake City, Utah. By Chris Gardner

NO. 1: KANSAS STATE’S UPSET BID FALLS PAINFULLY SHORT AT UTAH. HERE ARE THE TAKEAWAYS

College football is filled with unexpected results. | Published November 23, 2025 | Read Full Story by Kellis Robinett

Head Coach Chris Klieman of the Kansas State Wildcats kicks the turf during the first half of their game aginst the Utah Utes at Rice-Eccles Stadium on November 22, 2025 in Salt Lake City, Utah. By Chris Gardner

NO. 2: CHRIS KLIEMAN GOT EMOTIONAL DEFENDING HIMSELF AND KANSAS STATE AFTER UTAH LOSS

The longer Kansas State football coach Chris Klieman tried to process a gut-wrenching 51-47 loss against Utah on Saturday at Rice-Eccles Stadium, the more emotional he got. | Published November 23, 2025 | Read Full Story by Kellis Robinett

NO. 3: ‘IT CAME DOWN TO ONE PLAY’: TAKEAWAYS FROM K-STATE’S BASKETBALL LOSS TO NEBRASKA

Nebraska’s 86-85 victory over Kansas State in the championship game of the Hall of Fame Classic on Friday night was so loud and exciting that Huskers basketball coach Fred Hoiberg said the atmosphere inside T-Mobile Center reminded him of the old Big 12 Tournament. “It’s always fun coming back here,” Hoiberg said. | Published November 22, 2025 | Read Full Story by Kellis Robinett

Byrd Ficklin #15 of the Utah Utes rushes for a touchdown against Desmond Purnell #32 of the Kansas State Wildcats during the second half of their game at Rice-Eccles Stadium on November 22, 2025 in Salt Lake City, Utah. By Chris Gardner

NO. 4: REPORT CARD FROM K-STATE FOOTBALL’S LOSS AT UTAH AND A LOOK AHEAD TO COLORADO

The Kansas State football team has suffered several agonizing losses this season, but a 51-47 defeat at Utah on Saturday inside Rice-Eccles Stadium stood out above the rest. | Published November 23, 2025 | Read Full Story by Kellis Robinett

NO. 5: CHRIS KLIEMAN, PJ HAGGERTY AND AN UNDEFEATED START FOR JEROME TANG: K-STATE Q&A

It’s time for another K-State Q&A.The Wildcats played a basketball game on Thursday night. | Published November 21, 2025 | Read Full Story by Kellis Robinett

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.