Avery Johnson's return + 4 K-State football updates in 2026

Collin Klein may never have a crazier offseason as K-State football coach, joining the team (with his full attention, at least) immediately after Texas A&M's loss in the College Football Playoff.

First up? Putting together a staff ... while making sure to keep an eye on the transfer portal, which is now open.

Avery Johnson will be back for the Wildcats, providing stability at the game's most important position. And the rest of the team (and coaching staff) is slowly but surely taking shape.

Here are five recent updates.

Former Kansas State quarterback Collin Klein was introduced as the team’s next head coach on Friday, Dec. 5, 2025, during an event at the Morgan Family Arena in Manhattan. By Travis Heying

NO. 1: COLLIN KLEIN HIRES KANSAS STATE RUNNING BACKS COACH WITH HISTORY IN THE BIG 12

Collin Klein has added another assistant coach to his inaugural football staff at Kansas State. | Published December 30, 2025 | Read Full Story by Kellis Robinett

The Kansas State Wildcats football helmet. By Kellis Robinett

NO. 2: ONE K-STATE DEFENDER WILL STAY WITH WILDCATS AFTER INITIALLY LOOKING TO TRANSFER

Friday was filled with both good and bad news for the Kansas State football team on the transfer front. | Published December 26, 2025 | Read Full Story by Kellis Robinett

NO. 3: GEORGE FITZPATRICK WILL RETURN TO K-STATE FOR ANOTHER SEASON AFTER HEALTH SCARE

George Fitzpatrick hasn’t played in a single football game for the Wildcats since he transferred from Ohio State to Kansas State last year, but that could change next season. | Published January 1, 2026 | Read Full Story by Kellis Robinett

Former Kansas State quarterback Collin Klein holds up a jersey after athletic director Gene Taylor introduced Klein as the team’s next head coach on Friday, Dec. 5, 2025, during an event at the Morgan Family Arena in Manhattan. By Travis Heying

NO. 4: ILLINOIS COACH WITH K-STATE FOOTBALL TIES EXPECTED TO JOIN COLLIN KLEIN’S STAFF

A familiar face is ready to return to Kansas State as a member of Collin Klein’s inaugural football staff. | Published January 1, 2026 | Read Full Story by Kellis Robinett

NO. 5: K-STATE QUARTERBACK AVERY JOHNSON RETURNING FOR ONE MORE SEASON WITH WILDCATS

Avery Johnson will finish his college football career at the same place where it began. “There is unfinished business here, and I’m not done yet,” Johnson wrote on social media. | Published January 2, 2026 | 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.