Why Collin Klein is unlikely to renew an annual spring football game at K-State
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Klein is leaning away from a spring game, citing injury and depth concerns.
- K-State will hold 15 full spring practices under Klein.
- Spring games have declined as teams shift to showcases or closed practices.
The Kansas State football team quit hosting an annual spring game under Chris Klieman, and it doesn’t look like the event will return now that Collin Klein has taken over as head coach.
Not anytime soon, at least.
When asked if he would consider bringing back a spring game, like the one he used to play in as a K-State quarterback from 2008 to 2012, Klein shook his head.
“I really don’t think so,” Klein said in an exclusive interview. “I’m leaning away from that right now.”
Why?
“From a depth standpoint and from a potential injury standpoint, I don’t think it’s in our best interests,” Klein said. “We’re also at a point right now where I’m trying to take advantage of every practice opportunity we have to get better.”
Klein went on to say that K-State will hold 15 full practices during the spring.
That will be a change from last year, when Klieman interestingly chose to conduct just 10 spring practices. He wanted his players to spend extra time in the weight room as they prepared for the 2025 season.
Klieman unexpectedly retired in December. Klein was quickly hired as his replacement.
Spring games have been on the decline in recent years. Teams from all across the country have shifted to more casual events, such as spring showcases, which allow fans to watch portions of practice or skills competitions without risking injury to players. Others, such as K-State, have opted to close spring practices and avoid any kind of public event.
But there is always talk among K-State fans at this time of year that maybe a spring game will return at some point. Klein used to coach in spring games when he worked as a young K-State assistant under Bill Snyder. He also called plays at spring games the past two years at Texas A&M.
Some wondered if those experiences would make Klein consider a spring game in Manhattan.
It could happen at some point, but it doesn’t look like it will be this year.
This story was originally published February 26, 2026 at 9:57 AM with the headline "Why Collin Klein is unlikely to renew an annual spring football game at K-State."