Grades from Kansas State’s win over Iowa State and a look ahead to bowl season
After Kansas State ended the regular season with a 27-17 victory over Iowa State it’s time to start wondering about the Wildcats’ potential bowl destination.
K-State (8-4, 5-4 Big 12) will be in the mix for some of the conference’s better postseason games, including the Alamo Bowl, Camping World Bowl and Texas Bowl. But it’s hard to predict which game will ultimately select the Wildcats, as they finished tied for third in the Big 12 standings with Oklahoma State, Iowa State and Texas.
All four teams have similar resumes, and each bowl is free to choose whichever team it prefers.
The Alamo Bowl will select first. Assuming both Baylor and Oklahoma earn invitations to College Football Playoff affiliated bowls, will it want Oklahoma State and dynamic running back Chuba Hubbard? Will it choose Texas for proximity and name recognition? Or will it go for K-State, which ended the year with back-to-back wins? Iowa State is an unlikely choice, as it played in San Antonio last year.
The Camping World Bowl will pick second. K-State has never played a postseason game in Florida, which could boost its chances for an invitation to Orlando. This is where the Wildcats would be picked if bowls chose their teams based solely on results. But many suspect this game is dreaming of Notre Dame vs. Texas.
The Texas Bowl becomes K-State’s likely destination if it is still available. The Wildcats have traveled well during their past two trips to Houston and beat Texas A&M there three years ago.
Two representatives from the Liberty Bowl were in attendance for K-State’s win over Iowa State, but the Wildcats will only slip to Memphis if the loser of the Big 12 championship game gets left out of a major bowl. It seems like the Cyclones might end up there or fall to the Cheez-It Bowl in Phoenix for a different experience.
K-State was likely Memphis bound with a loss on Saturday. But it improved its bowl stock with a strong effort against Iowa State that has the future looking bright in Manhattan.
Here are some grades from the game:
Player of the game
Jordon Brown reminded K-State fans what he is capable of at full strength while rushing for 91 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries on Saturday. He looked better than he has in weeks and his playmaking ability made a big difference for the Wildcats.
Iowa State entered the game with the Big 12’s top run defense, allowing 3.7 yards per rush. But Brown found running lanes against the Cyclones and led the Wildcats to 231 rushing yards.
K-State’s offensive line deserves credit for that. And freshman Jacardia Wright also looked good running for 60 yards and a score on six carries. But Brown gets the game ball. The Wildcats had to run effectively to win this game, and they did exactly that thanks to him.
Play of the game
Blake Lynch made a 43-yard field goal into a howling wind that tied the score at 17-17 late in the third quarter. It might have been the most difficult kick he’s made with the Wildcats. The game might have turned out differently had he missed.
Stat of the game
The Wildcats held the Cyclones to 236 total yards, by far their lowest number of the season. Brock Purdy entered the game as the Big 12’s leading passer, but he struggled to get much of anything going against K-State’s defense in dreary weather conditions. Iowa State was at its worst on third down, where it went 1 of 13.
Quote to note
“I told the guys in the locker room, ‘Don’t ever underestimate the power of belief, and the power of love.’ Those guys believe in each other. They love each other, and when you have those two things going, you’ve got a great chance to be successful.” — Chris Klieman.
Grades
Offense: B. The Wildcats rushed for 231 yards against the Big 12’s best run defense on a night when it was obvious they were going to run most of the time. Skylar Thompson had an off game, completing five of 12 passes for 57 yards and an interception, but neither team looked good throwing the ball on Saturday. Courtney Messingham deserves credit for finding a way to win this game on the ground.
Defense: A. The weather helped. Let’s be clear about that up front. Purdy would have thrown for more than 185 yards in a dome. But the Wildcats also got pressure on him, hurrying him six times, and made six tackles for loss. Iowa State only rushed for 51 yards. Wyatt Hubert and K-State’s defensive line once again delivered a solid effort.
Special Teams: A. Joshua Youngblood returned the opening kickoff 93 yards for a touchdown, Blake Lynch connected on a pair of field goals and Devin Anctil was good in the punting game. It seems like the Wildcats are excelling in this area every week.
Coaching: A. Chris Klieman and his coaching staff guided the Wildcats to eight victories during their first season in Manhattan and won an important game against Iowa State on Saturday. It’s hard not to be encouraged by what he accomplished in Year 1.
Next up
K-State will have to wait until Dec. 8 to learn its bowl destination. Wherever the Wildcats end up, they will have a chance to win nine games and perhaps finish the year ranked in the top 25.
This story was originally published December 1, 2019 at 11:04 AM with the headline "Grades from Kansas State’s win over Iowa State and a look ahead to bowl season."