‘I live for big games’: How Skylar Thompson keeps leading K-State to signature upsets
Whenever his career as Kansas State’s starting quarterback comes to an end, Skylar Thompson will have a difficult time singling out his greatest victory with the Wildcats.
Was it the time he led K-State to an improbable 45-40 win at No. 10 Oklahoma State as a redshirt freshman? What about the time he beat No. 5 Oklahoma 48-41 as a junior? And who could forget the time he helped K-State beat the Sooners again 38-35 as a senior, this time as a 28-point underdog when OU was ranked No. 3?
There is no wrong answer. That’s the beauty of the situation.
Thompson’s legacy has been complicated thus far. A certain segment of K-State fans are quick to blame him after every loss and another seems ready to build a statue in his honor following every massive upset he helps the Wildcats pull off.
Fresh off his latest signature victory, Thompson poetically summed up his time in purple on Saturday when he leaned back in a chair deep inside Oklahoma’s Memorial Stadium, cracked a smile and described his game in five simple words.
“I live for big games,” Thompson said.
Indeed, Thompson has emerged as one the best giant slayers in K-State football history. He has led the Wildcats to three victories over top 10 opponents, which is something not even some of the best quarterbacks in school history like Michael Bishop, Collin Klein and Ell Roberson were able to match.
Though Thompson will never experience the 11-win seasons those other quarterbacks produced in Manhattan, he has an uncanny knack for playing his best in big moments. He seemed to reach the peak of his powers on Saturday when he helped the Wildcats overcome a 28-7 deficit and beat the Sooners. He led the offense on four straight touchdown drives and a field goal in the second half for the win.
Then he spoke as if he expected to do exactly that the entire game.
“A lot of guys in this locker room have been overlooked, underappreciated, have been slept on, and not given a chance,” Thompson said. “We get the opportunity to go play the No. 3 team in the country on the road as 28-point underdogs today.
“Nobody in the world is giving us a chance to win. What better position could you ask for right now? When I was saying that, looking around, you could see it in everybody’s eyes that they believed. It’s special. I don’t know how else to put it.”
Even when K-State managed just 12 yards of offense in the first quarter and later trailed by 21 in the third quarter, his confidence never wavered.
That seemed to inspire his teammates.
“We were down three touchdowns, had penalties, made mistakes, but this team just kept grinding and believing, man,” Thompson said. “It was so special to be a part of. I’ll remember it for the rest of my life.”
Watching Thompson make big plays while battling some nagging lower body injuries inspired the Wildcats. He completed 18 of 25 passes for 334 yards and a touchdown to go along with three rushing touchdowns as if he was perfectly.
Afterward, he said nothing could have taken him out of that game.
K-State coach Chris Klieman called him a warrior.
“There’s something about this guy,” Klieman said. “When people kind of want to count him out, he makes plays,”
To be fair, Thompson was far from the only reason K-State defeated Oklahoma. He arguably wasn’t even the biggest reason. Defensive back Jahron McPherson led the Wildcats with 11 tackles and created two turnovers, including a game-clinching interception. Deuce Vaughn rumbled for 171 all-purpose yards and a touchdown, the offensive line showed big improvement and A.J. Parker blocked a punt.
But Thompson showed a lot of guts and leadership on Saturday, just like he always seems to do against top 10 teams.
“Honestly, as a quarterback, when you’re composed, everybody else is going to be composed,” McPherson said. “That great leadership by him is just outstanding.
“I’m proud of Skylar. That’s like my brother. He’s been doing this a long time and I’m happy for all his successes that are paying off for him.”
This story was originally published September 28, 2020 at 5:00 AM with the headline "‘I live for big games’: How Skylar Thompson keeps leading K-State to signature upsets."