‘We’ve got better guys’: K-State linebacker expects Wildcats to ‘dominate’ KU
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Purnell asserts Wildcats upgraded personnel and predicts they will dominate Kansas.
- K-State maintains 16-game series streak, though last two wins came in close margins.
- For first time in 16 years KU enters favored; K-State praises Jayhawks yet vows response.
Over the past few years, Kansas State linebacker Desmond Purnell has gained respect for the Kansas Jayhawks.
But his overall thoughts on the Sunflower Showdown football rivalry remain the same as the day he committed to the Wildcats as a high school recruit out of Topeka.
“They are very explosive,” Purnell said of the KU football team. “Really good offense, really good players, whole team, defense-wise, special teams-wise. But I feel like we’ve got better guys. I feel like we’re gonna go out there and dominate.”
A statement like that is bound to be repeated in both locker rooms this week.
It was the boldest comment of the day at K-State’s media availability on Monday. Maybe it will give the Jayhawks extra motivation, or maybe it will give the Wildcats a jolt of confidence.
We haven’t heard much bulletin-board material ahead of the Sunflower Showdown in recent years. Even though the Wildcats have won 16 straight in the series, the past two games have been nail-biters. In 2023, K-State escaped with a 31-27 victory in Lawrence. Last year, K-State survived 29-27 in Manhattan.
For the first time in 16 years, KU is a betting favorite against K-State heading into Saturday’s morning kickoff in Lawrence.
For that reason, head coach Chris Klieman and several K-State players spent most of their time on Monday complimenting the Jayhawks for making enough improvements under Lance Leipold to make this a competitive rivalry.
“They’ve been a really good team the last couple of years,” K-State offensive lineman Taylor Poitier said. “They’re getting better every single year. And it’s really nice. When I was a freshman they weren’t really that good, but they have upped their level of play.”
That may be true.
But at least one K-State football player thinks the Wildcats are still the dominant team in this rivalry.
This story was originally published October 21, 2025 at 10:10 AM with the headline "‘We’ve got better guys’: K-State linebacker expects Wildcats to ‘dominate’ KU."