Analyzing the best and worst case scenarios for Kansas State, importance of Texas game

The next couple of weeks will be critically important for Kansas State and deciding the direction its season will go. The Wildcats currently find themselves one of four teams tied for second place in the Big 12 standings and with one conference loss as a conference championship remains within the realm of possibility.

Derek Young of K-State Online joined On3‘s Andy Staples to discuss the best and worst case scenarios for KSU over its final five games of the season. The best case scenario is clearly reach the Big 12 championship again, while the worst case would be falling in either of the next two games to move out of that discussion.

The Wildcats have Houston on tap in Week 9, but the truly important test for them will come two weeks from now when they travel to Austin to face Texas.

“It’s gonna have quite the spotlight if Kansas State does handle their business against Houston,” Young explained. “You’re talking about also the storyline that will never go away. It is the last year of Texas and Oklahoma in the Big 12. Kansas State still have to exorcise those Texas demons. I don’t believe they have defeated the Longhorns since 2016. So that’s something in itself.

“They have to go to Austin. Both of their losses are on the road, but like you said, Quinn Ewers, perhaps we don’t know what his availability will be for that game.”

Ewers, the starting quarterback for Texas, suffered a sprained AC joint in last week’s win against Houston and will reportedly miss some time. That could have a massive impact on the game, giving Kansas State a slight edge thanks to its quarterback play of late.

The Wildcats entered this past week with a quarterback conundrum after true freshman Avery Johnson ran for a school record five touchdowns in Week 7 against Texas Tech. K-State rolled out both Johnson and Will Howard the next game against TCU and it worked to perfection in a 41-3 blowout win.

Howard threw for three touchdowns while Johnson accounted for another. The two QBs also combined for 135 yards rushing as the Wildcats recorded 343 yards on the ground as a team. Still, even if Ewers is out, recent history indicates it won’t be easy as Texas enters with a six-game win streak in the series.

“Kansas State has had the fortune to play a lot of backup quarterbacks this year, so maybe that continues as well,” Young said. “But with the Longhorns, you also have to remember their backups are still pretty good. At the end of the day, that’s something to be concerned about if you’re Kansas State.

“This will be one of your biggest games you played in the Chris Klieman era. I believe that’s the last team he has not beat that’s in the Big 12.”

Ultimately, the key in this game may come down to whether Kansas State can find some momentum early. Last year, Texas pounced and jumped out to a three-touchdown lead by halftime as the Wildcats were unable to complete the comeback in the second half.

Either way, it’s clear this year’s version of the game will hold a lot of weight in where K-State goes next, and it’ll be interesting to watch what unfolds. First, the Wildcats will have to take care of Houston at 11 a.m. CT on Saturday in Manhattan.