Kansas State players of the game in 42-17 win over Kansas

Kansas State offensive MVP: Jayce Brown

I really went back and forth between two different options for the Kansas State offensive player of the game. Ultimately, I am choosing Jayce Brown. The K-State wideout was a big play machine in the 17th straight win over Kansas. He is actually becoming a bit of a Jayhawk killer, actually.

Brown totaled 160 receiving yards on just four catches and a touchdown. The 160 yards is a new career high for the junior. The Florida native has now totaled 354 receiving yards in his three games versus Kansas.

Brown also added two yards on the ground, but that is a bit skewed by a loss of six on one run play.

Avery Johnson was fantastic as well. There are probably a few plays he will want back, but it was as good as he has been. The last three games for Johnson have been great and he continues to see the field well.

Johnson threw for 231 yards and two scores on just 17 attempts. He also ran for 17 yards and two more touchdowns.

The stat line of Jaron Tibbs won’t blow anyone away, but he was much better than the stats show, in my opinion. One of the plays Johnson likely wants back was missing the Kansas State wideout streaking wide open in the middle of the field.

Defensive MVP: Joe Klanderman

I’ve been as hard on K-State defensive coordinator Joe Klanderman as anyone this season. His play calling on third downs has been a bit maddening at times. However, he deserves a lot of flowers for the way his unit played today.

Kansas had one play of over 15 yards on a Kansas State defense which has been prone to the big play.

Klanderman dialed up timely blitzes, getting hits on Jalon Daniels and really seemed to fluster the Kansas quarterback. The K-State defense finished with three turnovers, including turning Daniels over twice and held the Jayhawk quarterback to less than 50 percent on his completion percentage.

Malcolm Alcorn-Crowder deserves a lot of credit as well. He has been the best defensive lineman this season. Period. Not just defensive tackle. Alcorn-Crowder totaled four tackles, including a sack and recovered a fumble.

Desmond Purnell continues to be on a heater and was everywhere once again. The Topeka native totaled nine tackles, including 1.5 for a loss, a sack, a pass break-up, forced a fumble and hit Daniels a few times. He stuffed the stat sheet for the second game in a row from the linebacker spot.

K-State special teams MVP: Mason Olguin

Hear me out on this. Kansas’ long snapper gave Kansas State free points early in the first quarter. Mason Olguin was perfect on every long snap K-State had. It was a pretty quiet day for special teams outside of a fumble by Bryce Noernberg.

Simon McClannan did not do anything special and had a few brutal punts, and Luis Rodriguez just kicked extra points. Olguin did a good job of not giving the Jayhawks a free turnover.