# 2020 Kansas State Wildcats football team

The 2020 Kansas State Wildcats football team represented Kansas State University in the 2020 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Wildcats played their home games at Bill Snyder Family Football Stadium in Manhattan, Kansas, and competed in the Big 12 Conference. They were led by second-year head coach Chris Klieman.
After completing their regular season with a record of 4–6 (4–5 in conference play), the program announced on December 16 that it would not pursue a bid to a bowl game, "because of mounting COVID-19 issues on its roster."

## Previous season

The Wildcats finished the 2019 season with an 8–5 record, 5–4 Big 12 play, losing the Liberty Bowl to Navy.

## Preseason
### Big 12 media Days

The Big 12 media days were held on July 21–22, 2020 in a virtual format due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

### Big 12 media poll

Big 12 media poll :
| Predicted finish | Team | Votes (1st place) |
| 1 | Oklahoma | 80 |
| 2 | Oklahoma State | 6 |
| 3 | Texas | 4 |
| 4 | Iowa State | |
| 5 | Baylor | |
| 6 | TCU | |
| 7 | Kansas State | |
| 8 | West Virginia | |
| 9 | Texas Tech | |
| 10 | Kansas | |

## Schedule
### Regular season

Kansas State released its 2020 schedule on October 22, 2019.
The Wildcats had games scheduled against Buffalo and North Dakota as out of conference opponents, but these games were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In fact, the whole season schedule was changed and the finalized one is shown below. The original schedule is shown under Game Summaries.
| Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| September 12 | 11:00 a.m. | Arkansas State* | | Bill Snyder Family StadiumManhattan, KS | FOX | L 31–35 | 11,041 |
| September 26 | 11:00 a.m. | at No. 3 Oklahoma | | Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial StadiumNorman, OK | FOX | W 38–35 | 22,700 |
| October 3 | 2:30 p.m. | Texas Tech | | Bill Snyder Family StadiumManhattan, KS | FS1 | W 31–21 | 10,932 |
| October 10 | 3:00 p.m. | at TCU | | Amon G. Carter StadiumFort Worth, TX | FOX | W 21–14 | 12,208 |
| October 24 | 11:00 a.m. | Kansas | No. 20 | Bill Snyder Family StadiumManhattan, KS (rivalry) | FS1 | W 55–14 | 10,801 |
| October 31 | 11:00 a.m. | at West Virginia | No. 16 | Milan Puskar StadiumMorgantown, WV | ESPN2 | L 10–37 | 10,441 |
| November 7 | 3:00 p.m. | No. 14 Oklahoma State | | Bill Snyder Family StadiumManhattan, KS | FOX | L 18–20 | 11,980 |
| November 21 | 3:00 p.m. | at No. 17 Iowa State | | Jack Trice StadiumAmes, IA (rivalry) | FOX | L 0–45 | 0 |
| November 28 | 6:00 p.m. | at Baylor | | McLane StadiumWaco, TX | ESPN2 | L 31–32 | 11,667 |
| December 5 | 11:00 a.m. | Texas | | Bill Snyder Family StadiumManhattan, KS | FOX | L 31–69 | 9,851 |
| *Non-conference gameRankings from AP Poll and CFP Rankings (after November 24) released prior to gameAll times are in Central time ||||||||
    Schedule Source:

## Coaching staff

| Name | Position | Year at Kansas State | Previous job |
| Chris Klieman | Head coach | 2nd | North Dakota State (HC) |
| Joe Klanderman | DC/S | 2nd | North Dakota State (DB) |
| Courtney Messingham | OC/TE | 2nd | North Dakota State (OC/RB) |
| Van Malone | AHC/PGC/CB | 2nd | Mississippi State (DA) |
| Brian Anderson | RB | 2nd | Illinois State (WR) |
| Collin Klein | QB | 6th | Northern Iowa (QB) |
| Jason Ray | WR | 2nd | North Dakota State (WR) |
| Conor Riley | OL | 2nd | North Dakota State (OL) |
| Steve Stanard | LB | 1st | Syracuse University (DE) |
| Mike Tuiasosopo | DT | 2nd | UTEP (DL) |
| Buddy Wyatt | DE | 2nd | Kansas (senior analyst) |

## Game summaries
### Vs. Arkansas State

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Arkansas State | 7 | 7 | 7 | 14 | 35 |
| Kansas State | 7 | 14 | 0 | 10 | 31 |
at Bill Snyder Family Stadium • Manhattan, KS
* Date: Saturday, September 12, 2020
* Game time: 11:00 a.m. CDT
* Game weather: partly cloudy • Temperature: 70°F
* Game attendance: 11,041
* Referee: Scott Campbell
* TV announcers (Fox): Gus Johnson, Joel Klatt, and Jenny Taft
* Pregame line: Kansas State –15; O/U: 54.5
| Statistics | ARST | KSU |
| First downs | 26 | 21 |
| Total yards | 489 | 374 |
| Rushes/yards | 159 | 91 |
| Passing yards | 330 | 283 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 25-38-1 | 18-30-0 |
| Time of possession | 25:44 | 34:16 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Arkansas State | Passing | Logan Bonner | 17–28, 204 yds, 2 TD, 1 INT |
| Arkansas State | Rushing | Jamal Jones | 16 carries, 95 yds |
| Arkansas State | Receiving | Jonathan Adams, Jr. | 8 receptions, 98 yds, 3 td |
| Kansas State | Passing | Skylar Thompson | 17–29, 259 yds, 2 TD |
| Kansas State | Rushing | Deuce Vaughn | 12 carries, 47 yds, 1 TD |
| Kansas State | Receiving | Chabastin Taylor | 4 recptions, 98 yds |
Both teams entered the game with a reduced roster due to the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. Arkansas State was down nearly 10 starters and K-State was without approximately two dozen players—however, both teams had enough active personnel to play the game. After the game, Arkansas State announced that it will not play its home opener game Central Arkansas the Red Wolves were unable to assemble a complete depth chart for the game.

### At No. 3 Oklahoma

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Kansas State | 0 | 7 | 14 | 17 | 38 |
| No. 3 Oklahoma | 7 | 14 | 14 | 0 | 35 |
at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium • Norman, OK
* Date: Saturday, September 26, 2020
* Game time: 11:00 a.m. CDT
* Game weather: • Temperature:
* Game attendance: 22,700
* Referee: Brad Van Vark
* TV announcers (FOX): Gus Johnson (Play-by-Play), Joel Klatt (analyst), Jenny Taft (sideline)
* Pregame line: –28
| Statistics | KSU | OKLA |
| First downs | 10 | 28 |
| Total yards | 390 | 517 |
| Rushes/yards | 26-56 | 35-130 |
| Passing yards | 334 | 387 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 18-25 | 30-41 |
| Time of possession | 27:52 | 32:08 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Kansas State | Passing | Skylar Thompson | 18–25, 334 yds, 1 TD |
| Kansas State | Rushing | Deuce Vaughn | 8 carries, 35 yards, 1 TD |
| Kansas State | Receiving | Deuce Vaughn | 4 receptions, 129 yards |
| Oklahoma | Passing | Spencer Rattler | 30–41, 387 yards, 4 TD, 3 INT |
| Oklahoma | Rushing | Seth McGowan | 13 carries, 73 yards, 1 TD |
| Oklahoma | Receiving | Drake Stoops | 3 receptions, 93 yards, 1 TD |

### Vs. Texas Tech

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Texas Tech | 0 | 0 | 14 | 7 | 21 |
| Kansas State | 7 | 7 | 3 | 14 | 31 |
at Bill Snyder Family Stadium • Manhattan, KS
* Date: Saturday, October 3, 2020
* Game time: 2:30 p.m. CDT
* Game weather: Sunny • Temperature: 66 °F (19 °C) • Wind: N 12 MPH
* Game attendance: 10,932
* Referee: Tuta Salaam
* TV announcers (FS1): Joe Davis and Mark Helfrich
* Pregame line:
| Statistics | TTU | KSU |
| First downs | 27 | 20 |
| Total yards | 471 | 404 |
| Rushes/yards | 34-204 | 42-198 |
| Passing yards | 267 | 206 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 34-49-1 | 12-22-0 |
| Time of possession | 31:39 | 28:21 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Texas Tech | Passing | Henry Colombi | 30–42, 244 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT |
| Texas Tech | Rushing | Xavier White | 12 carries, 113 yards, 1 TD |
| Texas Tech | Receiving | Erik Ezukanma | 5 receptions, 77 yards |
| Kansas State | Passing | Will Howard | 7-12, 173 yards, 1 TD |
| Kansas State | Rushing | Deuce Vaughn | 16 carries, 113 yards, 1 TD |
| Kansas State | Receiving | Deuce Vaughn | 3 receptions, 81 yards, 1 TD |

### At TCU

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Kansas State | 6 | 8 | 7 | 0 | 21 |
| TCU | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 14 |
at Amon G. Carter Stadium • Fort Worth, TX
* Date: Saturday, October 10, 2020
* Game time: 3:00 p.m. CDT
* Game weather: • Temperature:
* Game attendance: 12,208
* TV: FOX
* Pregame line: TCU -11.0
| Statistics | KSU | TCU |
| First downs | 12 | 20 |
| Total yards | 289 | 342 |
| Rushes/yards | 38-172 | 37-189 |
| Passing yards | 117 | 153 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 8-19-1 | 22-38-1 |
| Time of possession | 30:15 | 29:45 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Kansas State | Passing | Will Howard | 8-19, 117 yards, 1 INT |
| Kansas State | Rushing | Will Howard | 13 carries, 86 yards, 1 TD |
| Kansas State | Receiving | Deuce Vaughn | 1 reception, 45 yards |
| TCU | Passing | Max Duggan | 19–31, 154 yards |
| TCU | Rushing | Darwin Barlow | 8 carries, 56 yards, 1 TD |
| TCU | Receiving | Blair Conwright | 6 receptions, 60 yards |

### Vs. Kansas (homecoming)

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Kansas | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 14 |
| No. 20 Kansas State | 7 | 27 | 21 | 0 | 55 |
at Bill Snyder Family Stadium • Manhattan, KS
* Date: Saturday, October 24, 2020
* Game time: 11:00 a.m. CDT
* Game weather: Cloudy • Temperature: 40 °F (4 °C) • Wind: SE 8 MPH
* Game attendance: 10,801
* Referee: Kevin Hassell
* TV announcers (FS1): Eric Collins, Ben Leber
* Pregame line: KSU -19.0
| Statistics | KAN | KSU |
| First downs | 18 | 17 |
| Total yards | 320 | 381 |
| Rushes/yards | 39-113 | 33-129 |
| Passing yards | 207 | 252 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 22-39-1 | 18-28-0 |
| Time of possession | 30:40 | 29:20 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Kansas | Passing | Jalon Daniels | 22–39, 207 yards, 1 INT |
| Kansas | Rushing | Velton Gardner | 16 carries, 72 yards |
| Kansas | Receiving | Kwamie Lassiter II | 7 receptions, 58 yards |
| Kansas State | Passing | Will Howard | 17–24, 243 yards, 2 TD |
| Kansas State | Rushing | Deuce Vaughn | 11 carries, 71 yards, 1 TD |
| Kansas State | Receiving | Deuce Vaughn | 4 receptions, 81 yards |
Phillip Brooks, sophomore wide receiver, had two punt returns in the first half.

### At West Virginia

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Kansas State | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| West Virginia | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
at Milan Puskar Stadium • Morgantown, WV
* Date: Saturday, October 31, 2020
* Game time: 11:00 a.m. CDT
* Game weather: • Temperature:
* Game attendance: 10,441
* TV: ESPN2
* Pregame line:
* Statistics
* First downs
* Total yards
* Rushes/yards
* Passing yards
* Passing: Comp–Att–Int
* Time of possession
| Team | Category |
| Kansas State | Passing |
| Kansas State | Rushing |
| Kansas State | Receiving |
| West Virginia | Passing |
| West Virginia | Rushing |
| West Virginia | Receiving |

### Vs. No. 14 Oklahoma State

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 14 Oklahoma State | 0 | 0 | 13 | 7 | 20 |
| Kansas State | 3 | 9 | 0 | 6 | 18 |
at Bill Snyder Family Stadium • Manhattan, KS
* Date: Saturday, November 7, 2020
* Game time: CST
* Game weather: Sunny • Temperature: 75 °F (24 °C)
* Game attendance: 11,980
* Referee: Michael Vandervelde
* TV announcers (FOX): Tim Brando (play-by-play), Spencer Tillman (analyst)
* Pregame line:
| Statistics | OKST | KSU |
| First downs | 14 | 15 |
| Total yards | 256 | 370 |
| Rushes/yards | 40–148 | 44–227 |
| Passing yards | 108 | 143 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 14–23–0 | 10–22–1 |
| Time of possession | 28:09 | 31:51 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Oklahoma State | Passing | Spencer Sanders | 14/23, 108 yards |
| Oklahoma State | Rushing | LD Brown | 15 carries, 110 yards |
| Oklahoma State | Receiving | Dillon Stoner | 7 receptions, 62 yards |
| Kansas State | Passing | Will Howard | 10/21, 143 yards, TD, INT |
| Kansas State | Rushing | Will Howard | 14 carries, 125 yards, TD |
| Kansas State | Receiving | Sammy Wheeler | 1 reception, 58 yards |

### At Iowa State

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Kansas State | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| No. 17 Iowa State | 7 | 28 | 3 | 7 | 45 |
at Jack Trice Stadium • Ames, IA
* Date: Thursday, November 21, 2020
* Game time: 3:00 p.m. CST
* Game weather: Overcast • Temperature: 41°F
* Game attendance: 0
* Referee: Brandon Cruse
* TV announcers (FOX): Tim Brando, Spencer Tillman
* Pregame line: Iowa State −13½
| Statistics | KSU | ISU |
| First downs | 9 | 26 |
| Total yards | 149 | 539 |
| Rushes/yards | 28–73 | 44–240 |
| Passing yards | 76 | 299 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 9–19–1 | 19–25–0 |
| Time of possession | 23:05 | 36:55 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Kansas State | Passing | Nick Ast | 6/10, 44 yards |
| Kansas State | Rushing | Deuce Vaughn | 7 carries, 44 yards |
| Kansas State | Receiving | Chabastin Taylor | 2 receptions, 37 yards |
| Iowa State | Passing | Brock Purdy | 16/20, 236 yards, 3 TD |
| Iowa State | Rushing | Breece Hall | 15 carries, 135 yards, 2 TD |
| Iowa State | Receiving | Xavier Hutchinson | 6 receptions, 111 yards, TD |

### At Baylor

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Kansas State | 14 | 3 | 0 | 14 | 31 |
| Baylor | 6 | 0 | 9 | 17 | 32 |
at McLane Stadium • Waco, TX
* Date: Saturday, November 28, 2020
* Game time: 6:00 p.m. CST
* Game weather: Rain • Temperature: 55°F
* Game attendance: 11,667
* Referee: Kevin Mar
* TV: ESPN2
* Pregame line: Baylor –5.0
| Statistics | KSU | BAY |
| First downs | 14 | 21 |
| Total yards | 344 | 420 |
| Rushes/yards | 35–256 | 36–71 |
| Passing yards | 88 | 349 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 9–18–2 | 31–39–0 |
| Time of possession | 25:42 | 34:18 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Kansas State | Passing | Will Howard | 9/18, 88 yards, TD, 2 INT |
| Kansas State | Rushing | Deuce Vaughn | 19 carries, 102 yards, TD |
| Kansas State | Receiving | Briley Moore | 2 receptions, 55 yards |
| Baylor | Passing | Charlie Brewer | 31/39, 349 yards, 2 TD |
| Baylor | Rushing | Charlie Brewer | 23 carries, 56 yards, 2 TD |
| Baylor | Receiving | R.J. Sneed | 6 receptions, 86 yards, TD |

### Vs. Texas

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Texas | 17 | 14 | 35 | 3 | 69 |
| Kansas State | 7 | 10 | 14 | 0 | 31 |
at Bill Snyder Family Stadium • Manhattan, KS
* Date: Saturday, December 5, 2020
* Game time: 11:00 a.m. CST
* Game weather: Sunny, 43 °F (6 °C), Wind: N 9 mph (14 km/h)
* Game attendance: 9,851
* Referee: M Vandervelde
* TV announcers (FOX): Gus Johnson, Joel Klatt
* Pregame line:
| Statistics | TEX | KSU |
| First downs | 26 | 24 |
| Total yards | 608 | 448 |
| Rushes/yards | 33–334 | 46–274 |
| Passing yards | 274 | 174 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 20–27–0 | 16–27–2 |
| Time of possession | 24:20 | 35:40 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Texas | Passing | Sam Ehlinger | 20/27, 274 yards, 2 TD |
| Texas | Rushing | Bijan Robinson | 9 carries, 172 yards, 3 TD |
| Texas | Receiving | Jake Smith | 4 receptions, 55 yards |
| Kansas State | Passing | Will Howard | 16/27, 174 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT |
| Kansas State | Rushing | Deuce Vaughn | 10 carries, 125 yards, 2 TD |
| Kansas State | Receiving | Malik Knowles | 6 receptions, 95 yards, 2 TD |

## Rankings

Ranking movements Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking — = Not ranked RV = Received votes :
| | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week |
| Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | Final |
| AP | — | | | | | RV | RV | 22 | 20 | 16 | RV | | | | | |
| Coaches | RV | | — | | | RV | RV | 22 | 19 | 16 | RV | RV | RV | | | |
| CFP | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | | | | Not released |

## Players drafted into the NFL

| Round | Pick | Player | Position | NFL Club |
| 7 | 235 | Wyatt Hubert | DE | Cincinnati Bengals |