# 2015 Kansas State Wildcats football team

The 2015 Kansas State Wildcats football team represented Kansas State University in the 2015 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Wildcats played their home games at Bill Snyder Family Football Stadium, in Manhattan, Kansas as they have done since 1968. The Wildcats were led by head coach Bill Snyder in his 24th overall and seventh straight season since taking over for his second tenure in 2009. 2015 was the 120th season in school history. K-State was a member of the Big 12 Conference. They finished the season 6–7, 3–6 in Big 12 play to finish in eighth place. They were invited to the Liberty Bowl where they lost to Arkansas.

## Previous season

The 2014 Kansas State Wildcats football team finished the regular season 9-3, with losses to Auburn of the SEC, Baylor and TCU. The Wildcats had been ranked in all polls with the highest ranked in the new College Football Playoff rankings at number 7. Kansas State became bowl eligible after winning its sixth game against Texas on October 25 and was invited to play in the 2015 Alamo Bowl against UCLA. Kansas State fell short to the Bruins in San Antonio, Texas with a loss of 35–40.

## Schedule

Kansas State announced their 2015 football schedule on November 19, 2014. The 2015 schedule consists of seven home games and five away games in the regular season. The Wildcats will host Big 12 foes Baylor, Iowa State, Oklahoma, TCU, and West Virginia and will travel to Kansas, Oklahoma State, Texas, and Texas Tech.
The Wildcats hosted two non conference games against South Dakota and Louisiana Tech and traveled to its other non conference foe UTSA in San Antonio, TX.
On December 6, 2015, Kansas State accepted an invitation to play in the 2016 AutoZone Liberty Bowl on January 2 in Memphis, Tennessee.
| Date | Time | Opponent | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| September 5 | 6:00 p.m. | South Dakota* | Bill Snyder Family Football StadiumManhattan, KS | K-StateHD.TV | W 34–0 | 53,297 |
| September 12 | 11:00 a.m. | at UTSA* | AlamodomeSan Antonio, TX | FS1 | W 30–3 | 29,424 |
| September 19 | 2:00 p.m. | Louisiana Tech* | Bill Snyder Family Football StadiumManhattan, KS | FSN | W 39–33 $^{3OT}$ | 53,540 |
| October 3 | 3:00 p.m. | at No. 20 Oklahoma State | Boone Pickens StadiumStillwater, OK | FS1 | L 34–36 | 57,618 |
| October 10 | 6:30 p.m. | No. 2 TCU | Bill Snyder Family Football StadiumManhattan, KS | FOX | L 45–52 | 53,671 |
| October 17 | 2:30 p.m. | No. 19 Oklahoma | Bill Snyder Family Football StadiumManhattan, KS | ABC | L 0–55 | 52,867 |
| October 24 | 11:00 a.m. | at Texas | Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial StadiumAustin, TX | FS1 | L 9–23 | 88,283 |
| November 5 | 6:30 p.m. | No. 2 Baylor | Bill Snyder Family Football StadiumManhattan, KS | FS1 | L 24–31 | 52,108 |
| November 14 | 2:30 p.m. | at Texas Tech | Jones AT&T StadiumLubbock, TX | FS1 | L 44–59 | 53,833 |
| November 21 | 11:00 a.m. | Iowa State | Bill Snyder Family Football StadiumManhattan, KS (rivalry) | FS1 | W 38–35 | 53,297 |
| November 28 | 3:00 p.m. | at Kansas | Memorial StadiumLawrence, KS (rivalry) | FS1 | W 45–14 | 23,842 |
| December 5 | 3:30 p.m. | West Virginia | Bill Snyder Family Football StadiumManhattan, KS | FS1 | W 24–23 | 52,918 |
| January 2, 2016 | 2:20 p.m. | vs. Arkansas* | Liberty Bowl Memorial StadiumMemphis, TN (Liberty Bowl) | ESPN | L 23–45 | 61,136 |
| *Non-conference gameHomecomingRankings from AP Poll released prior to the gameAll times are in Central time |||||||

## Game summaries
### At UTSA

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Wildcats | 0 | 7 | 6 | 17 | 30 |
| Roadrunners | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |

### Louisiana Tech

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | Total |
| Bulldogs | 0 | 10 | 3 | 10 | 10 | 33 |
| Wildcats | 3 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 16 | 39 |

### At Oklahoma State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Wildcats | 14 | 14 | 0 | 6 | 34 |
| Cowboys | 7 | 13 | 6 | 10 | 36 |
Kansas State traveled to Stillwater, Oklahoma to take on the 25th-ranked Cowboys on October 3, 2015. Late in the second quarter, an officiating error gave Oklahoma State a first down when the offense was four yards short of the line to gain after the third down play. The series ended with a touchdown for Oklahoma State.
The error brought into question Big 12 Conference officiating, especially in light that the game was on the 25th anniversary of the Fifth Down Game between the Colorado Buffaloes and Missouri Tigers. SB Nation published "K-State lost to Oklahoma State, 36-34. Inept Big 12 officials gifted Oklahoma State a touchdown." The Big 12 Conference later acknowledged the error and that disciplinary actions will be addressed with both the field officials and chain crew.
Oklahoma State won the game on a last-minute field goal.

### TCU

| All-time record | Big 12 record | Last meeting | Result |
| 5–4 | 2–2 | 2014 | TCU, 41–20 |
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| #2 Horned Frogs | 14 | 3 | 14 | 21 | 52 |
| Wildcats | 7 | 28 | 0 | 10 | 45 |
at Bill Snyder Family Football Stadium • Manhattan, KS
* Date: October 10, 2015
* Game time: 6:30 p.m. CT (actual: 6:35 p.m. – 10:12 p.m.)
* Game weather: Clear, 76 °F (24 °C), wind S 14 mph (23 km/h)
* Game attendance: 53,671
* Referee: Reggie Smith, Umpire: Joel Bellinger, Linesman: Mike Moeller, Line judge: Mark Stewart, Back judge: Lyndon Nixon, Field judge: Matt Mills, Side judge: Tim Murray, Center judge: Dan Scanlan
* TV announcers (FOX): Gus Johnson (play-by-play), Joel Klatt (color), Molly McGrath (sideline)
* Sources: TCU Game Notes, GoFrogs.com
Game information :
First Quarter
14:42 – TCU – Aaron Green 86-yd run (Jaden Oberkrom, kick), TCU 7 – K-State 0
09:39 – K-State – Joe Hubener 2-yd run (Jack Cantele, kick), TCU 7 – K-State 7
07:46 – TCU – Josh Doctson 32-yd pass from Trevone Boykin (Jaden Oberkrom, kick), TCU 14 – K-State 7
Second Quarter
12:51 – K-State – Joe Hubener 17-yd run (Jack Cantele, kick), TCU 14 – K-State 14
11:32 – TCU – Jaden Oberkrom 50-yd field goal, TCU 17 – K-State 14
06:56 – K-State – Charles Jones 28-yd run (Jack Cantele, kick), TCU 17 – K-State 21
04:56 – K-State – Charles Jones 7-yd run (Jack Cantele, kick), TCU 17 – K-State 28
00:22 – K-State – Joe Hubener 1-yd run (Jack Cantele, kick), TCU 17 – K-State 35
Third Quarter
13:16 – TCU – Derrick Kindred 60-yd interception return (Jaden Oberkom, kick), TCU 24 – K-State 35
07:14 – TCU – Aaron Green 8-yd run (Jaden Oberkrom, kick), TCU 31 – K-State 35
Fourth Quarter
12:21 – K-State – Joe Hubener 1-yd run (Jack Cantele, kick), TCU 31 – K-State 42
07:55 – TCU – Trevone Boykin 14-yd run (Trevone Boykin pass failed), TCU 37 – K-State 42
06:07 – TCU – Trevone Boykin 69-yd run (Josh Doctson pass from Trevone Boykin), TCU 45 – K-State 42
01:47 – K-State – Jack Cantele 37-yd field goal, TCU 45 – K-State 45
01:10 – TCU – Josh Doctson 55-yd pass from Trevone Boykin (Jaden Oberkrom, kick), TCU 52 – K-State 45
Top Passers
TCU – Trevone Boykin: 20–30, 2 INT, 301 yards, 2 TD
K-State – Joe Hubener: 13–33, 1 INT, 157 yards, 0 TD
Top Rushers
TCU – Trevone Boykin: 11 rushes, 124 yards (11.3), 2 TD
K-State – Joe Hubener: 26 rushes, 111 yards (4.3), 4 TD
Top Receiving
TCU – Josh Doctson: 8 receptions, 155 yards, 2 TD
K-State – Deante Burton: 5 receptions, 65 yards, 0 TD :
As the winner of the 2015 TCU–Kansas State football game, TCU took the lead in the all-time series against the Wildcats, with an overall record of 5–4. The Horned Frogs' come-from-behind win marked Gary Patterson's first win as a head coach against his alma mater in Manhattan. Jaden Oberkrom tied the all-time TCU career field goal record with a 50-yd field goal in the first half. The win marked the Frogs' 14th in a row, tying the all-time TCU record for consecutive wins. TCU's 52 points notched a school-record 5-game-50+ point streak. With the win, the Horned Frogs are now 25–1 when ranked in the top 5 and 36–3 when ranked in the top 10 under coach Patterson.

### Oklahoma

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| #19 Oklahoma | 14 | 21 | 13 | 7 | 55 |
| Kansas State | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
at Bill Snyder Family Football Stadium • Manhattan, KS
* Date: October 17, 2015
* Game time: 2:41 p.m. CDT
* Game weather: Temperature: 60 °F (16 °C) • Wind SE 13 mph (21 km/h) • Weather: Cloudy
* Game attendance: 52,867
* Referee: Referee: Dan Romeo • Umpire: Scott Teifer • Linesman: Andy Warner • Line judge: Marc Bovos • Back judge: Chris Alston • Field judge: Ed Vinzant • Side judge: Craig Faulkner • Scorer: Ken Ray
* TV announcers (ABC): Dave LaMont (Play-by-play), Ray Bentley (Color) & Dawn Davenport (Sideline)
Game information :
First Quarter
OU – 13:56 Sterling Shepard 22 yd pass from Baker Mayfield, Austin Seibert XP good (OU 7–0)
OU – 08:33 Joe Mixon 10 yd pass from Baker Mayfield, Austin Seibert XP good (OU 14–0)
Second Quarter
OU – 12:00 Sterling Shepard 28 yd pass from Baker Mayfield, Austin Seibert XP good (OU 21–0)
OU – 07:29 Mark Andrews 3 yd pass from Baker Mayfield, Austin Seibert XP good (OU 28–0)
OU – 04:59 Dede Westbrook 4 yd pass from Baker Mayfield, Austin Seibert XP good (OU 35–0)
Third Quarter
OU – 14:38 Zack Sanchez 38 yd interception return, Austin Seibert XP good (OU 42–0)
OU – 09:27 Austin Seibert 20 yd field goal (OU 45–0)
OU – 03:28 Austin Seibert 19 yd field goal (OU 48–0)
Fourth Quarter
OU – 09:44 Joe Mixon 1 yd run, Austin Seibert XP good (OU 55–0)
Top Passers
OU – Baker Mayfield 20/27, 282 yards, 5 TD
KSU – Joe Hubener 4/14, 39 yards, 2 INT
Top Rushers
OU – Joe Mixon 15 attempts, 73 yards, 1 TD
KSU – Kody Cook 11 attempts, 19 yards
Top Receiving
OU – Dede Westbrook 5 receptions, 85 yards, 1 TD
KSU – Kody Cook 2 receptions, 38 yards
Top Tacklers
OU – Frank Shannon 4 tackles
KSU – Sean Newlan 14 tackles :

### At Texas

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Wildcats | 0 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 9 |
| Longhorns | 3 | 13 | 0 | 7 | 23 |

### Baylor

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Bears | 14 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 31 |
| Wildcats | 7 | 0 | 3 | 14 | 24 |

### At Texas Tech

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Wildcats | 7 | 14 | 7 | 16 | 44 |
| Red Raiders | 28 | 7 | 10 | 14 | 59 |
at Jones AT&T Stadium Lubbock, TX
* Date: November 14
* Game time: 2:30 CT
* Game attendance: 53,833
* TV: FS1
Game information :
First quarter
TTU 12:08 – Justin Stockton 17 yard pass from Patrick Mahomes (Clayton Hatfield kick) TTU 7–0
KSU 11:56 – Morgan Burns 93 yard kickoff return (Jack Cantele kick) tied 7–7
TTU 10:15 – DeAndré Washington 5 yard run (Clayton Hatfield kick) TTU 14–7
TTU 7:51 – DeAndré Washington 80 yard run (Clayton Hatfield kick) TTU 21–7
TTU 4:47 – Justin Stockton 7 yard run (Clayton Hatfield kick) TTU 28–7
Second quarter
KSU 6:02 – Joe Hubener 1 yard run (Jack Cantele kick) TTU 28–14
TTU 3:43 – Devin Lauderdale 19 yard pass from Patrick Mahomes (Clayton Hatfield kick) TTU 35–14
KSU 2:05 – Joe Hubener 1 yard run (Jack Cantele kick) TTU 35–21
Third quarter
KSU 10:00 – Joe Hubener 1 yard run (Jack Cantele kick) TTU 35–28
TTU 7:37 – Justin Stockton 20 yard pass from Patrick Mahomes (Clayton Hatfield kick) TTU 42–28
TTU 5:14 – Clayton Hatfield 48 yard field goal TTU 45–28
Fourth quarter
TTU 11:30 – Patrick Mahomes 4 yard run (Clayton Hatfield kick) TTU 52–28
KSU 7:25 – Dominique Heath 6 yard pass from Joe Hubener TTU 52–34
KSU 5:04 – Kyle Klein 33 yard pass from Joe Hubener (Jack Cantele kick) TTU 52–41
KSU 3:38 – Jack Cantele 43 yard field goal TTU 52–44
TTU 1:02 – DeAndré Washington 12 yard run (Clayton Hatfield kick) TTU 59–44
Leading Passers
KSU – Joe Hubener 19/41, 289 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT
TTU – Patrick Mahomes 33/42, 384 yards, 3 TDs
Leading Rushers
KSU – Joe Hubener 14 carries, 9 yards, 3 TDs
TTU – DeAndré Washington 27 carries, 248 yards, 3 TDs
Leading Receivers
KSU – Kyle Klein 6 receptions, 131 yards, 1 TD
TTU – Devin Lauderdale 10 receptions, 94 yards, 1 TD :
With the win, the Red Raiders broke a two-game losing streak against the Wildcats and became bowl eligible for the first time since the 2013 season. In the third quarter, kicker Clayton Hatfield made a season long 48 yard field goal.

### Iowa State

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Cyclones | 7 | 28 | 0 | 0 | 35 |
| Wildcats | 7 | 7 | 7 | 17 | 38 |
at Bill Snyder Family Football Stadium, Manhattan, KS
* Date: November 21
* Game time: 11:05 a.m. CST
* Game weather: Temperature: 36 °F (2 °C) • Wind N 11–15 mph (18–24 km/h) • Weather: Mostly sunny
* Game attendance: 53,297
* Referee: Referee: Brad Van Vark • Umpire: Michael Cooper • Linesman: George Gusman • Line judge: Jerod Phillips • Back judge: Brian Ernest • Field judge: Jason Ledet • Side judge: Gene Semko • Center judge: Brian Alos
* TV announcers (FS1): Justin Kutcher (Play-by-play) & Steve Hutchinson (Color)
Game information :
First quarter
ISU – 09:36 Trever Ryen 21 yd pass from Joel Lanning, Cole Netten XP good (ISU 7–0)
KSU – 04:50 Winston Dimel 4 yd pass from Glenn Gronkowski, Jack Cantele XP good (Tied 7–7)
Second quarter
ISU – 12:21 Joel Lanning 1 yd run, Cole Netten XP good (ISU 14–7)
ISU – 08:11 Allen Lazard 30 yd pass from Joel Lanning, Cole Netten XP good (ISU 21–7)
KSU – 07:59 Morgan Burns 100 yd kickoff return, Jack Cantle XP good (ISU 21–14)
ISU – 07:34 Mike Warren 76 yd run, Cole Netten XP good (ISU 28–14)
ISU – 00:29 Allen Lazard 16 yd pass from Joel Lanning, Cole Netten XP good (ISU 35–14)
Third quarter
KSU – 08:49 Charles Jones 8 yd run, Jack Cantele XP good (ISU 35–21)
Fourth quarter
KSU – 13:13 Kody Cook 7 yd pass from Joe Hubener, Jack Cantele XP good (ISU 35–28)
KSU – 00:42 Charles Jones 5 yd run, Jack Cantele XP good (Tied 35–35)
KSU – 00:03 Jack Cantele 42 yd field goal good (KSU 38–35)
Top passers
ISU – Joel Lanning 15/20, 210 yards, 3 TD
KSU – Joe Hubener 18/31, 216 yards, 1 TD
Top rushers
ISU – Mike Warren 22 attempts, 195 yards, 1 TD
KSU – Joe Hubener 20 attempts, 90 yards
Top receivers
ISU – Allen Lazard 5 receptions, 87 yards, 2 TD
KSU – Kody Cook 5 receptions, 68 yards, 1 TD
Top tacklers
ISU – Brian Mills 8 tackles
KSU – Kendall Adams 12 tackles :

### At Kansas

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Wildcats | 28 | 7 | 3 | 7 | 45 |
| Jayhawks | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 14 |

### West Virginia

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Mountaineers | 3 | 10 | 7 | 3 | 23 |
| Wildcats | 0 | 3 | 14 | 7 | 24 |

### Vs. Arkansas

After finishing their season 6–6, the Wildcats accepted their invitation to play in the game.
This was the Wildcats' first Liberty Bowl. They would later play Navy in the 2019 Liberty Bowl where they would again suffer defeat.
Scoring summary :
| Quarter | Time | Drive | Drive | Drive | Team | Scoring information | Score | Score |
| Quarter | Time | Plays | Yards | TOP | Team | Scoring information | K-ST | ARK |
| 1 | 11:38 | 4 | 27 | 1:52 | K-ST | Winston Dimel 10-yard touchdown run, Matthew McCrane kick good | 7 | 0 |
| 1 | 8:15 | 6 | 72 | 3:23 | ARK | Alex Collins 22-yard touchdown run, Cole Hedlund kick good | 7 | 7 |
| 1 | 3:50 | 8 | 46 | 4:18 | K-ST | 36-yard field goal by Matthew McCrane | 10 | 7 |
| 1 | 2:22 | 3 | 24 | 1:17 | ARK | Jared Cornelius 13-yard touchdown run, Cole Hedlund kick good | 10 | 14 |
| 2 | 13:05 | 8 | 64 | 3:04 | ARK | Alex Collins 13-yard touchdown run, Cole Hedlund kick good | 10 | 21 |
| 2 | 2:08 | 9 | 55 | 4:59 | ARK | 26-yard field goal by Cole Hedlund | 10 | 24 |
| 2 | 0:21 | 8 | 49 | 1:41 | K-ST | 21-yard field goal by Matthew McCrane | 13 | 24 |
| 3 | 12:44 | 4 | 74 | 2:10 | K-ST | Winston Dimel 48-yard touchdown reception from Kody Cook, Matthew McCrane kick good | 20 | 24 |
| 3 | 7:54 | 9 | 82 | 4:42 | ARK | Jeremy Sprinkel 6-yard touchdown reception from Brandon Allen, Cole Hedlund kick good | 20 | 31 |
| 3 | 1:46 | 11 | 47 | 6:02 | K-ST | 32-yard field goal by Matthew McCrane | 23 | 31 |
| 4 | 12:04 | 8 | 78 | 4:34 | ARK | Alex Collins 14-yard touchdown run, Cole Hedlund kick good | 23 | 38 |
| 4 | 4:46 | 9 | 80 | 5:38 | ARK | Kody Walker 10-yard touchdown run, Cole Hedlund kick good | 23 | 45 |
| "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | 23 | 45 |
Source:
| Statistics | K-ST | ARK |
| First Downs | 13 | 30 |
| Total offense, plays - yards | 47–242 | 68–569 |
| Rushes-yards (net) | 22–79 | 42–254 |
| Passing yards (net) | 163 | 315 |
| Passes, Comp-Att-Int | 12–25–1 | 20–26–1 |
| Time of Possession | 22:30 | 37:30 |
Arkansas running back Alex Collins was named the game's MVP, after gaining 185 yards and 3 touchdowns on 23 carries.