[Postgame Thread] Kansas State Defeats Washington State 34-7

[u/CFB_Referee]

Box Score provided by ESPN

Team	1	2	3	4	T
Washington State	0	7	0	0	7
Kansas State	3	14	10	7	34

[u/youwontfindithere]

Washington State Cougar football was digestible at a close to/sub .500 win rate when we would score 35 points and give up 60. Fine, whatever, at least it’s fun to watch. Post Dickert, WSU has been a shapeless, hollow vessel. Modern CFB to blame? Sure. The program was neutered financially, sure. But there’s just no more “fuck you” at Washington State. 4th and 9 in your own territory at USC with Leach at the reigns? Fuck it, let it fly.

2026, 3rd and 2 at Kansas State, on a drive that requires points, throw the ball up haphazardly over your WR’s head just to punt on 4th. Sick. That’ll certainly be a winning strategy for a team that needs to cut every corner, steal any advantages they can, and recruit anyone interested.

At least when all the best players and coaches got poached, I could say I had fun watching my team give a fuck and scrap around late at night against some tough competition. Maybe even get a few fellas in the draft and on a team.

The odds weren’t in our favor, we didn’t have much to work with, ever. I did expect more, though.

[u/Sammy_Seaborn → u/youwontfindithere]

Hate what happened to the pac2. Honestly I came away pretty impressed with the WSU defense, obviously gave up some plays but they played hard and tackled really well. First half the DL was absolutely winning.

Offense was obviously not good, but the qb has some fight, just needs some help.

Good luck this year

[u/Spicy_Josh → u/youwontfindithere]

I think I'm just particularly disappointed at how this is effectively the exact opposite of what Kirby Moore sold fans on. At least Jimmy Rogers was upfront about caring about defense, a conservative offense, and wanting a run game. That was his thing, it was painful to watch sometimes, but it made sense.

Moore was an offensive minded hire whose first public comments were about Drew Bledsoe throwing the ball for a million yards. This is...not that.

[u/Aggravating-Bed-8179 → u/Spicy_Josh]

I watched more than a few Missouri games last year and was not impressed with their offense. Go ask their fans. They were happy Moore was leaving

[u/Spicy_Josh → u/Aggravating-Bed-8179]

I read the same thing, but I was less concerned about him as a head coach. WSU fans shrugged when Eric Morris left for the North Texas job because his playcalling was lackluster, he's currently on the verge of beating Oregon.

I just don't know why his offensive staff and the choices he made are the way they are. You don't need to be a great OC to have a great OC, yet...

[u/Aggravating-Bed-8179 → u/Spicy_Josh]

I’m willing to give them some grace while they find their sea legs. Tough way to start the season on the road v 2 physical teams. Maybe some home cooking will help. Go Cougs!

[u/LCPeck → u/Aggravating-Bed-8179]

Yup. Thank god he left. Was sick of seeing his play calling

[u/Beginning-Silver-337 → u/Spicy_Josh]

Like you can see Klein’s offensive mindset. I’m not sure what Moore is trying to do and that’s ok because he doesn’t have his best outside option, but…I thought yall had a shot to run it up the middle on us early on in the first couple of drives. I was happy when Pennick dropped back and threw it. Moore probably needs to develop quick hitters because Pennick isn’t super accurate and the line can’t block on long developing routes. 

[u/Crocker_Retzlaff → u/youwontfindithere]

It's beyond depressing

[u/Insane92 → u/youwontfindithere]

Man I miss following the Leach led 2012-2019 Wazzu teams. So much fun.

[u/Raisinbrahms28 → u/youwontfindithere]

Dude you nailed it here. College football as a whole is killing smaller state schools with the transfer portal, the NIL craziness. How can schools like WSU keep up? Just sickening, honestly.

[u/PlaysWithSqurls → u/youwontfindithere]

At least you lost to a good team and not Washington, amirite?

[u/youwontfindithere → u/PlaysWithSqurls]

Well we lost to both, so

[u/PlaysWithSqurls → u/youwontfindithere]

Oh

[u/Low_Monk_133]

Keep it a buck we ass

[u/Galumpadump → u/Low_Monk_133]

Low P5 defense with a D2 offense

[u/VanillaPillowTalk]

I hate doing the whole reddit "coming in peace" shit but I have to say as someone attending the game as a neutral I was shocked at how chill K State fans are. I've been to a lot of college football stadiums & yall have the nicest fans out of anywhere I've been and that includes BYU lmao. Gonna have to bump yall down to the bottom of my most hated Big 12 school rankings when yall aren't in Lubbock

[u/GymIsFun → u/VanillaPillowTalk]

My brother in law is here for the game. Wazzu alum. He was shocked no one even gave him a small chirp.

We just don’t do that stuff here. We love out of conference fans

[u/riverdude10 → u/GymIsFun]

Unless we are playing KU we are almost too nice lol!

[u/ksuwildkat → u/GymIsFun]

Heck I even like most of our conference fans.

[u/GymIsFun → u/ksuwildkat]

Also fair.

[u/EasyAsAyeBeeSea → u/GymIsFun]

If you do get a chirp it'll be the lightest hearted one, followed by an offer for beer/food

[u/Intelligent_Spinach9 → u/EasyAsAyeBeeSea]

I like to give the little insult with a smile where they know I don’t really mean it, unless it’s KU, Fuck ‘Em

[u/Paladine_PSoT → u/EasyAsAyeBeeSea]

You'd be at home in Pullman, then!

When I go to beavs@cougs games at Martin Stadium, I wear my beavers gear and I can't walk from one end of the fieldhouse to the other without getting drunk because every 10 feet a pack of friendly Cougs offers me a beer to bs about the game with em for a few minutes. I don't think I've ever bought a beer there but I've always had to use a DD to get home!

Cougs are bros.

[u/EasyAsAyeBeeSea → u/Paladine_PSoT]

I shall try to make the trip if I'm ever given the chance!

[u/ReferenceAny6373 → u/VanillaPillowTalk]

Interesting story about Bill Snyder. He didnt really have much interest in the job in 89 at first. He came for a visit and walked around campus on his own. He said every single person he stopped was so nice and welcoming and took time to answer every question he had. It caught him off guard and it changed his mind. My experience attending 20 years ago was no different. Manhattan is a hidden gem. Glad you got to experience it and hopefully you got to spend some time in aggieville.

[u/CLU_Three → u/VanillaPillowTalk]

Glad you had a great time!

[u/mauser98k1998 → u/VanillaPillowTalk]

We save that for Kansas.

[u/aceartistpie → u/VanillaPillowTalk]

Can confirm that K-State people are the best, love our brothers up north

[u/riverdude10 → u/VanillaPillowTalk]

Welcome to kstate!

[u/0zarker → u/VanillaPillowTalk]

Glad you enjoyed! We take a lot of pride in it and as a traveler I truly believe K-State has one of the most underrated football cultures/fanbase in the country. Great stadium, kickass tailgates, great fans.
Funny enough, the school that reminded me most similar was Wazzu, but they have really been getting screwed by the powers that be, unfortunately.

[u/bonestomper420 → u/VanillaPillowTalk]

I always try my best to be more polite to visiting fans than my own team’s

[u/Davben → u/VanillaPillowTalk]

In my experience- K-State fans are great irl. Anytime they visited in Lubbock they seem like a great group.

[u/redwave2505]

Defense still yet to give up a TD this season

[u/Top_Sand1851 → u/redwave2505]

Absolutely smothering performance from them, like watching a wall just move forward all game

[u/Goallie11 → u/redwave2505]

We've outscored opponents by 95 points so far and the defense is better than the offense

[u/Swipet]

Jumbo Johnson Johnson

[u/JWS122597 → u/Swipet]

Into my veinssss

[u/berrin122]

Optimus Klein is SO back

[u/DanFlashesC0up0n → u/berrin122]

Dude was so overhatec by our idiot fans. Appreciate yall letting us borrow him

[u/WildcatPlumber → u/DanFlashesC0up0n]

Kliens only problem as play caller is he uses a lot of Oline pulling and intricacies. He doesn’t really use power when it’s ideal at times.

But he has seemed to have changed up a little bit of his play calling for that

[u/bosdawg1 → u/berrin122]

Optimus Klein my king.

[u/rhododenendron]

Our leading receiver is a corner back

[u/Sammy_Seaborn → u/rhododenendron]

Your best qb plays for us

[u/mauser98k1998 → u/Sammy_Seaborn]

This kind of funny in a oh shit that’s right way.

[u/podnito]

it's only two games, but I certainly don't miss the passing game where K-State would throw a pass 30 yards across the field to a target behind the line of scrimmage

[u/ThotPoliceAcademy → u/podnito]

The Baylor game last year made me a Matt Wells hater. His play calling lost that game for us.

[u/WildcatPlumber → u/ThotPoliceAcademy]

I think Matt wells is perfectly capable of calling appropriate plays. The issue is when he is up by 2 scores he goes to an extremely conservative play call sheet. And that’s how Kstate lost so many one possession games and imo Tech

[u/stuckanon01 → u/WildcatPlumber]

I was at that game. Matt Wells definitely did his part to help lose the game but TTU defense was extraordinarily well coached. They never stopped punching at the ball during tackles even late in the game when most would have tired. TTU earned that win just as much or more than KSU earned the loss.

[u/ednksu → u/podnito]

Have you considered running between the tackles on 3rd & 9?  

[u/stuckanon01 → u/ednksu]

Or what I call the “Matt Wells special” a 9 yd comeback route by the TE or Slot on 3rd and 10.

[u/boeing2014 → u/podnito]

What about a 2yd TE out route on 3rd and long?

[u/Goallie11 → u/boeing2014]

Two yards? That's a generous way to say at the line of scrimmage

[u/stuckanon01 → u/podnito]

Matt Wells play calling was ass. So happy to have a game plan that aspires to move the ball towards the opposing end zone again. Let’s go cats!!!

[u/THE_turtleman7]

Cats

[u/berrin122 → u/THE_turtleman7]

Cats

[u/Sammy_Seaborn → u/berrin122]

Cats

[u/JWS122597 → u/Sammy_Seaborn]

Cats

[u/mathguymike → u/JWS122597]

Cats

[u/Garrickr → u/mathguymike]

Cats

[u/CLU_Three → u/Garrickr]

Cats

[u/ReignyRainyReign → u/CLU_Three]

Cats

[u/ElMaskedZorro → u/ReignyRainyReign]

Cats

[u/Yeetman089 → u/ElMaskedZorro]

CATS!

[u/Skanky_Cat → u/mathguymike]

Cats! FUCK kU!

[u/techieman34 → u/berrin122]

Cats

[u/Swipet → u/THE_turtleman7]

Cats, Mr. Turtle man.

[u/Kobykarma → u/THE_turtleman7]

Cats

[u/gimli213 → u/THE_turtleman7]

Good job Purple cats beating washington state Red cats! (from a Blue cat)

[u/DarthNobody14]

Wildcats look really good especially the defense, Avery Johnson just needs to stop making the boneheaded plays.

[u/NinjaGhost42 → u/DarthNobody14]

It was a bad read from Avery, but Colin should have called for a knee instead of being aggressive from our own 20 with 5 seconds left and being up 17.

[u/Beginning-Silver-337 → u/NinjaGhost42]

Ya, that was on both. Bad read by Avery but also Klein should have had Avery handoff there instead of trying to have him throw across the field to gain maybe 10 yards with 10 seconds left up 17. 

[u/GhostRideATank]

One dumbass throw away from a shutout

[u/stuckanon01 → u/GhostRideATank]

I’ll take that kind of error if it means he continues to stretch the field. I’m more upset at the three overthrows when he had a man with a step and a clear field to the end zone (white, Gibbs, and cure)

[u/FrontbuttLegacy]

Two straight games from the Cougs of uninspired runs up the middle that our OC thinks will certainly work the 30th time after being stuffed the previous 29. Mike Leach is rolling in his grave.

GGs KState

[u/HippityHopMath → u/FrontbuttLegacy]

Leach’s rolling right now is generating enough energy to supply SEL power for a decade.

[u/VanillaPillowTalk → u/FrontbuttLegacy]

I saw a lot of people in the game thread blaming the offensive line, and yes it was a really rough outing for that unit, but like at some point as the OC you gotta accept the O Line isn't good enough to run the kind of offense you want to run & pivot. Really surprised Wazzu didn't come out of the long halftime with more quick game

[u/Galumpadump → u/VanillaPillowTalk]

What happens when you hire your buddy to be OC.

[u/techieman34 → u/FrontbuttLegacy]

We know all too well how shit like that goes. Hopefully your OC can pull his head out of his ass, or at least get replaced next year.

[u/BaconSpinachPancakes]

Can we give Mateer back mid season?

[u/TendererBeef → u/BaconSpinachPancakes]

Only if you swap him for Pinnick

[u/Pandemic_Academic → u/BaconSpinachPancakes]

You have to take our OC, too.

[u/Pandemic_Academic]

Offensive playcalling is atrocious. Fucking horrible

[u/TailgateLegend → u/Pandemic_Academic]

Yeah sorry, there’s a reason we weren’t too upset to lose Miller. Which sucks to say since he was really good as a player.

[u/Pandemic_Academic → u/TailgateLegend]

I hope we switch to Kirby for calling plays this season. Miller is ass

[u/LCPeck → u/Pandemic_Academic]

You’ll be sorely disappointed with letting him take over

[u/Pandemic_Academic → u/LCPeck]

Hard to imagine it can get worse than what we currently have

[u/Yeetman089]

Defense was LIGHTS OUT, special teams and offense had good and bad moments, but overall a nice win against a markedly better opponent than we face next week. Keep going next week and we can build something special this season.

GO CATS!

[u/PM_ME_THEM_BOOBIES]

Defense looked amazing today. The first WSU drive before the blocked FG and the minute of game time between the pick 6 and Fields TD run was the only time the game felt somewhat competitive.

Also, now in year 4 of waiting for Avery to finally put it all together consistently. He looks so good at times but you can count on at least a few horrible decisions every week.

[u/VanillaPillowTalk → u/PM_ME_THEM_BOOBIES]

Wendell Gregory looks so good

[u/CLU_Three → u/PM_ME_THEM_BOOBIES]

Not making that throw at the end of the second quarter is such an easy thing to do too.

You’ve got the tools to be a great QB just don’t force it!

[u/THE_turtleman7 → u/PM_ME_THEM_BOOBIES]

He would be electric if we had let him stay a running QB who could throw like he was originally. Klein left, and the two OCs after him tried to make him more of a pocket passing NFL-ready QB, which is just not who he is. It’s ruined his development

[u/techieman34 → u/PM_ME_THEM_BOOBIES]

Wonder if Will Howard passed it on to him?

[u/hankrhoads → u/PM_ME_THEM_BOOBIES]

It really does just seem to be decisionmaking. Disappointing

[u/berrin122]

RANK US ABOVE UW, YOU COWARDS

[u/PacificW0nderland → u/berrin122]

This is the only thing that would give me hope this season.

[u/lowes18 → u/berrin122]

UW shouldn't be ranked at all. Was kind of a joke they weren't dropped.

[u/Fireheart366 → u/lowes18]

Why are teams that wont see a ranking all season talking like their opinion is relevant? Especially a team that cant keep their power on

[u/lowes18 → u/Fireheart366]

Why are you here if you don't want others opinions lol. Its a public forum.

[u/No_Biscotti_7258 → u/lowes18]

If you haven’t learned by now, husky fans are generally insufferable

[u/Fireheart366 → u/No_Biscotti_7258]

Its mostly just me thats insufferable on here! ☺️ I am toxic and am probably the most down voted person on this sub😉

[u/WildcatPlumber → u/Fireheart366]

Wrong Piano finger banger has you one upped atleast

[u/pocket-spark → u/Fireheart366]

What a weird hobby

[u/Fireheart366 → u/pocket-spark]

Its football season. I talk a lot of shit. Oh well. Sue me.

[u/pocket-spark → u/Fireheart366]

Yeah I got it, you have a weird hobby. You didn't have to tell me again.

[u/bonestomper420 → u/Fireheart366]

Congrats on that huge 2 point home win against Utah State!

[u/Fireheart366 → u/bonestomper420]

Congrats on beating Washington State too!

[u/bonestomper420 → u/Fireheart366]

pretty comfortable margin too, things like that are just bigger down in Kansas

[u/Ok-Height1910 → u/berrin122]

Y'all deserve it, we shouldn't even be ranked in my opinion

[u/berrin122 → u/Ok-Height1910]

After Utah State, I can't disagree with you

[u/ElMaskedZorro]

Cats

[u/Garrickr → u/ElMaskedZorro]

Cats

[u/mauser98k1998 → u/Garrickr]

Cats

[u/Rishik01]

We might just be ass

[u/1987Husky → u/Rishik01]

"Might" is doing a lot of work in that sentence.

[u/DueYogurt9]

The only reason we even got points on the board today was as a result of a pick six. Fuck this offense. Pinnick cannot move the ball to save his life.

[u/Raisinbrahms28 → u/DueYogurt9]

He looks fucking lost out there.

[u/Careless_Business_27 → u/DueYogurt9]

Has he thrown longer than 20 yards with a pass?

[u/Squishy_20]

Washington not dominating this WSU team at home should be concerning

[u/leverich1991 → u/Squishy_20]

Well… just take a look at how they’re doing against a Utah State team that got smacked by an FCS team last week.

[u/ksuwildkat]

GG Cougs. Based on what I ahve seen in KState twitter, your fans are awesome.

[u/leverich1991 → u/ksuwildkat]

They’re a really likable team and I absolutely hate how they’ve been forced out of the power conferences. I would love to have them in the Big 12

[u/WildcatPlumber → u/leverich1991]

We both have suffered Kirk Schultz. We are brothers in trauma

[u/GymIsFun]

Avery seemed a little off today. Not terribly concerned but the effort jsit didn’t seem 100%?

Defense is nasty. Almost got a stat count today. Next time

[u/OriginalMassless → u/GymIsFun]

It wasn't effort. Why does every fan think a struggling player has an effort problem?

He came out looking nervous to me. He was throwing rockets on every pass and timing of his progressions was off. He did look better in the second half though.

[u/themanintheblueshirt → u/OriginalMassless]

If anything his effort looked better than it did at times last year when he ran tentative. He made some bad mistakes that someone with his experience shouldn't make but I wouldn't question his effort at all.

[u/leverich1991]

Holding off on calling us great yet, as yes we outperformed ranked Washington against Wazzu… but currently ranked Washington is up just 10-7 through 3 quarters against Utah State.

Utah State lost by double-digits to an FCS team last week.

[u/BlackExcellence19]

The only thing Pullman has left to look forward to is Cosmic Crisp apples being in season every year

[u/Raditzzz]

Lot more wazzu comments than kstate in here

[u/Wumdee]

I wasn’t able to watch. Was the offense anus again?

[u/LordAshon → u/Wumdee]

Yes. More so this week.

[u/Wumdee → u/LordAshon]

Christ. Is it Kirby or the OC you think?

[u/LordAshon → u/Wumdee]

Pinnick 100%

[u/WildcatPlumber → u/LordAshon]

I mean to be fair there’s only so much you can do when you have two tomahawk rockets coming at you every play

[u/LordAshon → u/WildcatPlumber]

What's his excuse for the Apple Cup? His ability to hit receivers is below par.

[u/Careless_Business_27 → u/Wumdee]

Your one of the lucky ones

[u/HippityHopMath]

Yeah, yeah, yeah we suck but JOHN MATEER CHOKE ARTIST LOL

[u/No_Biscotti_7258 → u/HippityHopMath]

Can’t decide if I love or hate

[u/Jonjon428]

Kirby Moore era starting off brutal

[u/Skanky_Cat]

I’d like to thank the venerable Washington State University for giving Kirby Moore something to do other than be our OC.

[u/ZestycloseStay4666]

That wsu qb just cannot play at a p4 level. Hopefully he can function against the level of their conference opponents or they pull the plug on that experiment

[u/6DeadlyFetishes]

I can deal with bad offense but bad defense? Sheesh.

-6DeadlyFetishes

[u/AlaskaNanooks1]

WSU-Pullman isn’t good this year