K-State Coach Collin Klein Grapples With Early Setbacks

Collin Klein’s honeymoon with the Wildcats is already feeling a bit shaky. After three flawless wins to open his tenure, the team stumbled 35‑16 against No. 22 Houston, and the sting was obvious.

The Cougars were relentless. They rushed for 233 yards, delivered five touchdown drives and, thanks to quarterback Conner Weigman’s four TD passes to Patrick Overmyer, kept Kansas State guessing all night. The Wildcats’ defense never really got a breath.

One glaring moment came early – a fourth‑down stop that should have sent the crowd into a roar, only for Klein to call a timeout because the sideline showed just ten men on the field. The next play? Houston capitalized, and the momentum never recovered.

It wasn’t just the defense. Quarterback Avery Johnson, who entered the season with a résumé of experience, finished 16‑of‑30 for 182 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. Most of those yards arrived after Houston had already flipped the script and sat back with a prevent defense.

What’s more, the offense struggled to string together big plays. The three scoring drives lasted 10, 6 and 13 plays respectively – a far cry from the 16‑ and 17‑play drives that only produced field goals earlier in the season. The lack of explosive moments left the bench and the crowd uneasy.

Fans made their displeasure clear; boos echoed in the stadium for the first time under Klein’s watch. The players’ body language in the second half mirrored that sentiment, with few visible leaders stepping up to spark a comeback.

Having a bye week after the Cincinnati loss should have given the coaching staff a chance to regroup, but many of the same issues resurfaced against Houston. The disappointment was palpable, especially with the upcoming rivalry game against Kansas – a game K‑State hasn’t lost since 2008.

None of this means Klein’s job is on the line. It’s only his fifth game, and building a program takes time. Still, the pressure is mounting, and the next few weeks will be critical for both the coach and his staff to prove they can adjust and ignite the team’s fight.