K-STATE vs. nr/rv STANFORD 2021 SCHEDULE Sept. 4, 2021 • AT&T Stadium • Arlington, Texas DATE AP/C OPPONENT (TV) TIME (CT) Sept. 4 vs. nr/rv Stanford [AT&T Stadium; Arlington, Texas] (FS1) 11 a.m. KANSAS STATE STANFORD K-STATE OPENS 2021 CAMPAIGN Sept. 11 SO. ILLINOIS (Big 12 Now on ESPN+) 6 p.m. WILDCATS CARDINAL IN ALLSTATE KICKOFF CLASSIC Sept. 18 rv/rv NEVADA (Big 12 Now on ESPN+) 1:05 p.m. In one of the more interesting non-conference games to open the Sept. 25 at rv/22 Oklahoma State* TBA 2021 college football season, Kansas State will take on Stanford Oct. 2 2/3 OKLAHOMA* TBA this Saturday in the Allstate Kickoff Classic inside AT&T Stadium in Oct. 16 7/8 IOWA STATE* TBA Arlington, Texas. The game – one of just four neutral site match- Oct. 23 at Texas Tech* TBA ups featuring two Power 5 teams in the opening weekend – kicks Oct. 30 rv/rv TCU* TBA 0-0, 0-0 Big 12 0-0, 0-0 Pac-12 off at 11 a.m. and will be shown on FS1 withAaron Goldsmith Nov. 6 at Kansas* TBA (play-by-play) and Mark Helfrich (analyst) on the call. The Nov. 13 rv/rv WEST VIRGINIA* TBA THE BASICS game will also be aired nationally on ESPN Radio with coverage Nov. 20 BAYLOR* TBA 2020 Record ............4-6 (4-5 Big 12) 2020 Record ...........4-2 (4-2 Pac-12) from Marc Kestecher (play-by-play), Max Starks (analyst), (F) Nov. 26 at 21/19 Texas* (FOX) 11 a.m. Ranking (AP/Coaches) ...................nr/nr Ranking (AP/Coaches) ...................nr/rv Jorge Sedano (analyst) and Mike Peasley (sidelines). Last Game .....................Dec. 5, 2020 Last Game ...................Dec. 19, 2020 A K-STATE WIN WOULD... Lost to Texas, 69-31 Won at UCLA, 48-47 (2 OT) As always, the game can be heard across the 39-station K-State Coach .......................... Chris Klieman Coach ..............................David Shaw • Make the Cats 3-0 in neutral-site games to open a season Career Record ..............84-24 (9th) Career Record ............90-36 (11th) Sports Network with Wyatt Thompson (play-by-play), former at K-State .....................12-11 (3rd) at Stanford ...........................Same K-State quarterback Stan Weber (analyst) and Matt Walters (2000 vs. Iowa; 2003 vs. California). (sidelines) calling the action. Fans can also catch the game on • Make the Wildcats 28-4 in season openers since 1990 and RETURNING STATISTICAL LEADERS SiriusXM (S: 138, X: 199, App: 953) in addition to The Varsity Chris Klieman 7-2 in season openers as a head coach. Rushing ......................Deuce Vaughn Rushing ........................ Austin Jones Network app. • Break a 3-3 tie for K-State in season openers vs. the Pac-12 123 att, 642 yds, 7 TD 126 att, 550 yds, 9 TD Passing ..........................Will Howard Passing .............................. Jack West and be the fi rst season-opening win vs. the conference since 90-168, 1,178 yds, 8 TD, 10 INT 13-19, 154 yds, 0 TD, 0 INT A LOOK AT K-STATE defeating UCLA in 2010, which was also on Sept. 4 that year. Receiving ...................Deuce Vaughn Receiving ..............Brycen Tremayne • K-State is looking to right the ship in 2021 after a 4-6 cam- • Be the fi rst win at AT&T Stadium in two tries (2012 Cotton 25 rec, 434 yds, 2 TD 14 rec, 265 yds, 0 TD paign in 2020, one that started out with the Wildcats going 4-0 Bowl vs. Arkansas). Tackling ...............Jahron McPherson Tackling .................... Levani Damuni in Big 12 play and rising as high as No. 16 in the AP Top 25. 54 tackles 42 tackles • Make Skylar Thompson the fi rst K-State quarterback since Sacks ...Daniel Green/Bronson Massie Sacks .................................Gabe Reid • The Wildcats lost the services of senior starting quarterback 2.5 sacks 2.0 sacks Skylar Thompson in the third game last season, but he re- at least 1930 to win three season openers as the starter. Interceptions... McPherson/Gardner Interceptions........... Levani Damuni turns as one of the Wildcats’ fi ve “Super Seniors” in 2021. 2 interceptions 1 interception • Thompson ranks in the top 10 in school history in 15 career WHERE TO FIND... INSIDE THE SERIES categories, while he is one of only two signal callers in K-State history to have 5,000 passing yards and 1,000 rushing yards in Media Information .............................................................2 Overall .........................................0-1 Most K-State Pts ..............13 (2016) In Manhattan .............................0-0 Most Stanford Pts ............26 (2016) a career (Ell Roberson). Team Notes .....................................................................3-4 In Stanford .................................0-1 3 Points or Less ..........................0-0 • Thompson has the luxury of playing behind an experienced Off ensive Notes ...............................................................4-5 Current Streak ........................Lost 1 7 Points or Less ..........................0-0 off ensive line that brings back 100% of its starts from a year Defensive Notes ..............................................................5-6 Longest Win Streak ..................N/A Biggest Win ...............................N/A ago in addition to playmakers at every skill position. • Headlining the skill group is running back Deuce Vaughn, Special Teams Notes ...........................................................6 ON THE AIR who burst onto the scene a year ago as he was named the True Records Watch ....................................................................7 TELEVISION Freshman of the Year by 247Sports, as well as an All-American Opponent Breakdown ........................................................8 FS1 and Freshman All-American by multiple outlets. Last Time vs. Stanford ........................................................9 Aaron Goldsmith (Play-by-Play) • Returning at wide receiver – a group that is now tutored by Mark Helfrich (Analyst) off ensive coordinator Courtney Messingham – is dynamic 2021 Opponent Tracker ....................................................10 Head Coach Chris Klieman ...........................................11-12 RADIO playmakers in Malik Knowles and Phillip Brooks, the latter K-State Sports Network who was an All-American as a punt returner last year and has Assistant Coaches .............................................................13 Wyatt Thompson (Play-by-Play) earned numerous Preseason All-America honors. Roster/Pronunciations.................................................14-15 • At tight end, the Wildcats welcome transfer Daniel Imatorb- Stan Weber (Analyst) Depth Chart .....................................................................16 Matt Walters (Sidelines) hebhe, who has spent time at both USC and Illinois. • Defensively, the Cats could rotate as many as 12 players along Depth Chart Notes .......................................................17-19 NATIONAL RADIO the defensive front, while two of the linebacker spots will be Select Player Bios ........................................................20-27 ESPN Radio held down by Daniel Green and Cody Fletcher, both of whom Team Statistics ............................................................28-29 Marc Kestecher (Play-by-Play) were pressed into starting duties toward the end of 2020. Max Starks (Analyst) Game-by-Game Off ensive Statistics .................................30 • Familiar starters in the back end return in cornerbacks Ekow Jorge Sedano (Analyst) Defensive Statistics ..........................................................31 Mike Peasley (Sidelines) Boye-Doe and safety Jahron McPherson, but K-State brought in four transfer defensive backs that look poised to Game-by-Game Defensive Statistics ................................32 SATELLITE RADIO lead the secondary in 2021. Game-by-Game Summaries/Starters ...............................33 Sirius Channel 138 • As many as three kickers are battling to replace three-year let- Scoring Drives/Drive Analysis ...........................................34 XM Channel 199 terwinner Blake Lynch, and the list includes senior Ty Zentner, SXM App 953 junior Taiten Winkel and true freshman Chris Tennant. Third Downs/Red Zone .....................................................35 FOLLOW K-STATE FOOTBALL • Last season, Zentner shared punting duties with Jack Blum- Long Plays ........................................................................36 er, and the two could rotate again in 2021. Superlatives .....................................................................37 @KStateFB @KStateFootball • Brooks will man the punt-return spot again in 2021, while he Last Time .....................................................................38-42 and Knowles will most likely be deep for kickoff returns. GAME 1 • STANFORD MEDIA SCHEDULE – STANFORD MONDAY30 TUESDAY 1 WEDNESDAY 2 THURSDAY 3 FRIDAY 4 SATURDAY 5 SUNDAY 6 No Media Availability Press Conference No Media Availability Coordinator Media No Media Availability Game 1 No Media Availability 12 p.m. – Lunch Availability K-State vs. Stanford The Big 12 coaches teleconference 12:30 p.m. – Chris Klieman 2 p.m. – Coordinators Travel to Arlington, Texas 11 a.m. K-State’s game notes for the will begin at a later date. 1 p.m. – Players FS1 Southern Illinois game will be FTP Information AT&T Stadium available on Monday, Septem- FTP Information Both coordinator media sessions will Manhattan, Kan. ber 6 at 12 p.m. Coach Kliemen’s press conference be uploaded to the K-State FTP site will be uploaded to the K-State FTP at approximately 3:30 p.m. site at approximately 2 p.m. Contact