If there’s anything that last weekend’s TCU win over Texas proved, it’s that football fortunes hang by a thread, and the difference between winning and going home heartbroken can be one play, or even half of a play. College football games these days feature somewhere between 130 and 160 total plays between the two teams. Players have to be on every play. Take a play off and you have disaster. For fans, it’s much the same. Blink and you’ve missed it. Focus is a must and Frogs Fans, you better be on point this weekend for Kansas State.

Suddenly, this matchup has the feel of a playoff game. The winner of this one will definitely be in the fast lane for a Big 12 Championship game ticket. Yes, I know it’s early, but…

The momentum from the win over Texas is palpable. The difference it’s made around the program this week is like a new pair of socks or new tires on your car. You just feel better. You feel confident. You feel like going back to work. You feel you can. W’s are wonderful.

That’s important because Kansas State and its hard-hat, lunch-pail program mentality come to Fort Worth Saturday. And they’ve got a toolbox full of ways to beat you. Head Coach Chris Klieman reportedly got a new contract this week, keeping him in the Little Apple through 2026. Someone at KSU got the word that Klieman was on some school’s shopping list and they wanted to make sure he stayed put in the Flint Hills. Good for Kansas State. Much like TCU, K-State has realized that they made a good hire in a guy with the philosophy and system that closely resembles his predecessor Bill Snyder. Kansas State rolls on like the Wabash Cannonball (Google Kansas State Wabash Cannonball).

Griffin Kell was 4-4 in field goals during TCU Football’s defeat of Texas on Oct. 3, 2020. Kell and author John Denton are part of the program’s storied fraternity of kickers.

Kansas State’s offense still does it the old-fashioned way. They run it 66 percent of the time, and when they do throw, it’s short passes, wheel routes out of the backfield and out routes designed to complement the running game. They don’t thrown downfield very often, but instead use the short passes as “extended handoffs” to  get the ball into space and make the defense miss. Keep an eye on #22 Deuce Vaughn; he’s a true freshman from Round Rock who was under-recruited but has over-delivered here early in his career. Last week in the Wildcats’ win over Texas Technical, he ran the ball 16 times for 113 yards and a TD and added three catches for 81 yards and a TD. His last catch of the game was a short pass on a 3rd-and-7  late in the fourth quarter that he took 70 yards to the house to lock down the game. Dangerous.

Kansas State doesn’t make mistakes either. They’ve yet to have an offensive turnover in their first three games. That’s discipline.

Quarterback is a bit of question this week as Skylar Thompson took a big hit against Tech and left the game, returning to the KSU sideline in a sling. Coach Klieman hinted that he may be available. Thompson is a skilled and experienced quarterback who has become a better pocket passer, but he can run, too. Last year he took off for 61 yards against the Frogs during a drive that decided the game. If he can go, he will.

His backup is another true freshman, Will Howard (6-4, 230), who came in to relieve Thompson last week and led them to the win, going 7-for-12, 173 yds and a TD while becoming the first K-State true FR with a 100-yd passing game since 2006.

Kansas State’s defense is a base 4-2-5, and they like to keep the play in front of them. Their best player is DE Wiley Hubert #56. He’s solid and can get to the passer. The Wildcats are giving up 492.3 yards per game in total offense (328 of that is passing yardage, so the Frogs should have room to work). Kansas State gives up 30 points per game.

Look for Kansas State to try to grind it out and shorten the game. They took their time and last week ran just 64 plays versus Texas Tech — those are 1983 offensive totals.  The Frogs, on the other hand, need to open it up, come out on the attack and test the K-State secondary. The TCU defense will need to keep KSU off the field, as they are good at keeping the ball and they are efficient. Last week, K-State had 10 offensive possessions and scored on every other possession, while keeping Tech’s offense on the bench with three drives of 11 plays or more. Solid tackling and keeping an eye out for a back sneaking out of the backfield will the recipe for a Frog win.

The Frogs get a breather after this one.  October 17th is an open date for TCU, then OU comes to the Metroplex on the 24th.

We’re on the air on the Horned Frog Sports Network at 2 p.m. CT.   Join us!!

Until then,

Kick ‘Em High!!

TCU Football will wear the unconventional purple, black and red color combo against Kansas State during the October 10, 2020 matchup.