Another Friday has sneaked up on us and the Frogs are headed to Manhattan, Kansas, and an appointment with Kansas State.

A critical appointment.

The Frogs are 3-4 after a disappointing Saturday last week that saw West Virginia knock over the Homecoming punch bowl and crash the party with a running game that kept the ball away from the Frogs.

This week has to be different if the Frogs are to keep bowl hopes alive. Five games left with three of those on the road at K-State on Saturday, then Oklahoma State followed by Iowa State the day after Thanksgiving. Baylor and Kansas come to visit The Carter. The Frogs are going to have to be road warriors to get to six wins.

The game plan for Kansas State involves resolve and courage.

The resolve to be physical and disruptive on defense and the courage to dig in and rely on the run game when it counts.

Kansas State is the same ol’ lunch pail program. Plan on a long drawn out battle.

The Wildcats, like TCU, have a quarterback who is gutsy and critical to their success. QB #7 Spencer Thompson has been around a while — this is his 6th year, and he played well (and on one leg) last week on the comeback win in Lubbock over Texas Tech. He makes the offense go.

Kansas State is 4-3, but with the same 1-3 conference record as the Frogs. After early season success with wins over Stanford and Nevada, they’ve lost three of their last four (two of those games without the services of Thompson), but are looking to reap momentum from their win last week. The key to the offense is running back Deuce Vaughn #22 who’s as dangerous catching the ball as he is running it. Last year he had the best freshman year ever by a running back at KSU. (Yes, even better than Darren Sproles.)

TCU won’t have the home-team advantage Saturday. Courtesy of TCU Athletics | Photo by Ellman Photography

Defensively, the 4-2-5 defense that the Wildcats run out is retooling and has reloaded after several key losses to graduation and the NFL.

Watch out for #91 Felix Anudike-Uzomah, a sack machine at defensive end. Linebacker #22 Daniel Green brings 234 pounds to every hit and means it. He’s been DQ’d twice this year for targeting, yet still leads KSU in tackles. Transfers fill the secondary with strong safety #31 Jahron McPherson in charge in the back half with Louisville transfer #2 Russ Yeast coming off a great game last week in Lubbock.

The weather will be great in Manhattan with highs in the upper 60’s and the wind forecasted to be light. (RIGHT!)

This will be the Frogs’ eighth trip to the Flint Hills, with TCU looking for its fourth win at Bill Snyder Family Stadium.

We’re on the air on the Horned Frog Sports Network at 1:30 pm CT with a great opportunity for the Frogs. It is time to step up.

Until then,

Kick ‘Em High!