The 2020 Kansas State Wildcats football team represented Kansas State University in the 2020 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Wildcats played their home games at Bill Snyder Family Football Stadium in Manhattan, Kansas, and competed in the Big 12 Conference. They were led by second-year head coach Chris Klieman.

After completing their regular season with a record of 4–6 (4–5 in conference play), the program announced on December 16 that it would not pursue a bid to a bowl game, "because of mounting COVID-19 issues on its roster."

Previous season The Wildcats finished the 2019 season with an 8–5 record, 5–4 Big 12 play, losing the Liberty Bowl to Navy.

Preseason

Big 12 media Days The Big 12 media days were held on July 21–22, 2020 in a virtual format due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Big 12 media poll Big 12 media poll 1 Oklahoma 80 2 Oklahoma State 6 3 Texas 4 4 Iowa State 5 Baylor 6 TCU 7 Kansas State 8 West Virginia 9 Texas Tech 10 Kansas

Schedule

Regular season Kansas State released its 2020 schedule on October 22, 2019.

The Wildcats had games scheduled against Buffalo and North Dakota as out of conference opponents, but these games were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In fact, the whole season schedule was changed and the finalized one is shown below. The original schedule is shown under Game Summaries.

Schedule source:

Coaching staff Chris Klieman Head coach 2nd North Dakota State (HC) Joe Klanderman DC/S 2nd North Dakota State (DB) Courtney Messingham OC/TE 2nd North Dakota State (OC/RB) Van Malone AHC/PGC/CB 2nd Mississippi State (DA) Brian Anderson RB 2nd Illinois State (WR) Collin Klein QB 6th Northern Iowa (QB) Jason Ray WR 2nd North Dakota State (WR) Conor Riley OL 2nd North Dakota State (OL) Steve Stanard LB 1st Syracuse University (DE) Mike Tuiasosopo DT 2nd UTEP (DL) Buddy Wyatt DE 2nd Kansas (senior analyst)

Game summaries

Vs. Arkansas State

Statistics ARST KSU First downs 26 21 Total yards 489 374 Rushes/yards 159 91 Passing yards 330 283 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 25-38-1 18–30–0 Time of possession 25:44 34:16 Team Category Player StatisticsArkansas State Passing Logan Bonner 17–28, 204 yds, 2 TD, 1 INT Rushing Jamal Jones 16 carries, 95 yds Receiving Jonathan Adams Jr. 8 receptions, 98 yds, 3 tdKansas State Passing Skylar Thompson 17–29, 259 yds, 2 TD Rushing Deuce Vaughn 12 carries, 47 yds, 1 TD Receiving Chabastin Taylor 4 receptions, 98 yds

Both teams entered the game with a reduced roster due to the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. Arkansas State was down nearly 10 starters and K-State was without approximately two dozen players—however, both teams had enough active personnel to play the game. After the game, Arkansas State announced that it will not play its home opener game Central Arkansas the Red Wolves were unable to assemble a complete depth chart for the game.

At No. 3 Oklahoma

Statistics KSU OKLA First downs 10 28 Total yards 390 517 Rushes/yards 26-56 35–130 Passing yards 334 387 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 18-25 30–41 Time of possession 27:52 32:08 Team Category Player StatisticsKansas State Passing Skylar Thompson 18–25, 334 yds, 1 TD Rushing Deuce Vaughn 8 carries, 35 yards, 1 TD Receiving Deuce Vaughn 4 receptions, 129 yardsOklahoma Passing Spencer Rattler 30–41, 387 yards, 4 TD, 3 INT Rushing Seth McGowan 13 carries, 73 yards, 1 TD Receiving Drake Stoops 3 receptions, 93 yards, 1 TD

Vs. Texas Tech

Statistics TTU KSU First downs 27 20 Total yards 471 404 Rushes/yards 34-204 42–198 Passing yards 267 206 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 34-49-1 12–22–0 Time of possession 31:39 28:21 Team Category Player StatisticsTexas Tech Passing Henry Colombi 30–42, 244 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT Rushing Xavier White 12 carries, 113 yards, 1 TD Receiving Erik Ezukanma 5 receptions, 77 yardsKansas State Passing Will Howard 7–12, 173 yards, 1 TD Rushing Deuce Vaughn 16 carries, 113 yards, 1 TD Receiving Deuce Vaughn 3 receptions, 81 yards, 1 TD

At TCU

Statistics KSU TCU First downs 12 20 Total yards 289 342 Rushes/yards 38-172 37–189 Passing yards 117 153 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 8-19-1 22–38–1 Time of possession 30:15 29:45 Team Category Player StatisticsKansas State Passing Will Howard 8–19, 117 yards, 1 INT Rushing Will Howard 13 carries, 86 yards, 1 TD Receiving Deuce Vaughn 1 reception, 45 yardsTCU Passing Max Duggan 19–31, 154 yards Rushing Darwin Barlow 8 carries, 56 yards, 1 TD Receiving Blair Conwright 6 receptions, 60 yards

Vs. Kansas (homecoming)

Statistics KAN KSU First downs 18 17 Total yards 320 381 Rushes/yards 39-113 33–129 Passing yards 207 252 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 22-39-1 18–28–0 Time of possession 30:40 29:20 Team Category Player StatisticsKansas Passing Jalon Daniels 22–39, 207 yards, 1 INT Rushing Velton Gardner 16 carries, 72 yards Receiving Kwamie Lassiter II 7 receptions, 58 yardsKansas State Passing Will Howard 17–24, 243 yards, 2 TD Rushing Deuce Vaughn 11 carries, 71 yards, 1 TD Receiving Deuce Vaughn 4 receptions, 81 yards

Phillip Brooks, sophomore wide receiver, had two punt returns in the first half.

At West Virginia

Statistics KSU WVU First downs Total yards Rushes/yards Passing yards Passing: Comp–Att–Int Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsKansas State Passing Rushing Receiving West Virginia Passing Rushing Receiving

Vs. No. 14 Oklahoma State

Statistics OKST KSU First downs 14 15 Total yards 256 370 Rushes/yards 40–148 44–227 Passing yards 108 143 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 14–23–0 10–22–1 Time of possession 28:09 31:51 Team Category Player StatisticsOklahoma State Passing Spencer Sanders 14/23, 108 yards Rushing LD Brown 15 carries, 110 yards Receiving Dillon Stoner 7 receptions, 62 yards Kansas State Passing Will Howard 10/21, 143 yards, TD, INT Rushing Will Howard 14 carries, 125 yards, TD Receiving Sammy Wheeler 1 reception, 58 yards

At Iowa State

Statistics KSU ISU First downs 9 26 Total yards 149 539 Rushes/yards 28–73 44–240 Passing yards 76 299 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 9–19–1 19–25–0 Time of possession 23:05 36:55 Team Category Player StatisticsKansas State Passing Nick Ast 6/10, 44 yards Rushing Deuce Vaughn 7 carries, 44 yards Receiving Chabastin Taylor 2 receptions, 37 yardsIowa State Passing Brock Purdy 16/20, 236 yards, 3 TD Rushing Breece Hall 15 carries, 135 yards, 2 TD Receiving Xavier Hutchinson 6 receptions, 111 yards, TD

At Baylor

Statistics KSU BAY First downs 14 21 Total yards 344 420 Rushes/yards 35–256 36–71 Passing yards 88 349 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 9–18–2 31–39–0 Time of possession 25:42 34:18 Team Category Player StatisticsKansas State Passing Will Howard 9/18, 88 yards, TD, 2 INT Rushing Deuce Vaughn 19 carries, 102 yards, TD Receiving Briley Moore 2 receptions, 55 yardsBaylor Passing Charlie Brewer 31/39, 349 yards, 2 TD Rushing Charlie Brewer 23 carries, 56 yards, 2 TD Receiving R.J. Sneed 6 receptions, 86 yards, TD

Vs. Texas

Statistics TEX KSU First downs 26 24 Total yards 608 448 Rushes/yards 33–334 46–274 Passing yards 274 174 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 20–27–0 16–27–2 Time of possession 24:20 35:40 Team Category Player StatisticsTexas Passing Sam Ehlinger 20/27, 274 yards, 2 TD Rushing Bijan Robinson 9 carries, 172 yards, 3 TD Receiving Jake Smith 4 receptions, 55 yardsKansas State Passing Will Howard 16/27, 174 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT Rushing Deuce Vaughn 10 carries, 125 yards, 2 TD Receiving Malik Knowles 6 receptions, 95 yards, 2 TD

Rankings

Players drafted into the NFL

7 235 Wyatt Hubert DE Cincinnati Bengals

References