When Arizona State faced Kansas State last season, they weren’t just playing a team — they were fighting the noise, energy, and raw passion of Bill Snyder Family Stadium, one of the loudest stadiums in the Big 12.
During an NIL fundraiser earlier this week, Sun Devils players reflected on the toughest venues they’ve played in, with Kansas State’s stadium coming up repeatedly as the loudest and most intense environment in the conference.
“Kansas State — that place was rocking,” said redshirt tight end Coleson Arends.
Kansas State’s home crowd has a reputation for being relentless, and the Sun Devils’ comments in a report to The Arizona Republic confirmed just how impactful that atmosphere is.
Senior defensive lineman Jacob Rich Kongaika also pointed to K-State. So did redshirt sophomore wide receiver Derek Eusebio—who added a jab.
“Kansas State was pretty loud,” Eusebio said. “But we shut them up pretty fast.”
Arizona State did do exactly that last season. The defending Big 12 champions entered Manhattan as 7.5-point underdogs and left with a 24–14 win. It was K-State’s only home loss of the year.
The Wildcats went 5–1 at home in 2024, beating UT Martin, Arizona, No. 20 Oklahoma State, in-state rival Kansas, and Cincinnati. Despite the loss, K-State remains one of the nation’s toughest home teams.
According to the latest KFord Ratings, Kansas State ranks No. 1 nationally in home performance against the Vegas spread—making it the top home-field advantage in the Power 4.
The Wildcats lead a top 10 that includes LSU, Louisville, SMU, and Alabama. K-State is the only Big 12 program on the list.
The 2025 schedule features another strong home slate. K-State opens the season in Ireland against Iowa State (Aug. 23), then hosts Army (Sept. 6), North Dakota, and Big 12 foes UCF, TCU, Texas Tech, and Colorado.
Junior quarterback Avery Johnson returns to lead the offense after a breakout year. He’s joined by playmakers Dylan Edwards, Joe Jackson, and Jayce Brown. Defensively, veterans Austin Romaine and V.J. Payne return to anchor the group.
The offensive line gets a boost from transfers Terrence Enos (Pitt) and J.B. Nelson (Penn State), both expected to contribute immediately.
Kansas State is showing up in preseason rankings. The Wildcats are No. 12 in USA Today’s Top 25, No. 16 in Joel Klatt’s FOX Sports rankings, and No. 21 in ESPN’s Football Power Index—the highest-ranked Big 12 team. K-State finished 2024 at 9–4, capped by a 44–41 bowl win over Rutgers.
With expectations rising and their home-field edge intact, the Wildcats look ready to make noise again in 2025.