Kansas State begins its 2025 campaign ranked No. 23 in Sports Illustrated’s preseason Top 25, with a tough schedule and big expectations — starting with a high-profile opener against Iowa State in Dublin, Ireland.
Coming off a 9-4 finish that included a wild 44-41 bowl win over Rutgers, K-State returns a core that’s capable of contending for a Big 12 title — and possibly more.
The Wildcats open the season just a month from now on a big stage Aug. 23 in the Aer Lingus College Football Classic, with kickoff set for 11 a.m. CT on ESPN.
You know the vibes pic.twitter.com/zsWJxHntB1
— K-State Football (@KStateFB) July 24, 2025
“A lot of the narrative about Kansas State will be set based on how well it plays in the Week Zero opener against a fellow Big 12 contender,” SI noted. “The talent level is high enough in Manhattan, Kan., to keep the Wildcats in the thick of the conference race through the end of the season.”
Momentum is building nationally. K-State ranks No. 12 in USA Today’s preseason poll, No. 16 in Joel Klatt’s post-spring rankings, and No. 21 in ESPN’s Football Power Index — the highest rating among Big 12 teams.
Leading the way is quarterback Avery Johnson, who set a school record with 25 touchdown passes during a breakout 2024 campaign. The Wichita native returns with a versatile group of playmakers, including Dylan Edwards, Joe Jackson and Jayce Brown.
On defense, veterans Austin Romaine and V.J. Payne anchor a group that SI says brings “experience and depth.” The most impactful transfer according to the article is Arizona safety Gunner Maldonado, who has 31 career starts.
“The addition of a veteran like Maldonado should certainly help smooth things over while some young corners get up to speed,” the article stated. “The senior has played a ton during his time at Arizona and appears to be healthy after missing most of last season with an injury.”
The biggest loss they say came on the offensive line, where right tackle Carver Willis transferred to Washington. He started 18 games over the past two seasons and was one of the most dependable pieces up front.
“The loss of Willis to the portal stings given how reliable he was,” SI said. “His experience will be sorely missed.”
To fill that gap, K-State added Pitt transfer Terrence Enos and former Penn State guard J.B. Nelson among others — both expected to contribute immediately.
Four key games were listed as games that could define the season: Iowa State (Aug. 23), at Baylor (Oct. 4), vs. Texas Tech (Nov. 1) and at Utah (Nov. 22). According to KFord’s projections, the Wildcats have at least a 53% chance to win each contest.
With talent, experience and a challenging schedule ahead, all eyes will be on Kansas State as it looks to prove the preseason hype is justified.