Kansas State football 2024 way-too-early Big 12 game-by-game predictions

While Kansas is the rival for Kansas State, I feel like this is a game all Wildcat fans look forward to every year. This is always a hard-fought battle, with the all-time series narrowly belonging to Iowa State 53-50-4. The Cyclones went 7-6 in 2023 with a loss to Memphis in their bowl game.

Ames, Iowa is always a tough play to go and play. The Cyclones know how to rattle opponents in their stadium and knock them off their game. For the last three years, this matchup has been decided by seven points or less. In their 2023 snowy matchup, the Wildcats gave up 276 rushing yards to backup running back Abu Sama. This game would end up being the last one quarterback Will Howard would play in a K-State uniform before announcing his entrance to the transfer portal.

With this matchup being in Ames this year, my gut tells me to give this one to the Cyclones, but my gut has been wrong before. I am going to go with the Wildcats on this one. I think Johnson will be up for the challenge of playing away in a hostile environment and will bring home a victory to Manhattan. I will give the Wildcats a narrow 28-24 victory over the Cyclones.