Every Kansas State fan wants to forget the game against BYU this past weekend, but unfortunately, they can't because it did happen, and it is something the team can learn from.
The Wildcats took a beating from BYU, losing the game 38-9, and a lot of fans might be ready to start panicking about the season. However, this season is not like one of the past in the fact that one loss doesn't doom the entire season anymore.
Sure, if K-State was a Group of Five team, one loss might be more detrimental to the season, but the Wildcats are and have always been a Big 12 team and benefit from being in a power conference.
With the state of conference realignment and the expansion of the College Football Playoff, teams are not completely eliminated from contention with just one loss. Last year, when Kansas State lost to Mizzou, their season was effectively over unless a lot of other power conference teams lost at least one game as well.
Now in this new era of college football, a power conference team can afford to lose one, maybe even two games on the season and still have a chance at making the playoff.
However, the Big 12 is not like the SEC or the Big Ten, they don't necessarily have a bunch of teams ranked high in the top 25 that are contending for the playoffs. The Big 12 will be lucky to get two teams in the College Football Playoff, but the Wildcats have the chance to do it.
Even with one loss on the season, the Wildcats can still find themselves in the Big 12 championship depending on how the rest of the season shakes out. They do need BYU to have more than one loss and K-State can't afford to lose another game at this moment.
The biggest game for the rest of the season comes right after the BYU loss with Oklahoma State coming into town for a ranked matchup in The Bill. A win against the Cowboys could set Kansas State back on track for the season with some easier opponents on the schedule at the moment. However, K-State knows not to overlook anyone, especially on their home turf.
So, don't press the panic button just yet K-State fans because there is a whole season left and a lot of football left to play for everyone.