The preseason buzz is loud—but Kansas State has to prove it on the field

Expectations are rising in Manhattan, and not without reason.

Kansas State heads into the 2025 season drawing national attention, landing at No. 12 in USA Today’s preseason rankings and No. 16 in Fox Sports analyst Joel Klatt’s post-spring Top 25. But inside the locker room, the Wildcats are keeping their focus internal.

My Post-Spring Top 25 for 2025...Can't wait! pic.twitter.com/gTTP7QjJSr
— Joel Klatt (@joelklatt) May 5, 2025

“The proof will be in the fall,” head coach Chris Klieman told Sports Illustrated. “I feel really good about the receivers and the fact that we’ve got some experienced guys in there. But we’ll find out more in the fall. That’s hard to say based on just a few practices.”

Leading the charge is sophomore quarterback Avery Johnson, a dual-threat talent whose breakout potential could elevate the Wildcats into College Football Playoff contention. After flashes of brilliance in 2024, Johnson enters this season with the benefit of experience—and the expectations that come with it.

“It’s the maturity of Avery and the growth of Avery,” Klieman said to Kstatesports.com. “Last year at this time, he’d only played in one game. Now, with 12 or 13 games under his belt, you can see the confidence and leadership taking over. It’s made the entire offense more efficient.”

And that offense is stacked with weapons. Running backs Dylan Edwards and Joe Jackson bring burst and vision, while veteran receiver Jayce Brown headlines a group that now includes transfers Jaron Tibbs, Jerand Bradley, and Caleb Medford.

Add in a deep, battle-tested offensive line—bolstered by transfers like Pittsburgh’s Terrence Enos and Penn State’s J.B. Nelson—and it’s not hard to see why expectations are high.

On the other side of the ball, Kansas State returns two of its top tacklers in linebacker Austin Romaine and safety V.J. Payne. Both are expected to anchor a defense that blends experience with a wave of promising newcomers.

USA Today’s Paul Myerberg and Erick Smith see the vision.

"We’re going to roll the dice on quarterback Avery Johnson taking a big step in his second season as the starter after some highs and low last season. More consistency from him should make the offense better with RB Dylan Edwards ready to take a lead role in the ground attack," they wrote. "Jayce Brown one of the top receivers in the Big 12. LB Austin Romaine and DB VJ Payne, the team's top two tacklers, return for a defense that should get back to a level good enough to compete for and win the conference championship."

Kansas State hasn’t reached the College Football Playoff yet. But with the pieces in place, and momentum building, the Wildcats may not be far off.