Kansas State Football Overview

2018 Kansas State Football Schedule: vs South Dakota, won, 27-24; vs Mississippi State, lost, 31-10; vs University of Texas at San Antonio, won, 41-17; at West Virginia, lost, 35-6; vs Texas, lost, 19-14; at Baylor, lost, 37-34; vs Oklahoma State, won, 31-12; at Oklahoma, lost, 51-14; November 3, at TCU; November 10, vs Kansas; November 17, vs Texas Tech; November 24, at Iowa State.

2017 Kansas State Football Results: beat Central Arkansas, 55-19; beat Charlotte, 55-7; lost to Vanderbilt, 14-7; beat Baylor, 33-20; lost to Texas, 40-34; lost to TCU, 26-6; lost to Oklahoma, 42-35; beat Kansas, 30-20; beat Texas Tech, 42-35; lost to West Virginia, 28-23; beat Oklahoma State, 45-40; beat Iowa State, 20-19; beat UCLA, 35-17, in the Cactus Bowl.

2018 Kansas State Football Media Guide: here

2018 Kansas State Football Video: here

Bill Snyder (left), and TCU's Gary Patterson

2018 Kansas State Football: Bill Snyder and Kansas State football are synonymous.

Snyder is in his 27th season as head football coach at K-state. Snyder, who has 213 wins, is one of just six coaches to reach the 200-win mark and coach at only one school. Holding 174 more victories than any other coach in K-State history, Snyder ranks first in the FBS in wins among coaches at their current schools and second in total wins among active coaches (FBS schools only). Snyder has 124 conference wins to stand as one of four coaches with 100 Big 8/12 victories: Tom Osborne, 153; Bob Stoops, 121; Barry Switzer, 100. Snyder is just the fourth person in the history of college football to be inducted into the Hall of Fame as an active coach when he was enshrined in 2015.

Snyder persevered in 2017. In January 2017, it was reported by many Kansas media outlets that Snyder had been traveling to Houston, Texas, for treatment for a "serious life-threatening ailment". On February 12, 2017, Snyder announced that he has been diagnosed with throat cancer and had been receiving treatment in Manhattan, as well as at University of Kansas Medical Center, and in Houston, Texas.

Also on February 12, 2017, it was announced that Co-Offensive Coordinator Del Miller would be retiring, putting the other co-offensive coordinator Dana Dimel at the helm as the only offensive coordinator.

The Wildcats managed to go 8-5, 5-4 Big 12, last season including a 35-17 win over UCLA in the Cactus Bowl (Phoenix, Arizona), which now is called the Cheez-It Bowl.

In December of 2017, it was announced that Dimel had been hired as the new head coach at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP).

Things have not gone well, thus far, in 2018 for Kansas State, which has 22 transfers on its roster. The Wildcats are 3-5, 1-4 Big 12 (3-2 home; 0-3 road), with their most recent game being a 51-14 loss to Oklahoma in Norman. K-State also has lost to Mississippi State, Wets Virginia, Baylor and Texas. The 'Cats have beaten South Dakota, UTEP and Oklahoma State.

Under new offensive coordinator/wide receivers coach Andre Coleman, who is in his sixth season at the school, Kansas State has been relying on its running game. Over their last three games, the Wildcats have averaged 250 rushing yards and scored 10 touchdowns on the ground.

The 'Cats running game is solidified by junior running back Alex Barnes (#34), 6-1, 225 pounds, who ranks second in the Big 12 at 102 yards per game with a league-high nine rushing scores. He ran for a career-best 250 yards at Baylor, the fifth-most in a game in school history, while recording three touchdowns. In K-State's victory over Oklahoma State, Barnes had 181 rushing yards and four scores, and he was the team's leading receiver in the game, with 51 yards on three catches.

The Wildcats' rushing attack is anchored by five offensive linemen who are all returning starters from a year ago. The group is led by senior right tackle Dalton Risner (#71), 6-3, 308 pounds, who is a Midseason All-American.

Sophomore quarterback Skylar Thompson (#10), 6-2, 205 pounds, has started seven games, throwing for 988 yards and five scores. He has added 359 rushing yards and four 2

Junior wide receiver Isaiah Zuber (#7), 6-0, 183 pounds, leads the Wildcats with 41 catches, totaling 496 receiving yards and three scores.

K-State is averaging 22.13 points per game.

Defensively, K-State averaged three sacks, 6.5 tackles for loss and two interceptions during the Oklahoma State and Baylor games after putting together averages of one sack, three tackles for loss and less than one interception in the first five contests. Oklahoma State went into its game against Kansas State averaging 523.3 yards and 44 points per game. K-State held OSU to 311 yards and 12 points.

Senior safety Eli Walker (#7), 6-2, 202 pounds, and redshirt junior linebacker Da'Quan Patton, 6-1, 221 pounds, lead the team in tackles with 53 and 49, respectively. Junior defensive end Reggie Walker (#51), 6-2, 246 pounds,  has a team-best 5.5 sacks and 7.5 tackles for loss.

Senior defensive back Duke Shelley (38), 5-9, 180 pounds,  has three interceptions, to rank third in the Big 12 and 14th in the country. Shelley has 12 total passes defended this year to rank second in the Big 12 and sixth in the nation.

The K-State defense is holding opponents to an average of 28.25 points per game.

The Wildcats have used three punters. Redshirt freshman Andrew Hicks (#18), has punted 20 times for a per-punt average of 43.8 yards. Junior Devin Anctil (#21) has punted 10 times for a per-punt average of 45.7 yards. Redshirt freshman Bernardo Rodriguez (#29) has punted eight times for a per-punt average of 36.5 yards.

Kansas State also has used three players to kick field goals. Sophomore Blake Lynch has made nine of 11 kicks, with a long field goal of 44 yards. Hicks has made one of two kicks, with a long field goal of 31 yards. Junior Nick McLellan has missed his only field goal attempt.

Lynch, McLellan, Hicks and Anctil have handled kickoff duties during the season.

Kansas State Football:  Kansas State's first football game was in 1896, a 14–0 loss to Fort Riley on November 28. K-State's record is 529-645-41. The Wildcats have played in 21 bowl games, most recently the 2017 Cactus Bowl, in Phoenix, on December 26, 2017. Kansas State beat UCLA 35-17.

Kansas State was invited into the Missouri Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Association in 1913. Eventually, the Missouri Valley split up. In 1928, six of the seven state schools in the Missouri Valley, including Kansas State, banded together in a conference that retained the MVIAA name. This group --K State, Kansas, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Nebraska, Missouri, Colorado, Iowa State -- evolved into the Big Eight Conference.

From 1935 to 1990, Kansas State only had four winning seasons. Part of the problem was that Kansas State was one of the few major schools that didn't make a significant investment in its football program after World War II. For many years, the Wildcats spent far less on football – and athletics as a whole – than any Big Eight school.

Reflective of the mid-century futility was a 28-game losing streak from 1945–1948, the second-longest in NCAA FBS history. Kansas State also had losing streaks of 18 and 17 games in the 1960s. By 1989, the school had become the first program in Division I-A (FBS) to lose 500 games, and had the worst overall record in the nation at 299–509–41. Things changed in 1989, when the athletic department hired Iowa's offensive coordinator, Bill Snyder, to replace Stan Parrish as head coach. Kansas State has had its most success under Snyder. In 1998, Kansas State finished the regular season with an 11–0 record. From 1995 to 2001, the school appeared in the AP Poll for 108 consecutive weeks – the 15th-longest streak in college football history.

Snyder took over a program that had the worst record in NCAA Division I-A (FBS) history at the time and had gone 27 consecutive games without a win (0-26-1) dating to October 1986. From 1935-1988, the last year before Snyder's arrival, Kansas state only had won 137 games. Since the 1982 Independence Bowl season, the Wildcats had won seven games. Snyder presided over one of the most successful rebuilding projects in the history of college athletics, ultimately earning enshrinement in the College Football Hall of Fame for his work at Kansas State.

Considering the dreadful state of the program he had inherited, Snyder made the Wildcats respectable fairly quickly. In his third year, 1991, Snyder's Wildcats finished 7–4 and narrowly missed receiving the school's second bowl bid ever. The team had a winning record in conference play for only the third time since winning the conference title in 1934. In Snyder's fifth season, in 1993, Kansas State played in the 1993 Copper Bowl, only its second bowl bid ever. They pounded Wyoming, 52 - 17, for the first bowl win in school history, breaking one of the longest such droughts in Division I-A at the time. Success and high rankings continued over the next decade, including six top-10 finishes in the AP Poll and an 11–0 regular season in 1998 (before stumbling in the Big 12 Championship Game against Texas a&m). Snyder won, in pat, because he improved K-State's recruiting by tapping the rich talent base in Kansas' junior college system. Snyder and K-State won the Big 12 Conference championship in 2003, with a 35–7 victory over No.1-ranked Oklahoma (the 69 years since the last conference title in 1934 was the longest span between football titles in Division I history).

In his first 17-year stint as head coach at K-State, Snyder won 136 games – as many as his predecessors had won from 1935 to 1988 – and led Kansas State to 11 consecutive bowl games (1993–2003), including six wins. Snyder's legacy at K-State during his first term also included winning or sharing four Big 12 North titles (1998, 1999, 2000 and 2003) and six 11-win seasons.

After Snyder "retired," K-State hired Ron Prince on December 5, 2005, as its 33rd head football coach. Prince was formerly an offensive line coach at the University of Virginia. In 2006, Prince led Kansas State to a 7–6 record, the team's first winning season since 2003. In 2007, the team slipped to a 5-7 record. With three games remaining in the 2008 season, on November 5, K-State announced that Prince would not return as head coach in 2009. On November 23, 2008, Kansas State announced that Snyder was returning as head coach in 2009.

Following a loss to UCLA at the Rose Bowl on September 19, 2009,  Kansas State became the fourth FBS teams to lose 600 games, joining Northwestern, Indiana and Wake Forest. In 2012, Snyder's Wildcats won the Big 12 Conference title, the school's sixth conference football championship. Kansas State also earned the school's first No. 1 ranking in the BCS standings after starting the season 10–0, before falling to Baylor in its 11th game of the season. The Wildcats earned the conference's automatic berth in the 2013 Fiesta Bowl.

Kansas State Football Stadium: Bill Snyder Family Stadium has been the home of K-State's football team since 1968.

Renamed in honor of Snyder by a proclamation of the Kansas Board of Regents on November 16, 2005, Bill Snyder Family Stadium sits on the north end of campus. Originally named KSU Stadium, the original facility was built at a cost of $1.6 million and financed from student fees, athletics gate receipts and contributions.

The stadium opened its doors on September 21, 1968. The seating capacity was 35,000. Following the 1998 season, the addition of a deck and sky suites on the east side of the stadium increased capacity to more than 50,000. On November 11, 2000, 53,811 fans witnessed Kansas State 's 29-28 win over Nebraska . It remains the largest crowd to witness a sporting event in Kansas.

In addition to Bill Snyder Family Stadium, Kansas State's practice facilities include the 94,000 square foot Indoor Practice Facility.

Game 9 Opponent Overview: Kansas State University

Kansas State University: Kansas State University, originally named Kansas State Agricultural College, was founded in Manhattan on February 16, 1863, during the American Civil War, as a land-grant institution. The school was the first land-grant college created under the Morrill Act and the first public institution of higher learning in the state of Kansas.

Kansas State was founded and began teaching college-level classes six years before the University of Kansas. But Kansas State was originally intended to be primarily an agricultural and scientific college (consistent with the land-grant college mandate) and was not officially labeled a university until 1959, while KU has been labeled a "university" since its enabling legislation was enacted in November 1863. Therefore, Kansas State University is indisputably the state's first public institution of higher learning, but it may also be proper to say that the University of Kansas was the state's first public university. However, the oldest university in the state is Baker University, established as a private university in 1858.

When Kansas State opened, it became the second institution of higher learning to admit women and men equally in the United States. Enrollment for the first session totaled 52 students: 26 men and 26 women. Twelve years after opening, the university moved its main campus to its present site in Manhattan. The school also has campuses in Salina and Olathe. Salina has the College of Technology and Aviation. The Olathe Innovation Campus is the academic research presence within the Kansas Bioscience Park, where graduate students participate in research, bioenergy, animal health, plant science and food safety and security.

The early years of Kansas State witnessed debate over whether the college should provide a focused agricultural education or a liberal arts education. During this era, the tenor of the school shifted with the tenure of college presidents. K-State president George T. Fairchild (1879–1897) favored a classic liberal education. Fairchild was credited with saying, "Our college exists not so much to make men farmers as to make farmers men." During this era, Kansas State helped pioneer the academic teaching of home economics for women, becoming one of the first two colleges to offer the program of study. In 1874, the college also became the first in the United States to offer printing courses, which led to journalism courses being launched in 1910. The A.Q. Miller School of Journalism and Mass Communications, though no longer teaching printing, has the nation's longest continuously offered curriculum in mass communication.

K-State is home to several museums, including the Marianna Kistler Beach Museum of Art, the KSU Historic Costume and Textiles Museum, the K-State Insect Zoo, and the Chang, Chapman, and Kemper galleries, which feature faculty and student artwork. The university also offers an annual cycle of performance art at McCain Auditorium, including concerts, plays and dance.

Kansas State had an enrollment of about 22,200 students for the Fall 2018 semester.

Notable Kansas State Alumni: Distinguished Kansas State alumni include: Milton S. Eisenhower, former president of Kansas State, Penn State and John Hopkins universities and brother of Dwight D. Eisenhower; actress Kristie Alley; NFL on CBS and Utah Jazz television announcer Craig Bolerjack; actress Lucinda Dickey; former Chicago Daily News Editor-in-Chief Roy M. Fisher; radio voice of the Kansas City Chiefs Mitch Holthus; actor Gordon Jump; TV writer/producer and Emmy winner for The Simpsons, Steve Pepoon; television voice of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim Steve Physioc; model, actress and Playboy centerfold Crystal Smith; Pete Souza, photojournalist and official White House photographer (1983–1989); chief White House photographer (2009–present)' actor and Emmy Award winner Eric Stonestreet; Jerry Wexler, a record producer who is enshrined in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame; James Harbord, Major General during World War I and president and Chairman of the Board for RCA; Damon T Hininger, Chief Executive Officer of the Corrections Corporation of America; Jim Isch, officer at NCAA and interim executive director of the NCAA, 2009-2010; William A. Porter, founder of E-Trade; Warren Staley, President and CEO, Cargill, Inc.; Joseph Boakai, Vice President of Liberia, 2006 - present; Sam Brownback, U.S. Senator, Kansas (1996-2011 and 46th Governor of Kansas, 2011-present; John W. Carlin, 40th Governor of Kansas and Archivist of the U.S., 1995 - 2005; Marlin Fitzwater, Press Secretary under Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush; Jim Geringer, 30th Governor of Wyoming; Mike Hayden, 41st governor of Kansas; Fran B. Morrison, 31st Governor of Nebraska, 1961-1967; Richard Myers, Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, 2001-2005; Bernard W. Rogers, NATO Supreme Allied Commander; Susanna M. Salter, Mayor of Argonia, Kansas, 1887, and the first female mayor in the United States; Ernie Barrett, former Boston Celtic, first-round pick in the 1951 NBA Draft and former Athletic Director at Kansas State; Michael Beasley, All-American and Big 12 Conference Player of the Year, 2008, and second overall selection in the 2008 NBA Draft; Rolando Blackmon, All-American (1981), former Dallas Maverick, first-round pick in the 1981 NBA Draft and a four-time NBA All-Star; Bob Boozer, two-time All-American (1958, 1959); first overall draft pick in the 1959 NBA Draft by the Cincinnati Royals and an NBA All-Star; Bill Guthridge, former basketball coach at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and National Coach of the Year, 1998; Gene Keady, former basketball coach at Purdue and a four-time National Coach of the Year, 1984, 1994, 1996, 2000; Lon Kruger, basketball coach at Oklahoma and former coach of the NBA Atlanta Hawks and two-time Big Eight Conference Player of the Year, 1973, 1974; Willie Murrell, who led KSU to the Final Four in 1964 and was an ABA basketball player; Nicole Ohlde, three-time All-American, 2002, 2003, 2004, and a first-round pick in the 2004 WNBA Draft. Mitch Richmond, All-American, 1988, and former NBA basketball player, six-time NBA All-Star NBA All-Star Game MVP and first-round pick in the 1988 NBA Draft; Juan "Pachin" Vicens, named "Best Basketball Player in the World" in 1959; Kendra Wecker, All-American and Big 12 Conference Player of the Year, 2005, and first-round pick by the San Antonio Silver Stars in the 2005 WNBA Draft; Michael Bishop, a Davey O'Brien Award winner, second in voting for the 1998 Heisman Trophy and an All-American in 1998; Larry Brown, 1972 FL MVP and four-time NFL Pro Bowler; Ron Dickerson, head football coach for Temple University; Darrell Dickey, head football coach for the University of North Texas; Lynn Dickey, NFL quarterback and member of the Green Bay packers Hall of Fame; Josh Freeman, NFL quarterback and a first-round pick in the 2009 NFL Draft; Martin Gramatica, a Lou Groza Award winner a 1997 All-American and an NFL Pro Bowler; Steve Grogan, an NFL quarterback and a member of the New England Patriots Hall of Fame; Kirby Hocutt, Athletics Director at Texas Technical College; Jordy Nelson, a wide receiver for the Green Bay Pacers and a 2007 All-American; Terence Newman, a Jim Thorpe Award winner, a 2002 unanimous All-American and a first-rounder in the 2003 NFL Draft; Gary Patterson, head football coach at TCU; Darren Sproles, a 2003 All-American, an NFL running back for the Philadelphia Eagles and selected as one of the "50 Greatest San Diego Chargers."; Bob Stull, Athletics Director at UTEP; James Yeager, head football coach for Iowa State and the University of Colorado; Jim Colbert, finished second at NCAA Golf Championships, registered eight victories on the PGA Tour and 20 victories on the Champions tour and who is a golf television analyst; Erin Brockovich, an activist; Sean Lowe, a reality star (The Bachelorette, The Bachelor, Dancing with the Stars); and Jim Rayburn, founder of Young Life.

Kansas State Traditions:

Here are some traditions observed by Kansas State students and alumni:

Color: The school color is Royal Purple, making Kansas State one of three schools (alongside Syracuse and Harvard) that have one official color. White and silver sometimes are used as complementary colors, with white mentioned with purple in the university's fight song, "Wildcat Victory."

Nickname: Through its first 19 seasons of athletic competition, Kansas State used "Aggies" as its nickname. Prior to the 1915 season, coach John "Chief" Bender gave his squad the nickname "Wildcats." Under coach Z.G. Clevenger in 1917, the team became known as the "Farmers." In 1920, coach Charles Bachman renamed the team "Wildcats."

Mascot: Willie, a student bedecked in a oversized Wildcat head, is Kansas State’s mascot. Willie Wildcats are selected yearly by a panel appointed by the cheerleading coach. The mascot is a central part of athletic contests, but also attends functions around the state as an ambassador. The identity of the student portraying Willie is kept secret. The cartoonish "Willie the Wildcat" logo is used only by the Kansas State Alumni Association.

Powercat Logo: The K-State athletics logo is a stylized Wildcat head in profile called the "Powercat." Manhattan native Tom Bookwalter, in cooperation with head coach Bill Snyder, created the logo.

Touchdown I-XI: In 1922, Charles Bachman asked some K-State alums to consider donating a Wildcat to the school to serve as a mascot. Alumni Herbert R. Groome and John E. McCoy answered the call and donated a bobcat named "Touchdown I" to the school. A real bobcat named Touchdown (I-XI), served as team mascot at games. "Touchdown" could be found at Sunset Zoo in Manhattan until the 1980s.

Slogans: Several chants and slogans are used. "Purple Pride" and "Eat 'Em Up, Eat 'Em Up K-S-U" are two. Another chant/slogan is "EMAW," which is an acronym for "Every Man a Wildcat."

Kansas State Marching Band: The Kansas State Marching Band, also known as "The Pride of Wildcat Land" or just "The Pride," has more than 400 members, including woodwinds, brass, percussion, color guard, dancers and twirlers. Membership is open to all Kansas State students, regardless of major.

In 1887, 15 student-musicians were organized into the first band at the Kansas State Agricultural College. The first involvement with athletics came when the band accompanied the baseball team to a game in 1899.

On October, 1928, John Philip Sousa was to make an appearance at K-State. He was requested to compose a Kansas State Agricultural College march. Sousa delivered the piano arrangement of Kansas Wildcat March to the Music Department in the spring of 1931. It is part of the band's pregame show at every football game.

Listen to and watch the Kansas State Marching Band here.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2CTgeQ9cqw

School Songs: Alma Mater is the name of the school song. In 1888, when the university was still Kansas State Agricultural College, the song was submitted as part of a school-wide contest. The lyrics are: "I know a spot that I love full well, 'Tis not in forest nor yet in dell, ever it holds me with magic spell, I think of thee Alma Mater. KSU, we’ll carry the banner high, KSU long, long may thy colors fly. Loyal you to thee thy children will swell the cry. Hail, Hail, Hail Alma Mater."

Wildcat Victory is used as a fight song. Wildcat Victory also is used by many high schools as their fight song. The lyrics are: "Fight you K-State Wildcats. For Alma Mater fight-fight-fight. Glory in the combat for the purple and the white. Faithful to our colors, we will ever be, fighting ever fighting for a Wildcat Victory! Go State!"

Wabash Cannonball also is used to rouse K-State fans. The song became an integral part of Wildcat athletics in 1969, when the KSU Department of Music burned. Almost everything in the building was destroyed. The only things salvaged were a band director’s briefcase and its contents, which included music titled the Wabash Cannonball. With an upcoming football game and no music, that left only one thing to do. The band members played Wabash Cannonball loud and often.

Listen to Alma Mater: here 

Listen to Wildcat Victory: here  

Listen to Wabash Cannonball: here  

Watch Wabash Cannonball: here 

College Football News: Baylor Okay, Maryland's Durkin Fired

College Football News:

Big 12 Okays Baylor: Big 12 Conference directors have endorsed a report that said Baylor has implemented recommendations for reforming its Title IX process after a campus sexual assault scandal about two years ago. Thus, the conference will discontinue withholding part of Baylor's share of conference revenue. The withholdings had amounted to more than $14 million over the past two years. Baylor still is undergoing an NCAA investigation into the scandal.

Board Okays Maryland's Durkin, Then He Is Fired: The University System of Maryland board of regents recommended that Maryland head football coach DJ Durkin retain his job. One day later, the school fired him. Durkin had been on paid leave since early August because of the death of a player who collapsed during practice, and also because of allegations of bullying by the Maryland coaching staff. 

First 2018 College Football Playoff Ranking

Here is the first College Football Playoff ranking of the season:

1. Alabama (8-0)

2. Clemson (8-0)

3. LSU (7-1)

4. Notre Dame (8-0)

5. Michigan (7-1)

6. Georgia (7-1)

7. Oklahoma (7-1)

8. Washington State (7-1)

9. Kentucky (7-1)

10. Ohio State (7-1)

11. Florida (6-2)

12. UCF (7-0)

13. West Virginia (6-1)

14. Penn State (6-2)

15. Utah (6-2)

16. Iowa (6-2)

17. Texas (6-2)

18. Mississippi State (5-3)

19. Syracuse (6-2)

20. Texas A&M (5-3)

21. NC State (5-2)

22. Boston College (6-2)

23. Fresno State (7-1)

24. Iowa State (4-3)

25. Virginia (6-2)

2018-19 College Football Playoff Rankings: Each fall, the College Football Playoff Selection Committee meets in person to produce interim rankings before Selection Day. During each meeting, the selection committee ranks 25 teams. The dates for the fall of 2018 are: Tuesday, October 30; Tuesday, November 6; Tuesday, November 13; Tuesday, November 20; Tuesday, November 27;  and Sunday, December 2 (Selection Day and Playoff Semifinal teams announced).

Selection Committee Members: Rob Mullens (chair), director of athletics, University of Oregon; Frank Beamer, former head coach, Virginia Tech; Paola Boivin, professor, Arizona State University; Jeff Bower, former head coach, Southern Mississippi; Joe Castiglione, director of athletics, University of Oklahoma; Herb Deromedi, former head coach, Central Michigan University; Ken Hatfield, former head coach of three FBS institutions; Chris Howard, president, Robert Morris University; Bobby Johnson, former head coach, Vanderbilt University; Ronnie Lott, former All-American, University of Southern California; Gene Smith, director of athletics, Ohio State University; Todd Stansbury, director of athletics, Georgia Institute of Technology; and Scott Stricklin, director of athletics, University of Florida;

2018-19 College Football Playoff Championship Game: Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara, California; 7pm CT, January 7, 2019.

2018-19 College Football Playoff Semifinals: Orange Bowl, Hard Rock Stadium, Miami, Florida, December 29; and the Cotton Bowl, AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas, December 29.

2018-19 Selection Committee Bowl Games (New Year's Six Bowls): Peach Bowl, Saturday, December 29, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia; Fiesta Bowl, Saturday, December 29, University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Arizona; Rose Bowl, Tuesday, January 1, 2019, Pasadena, California; and the Sugar Bowl, Tuesday, January 1, 2019, Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana.

TCU-Kansas Football Game Photos

Photos by Tom C. "Midnite" Burke

It was a perfect Fall day for a football game in Lawrence, Kansas, on Saturday, October 27.

TCU alums Bruce Peterson (left) and Kirby Ralston await the start of the TCU-Kansas football game in Lawrence.

TCU alum Tom C. "Midnite" Burke, with the Big 12 football championship trophy at the Dollar General Tailgate, prior to the TCU-Kansas football game in Lawrence. Unfortunately, the trophy will not be residing in Fort Worth after this football season.   -- Photo by Kirby Ralston

There were lots of empty seats at the TCU-Kansas football game. The announced crowd was only about 15,000.

TCU Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Jeremiah Donati was at the "Debacle in Lawrence".

(photo above) TCU head football coach Gary Patterson (left) visits with a spectator prior to the TCU-Kansas football game.

(photo below) Patterson watches as TCU players Jeff Gladney (#12) and Niko Small (#2) warm up prior to the TCU-Kansas football game. Gladney played through an injury. Small re-injured himself during the game and may miss the remainder of the season.

Here come the Frogs! TCU players wore white helmets, white jerseys and white pants.

Here come the Jayhawks!

TCU's captains for the Kansas game were (from left to right) Ty Summers (#42), Kellton Hollins (#55), Michael Collins (#10) and Ben Banogu (#15). It was the first time for Collins to be a captain.

Awaiting the arrival (photo above) of TCU head football coach Gary Patterson to the TCU sideline, with essential football coaching tools in hand, including the all-important towel, which never is too far away from the coach (photo below) during a game.

Against TCU, Kansas quarterback Peyton Bender (#7, photos above and below) completed 19 of 29 passes for 249 yards and two touchdowns. One of those touchdowns was to running back Pooka Williams, Jr. (#1, photo below). The 28-yard touchdown came in the fourth quarter and proved to be the game-winning play for the Jayhawks.

Kansas freshman running back Pooka Williams (#1, photos above and below) came into the game against TCU averaging 103.3 rushing yards per game. He only ran for 33 yards on 11 carries against the Frogs, but he excelled in the Jayhawks' aerial attack. Williams had seven receptions for 102 yards and two touchdowns, including a game-winning 28-yard touchdown reception. His performance against TCU earned him the Big 12 Newcomer of the Week Award.

Kansas running back Khalil Herbert (#10, photos above and below), had 38 yards and one touchdown on 21 rushing attempts against TCU's defense, including linebacker Arico Evans (#7, photo above), defensive end Ben Banogu (#15, photo below) and linebacker Jawuan Johnson (#1, photo below). Evans and Johnson tied for the TCU team lead with 10 tackles. Evans equaled a career-high set earlier this season at Texas, while Johnson had his most stops as a Horned Frog.

Based on his performance against TCU, Kansas kicker Gabriel Ruai (#7) earned the Big 12 Co-Special Teams Player of the Week Award. He kicked two field goals, of 34 and 27 yards, and converted all three PAT attempts. His nine points were instrumental in the Jayhawks' stunning 27-26 win over the Horned Frogs.

TCU head football coach Gary Patterson (center) gives instructions to the Horned Frogs' defense. The defense held Kansas to 58 yards rushing, but allowed the Jayhawks 249 yards through the air in TCU's 27-26 loss.

TCU defensive end L.J. Collier (#91, photos above and below) continually pressured Kansas quarterback Peyton Bender (#7, photo above) and helped contain the Jayhawks' running game (photo below).

Against the Jayhawks, TCU defensive end and Preseason Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year Ben Banogu (#15, photos above and below) had a career-high 4.5 tackles for loss, including two sacks, on consecutive snaps in the second quarter. He has a team-best 6.5 sacks on the year. Banogu's 15 sacks in less than two seasons are the most by an active Horned Frog.

TCU's defense took a hit in the Kansas game when safety Niko Small (#2) and defensive end/linebacker Ty Summers (#42) had to be carted off because of injuries. Both returned to the TCU sideline but not the game. Their status for the November 3 game against Kansas State and the remainder of the season is uncertain.

For the Kansas game, and for the first time this season, Michael Collins (#10) was TCU's starting quarterback and Grayson Muehlstein (#17) was the backup quarterback. Shawn Robinson, who began the season as the Frogs' starting quarterback, is out because of season-ending shoulder surgery. Collins became the first non-Texan to start at quarterback in TCU head football coach Gary Patterson's 21 seasons at TCU. The last previous non-Texas native was Derek Canine from Birmingham, Michigan, in the final five games in 1997, the year before Patterson's arrival.

TCU starting quarterback Michael Collins (#10) gets advice from TCU co-offensive coordinator/running backs coach Curtis Luper.

TCU quarterback Michael Collins (#10, photos above and below) had an excellent game against the Jayhawks in his first start as a Horned Frog. He completed 23 of 33 passes for 351 yards and one touchdown. He had one pass intercepted.

In the Kansas game, TCU starting quarterback Michael Collins (#10, photos above and below) ran the ball 10 times for 33 yards. He was the Frogs' second-leading rusher in the game.

TCU starting quarterback Michael Collins (#10, photos above and below) had two rushing touchdowns against Kansas. He had a two-yard touchdown run in the third quarter (photo above) and a three-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter (photo below). That TD gave the Frogs a 24-20 lead, but it was a lead TCU was unable to maintain. Collins' scoring runs gave him three rushing touchdowns on the season.

TCU wide receiver Jalen Reagor (#1, photos above and below) caught a 56-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter to give TCU a 10-7 lead over Kansas. The reception was the fourth passing play of at least 50 yards by TCU this season. Reagor has been on the receiving end for two of them. Reagor had his second career 100-yard receiving game, with eight receptions for a career-best 177 yards. The eight receptions tied a career-high set on two other occasions. The touchdown reception was the 13th of Reagor's short career, tying him with four players for seventh on TCU's all-time list. The 56-yard touchdown was one-yard short of a season-long reception by a Horned Frog (57 yards, TreVontae Hights vs. Ohio State). It also was the second-longest scoring grab of Reagor's career, trailing only his 93-yard touchdown against Stanford in last year's Valero Alamo Bowl game. Reagor has at least one reception in his last 13 games, the longest current streak by a Horned Frog. He has a catch in 21 of his 22 contests at TCU.

TCU freshman wide receiver Taye Barber (#4) tried to stay in bounds for a touchdown on this play, but the official ruled he stepped out of bounds just short of the goal line. Against Kansas, Barber had a career-high five receptions for 75 yards, with a long catch of 24 yards.

TCU running back Sewo Olonilua (#33, photos above and below) was held to 24 yards rushing on eight carries and also was denied the end zone on a fourth-and-goal carry from the one-yard line early in the game.

Against the Jayhawks, TCU running back Darius Anderson's (#6, photo above) 95 yards rushing were his most since a season-best 154 yards earlier this year against Ohio State. He also had a season-high 20 carries.

But, Anderson will most be remembered for his fumble (photo below) at the Kansas seven-yard line with just over one minute remaining in the game. TCU trailed, 27-24, and was driving for the potential game-wining touchdown or game-tying field goal. Anderson's fumble was referred to as a "butt-fumble," because he lost the football with no defender contact, putting the ball on the ground after running into the backside of TCU left guard Austin Myers (#56).

Darius Anderson's late-game "butt-fumble" was recovered by Kansas defensive lineman KeyShaun Simmons (#98, holding up the football, photo above). After the recovery, Kansas' offense ran all but one second off the game clock, taking an intentional safety. Time expired when TCU fielded the Jayhawks' kick after the safety. Kansas won, 27-26.

TCU offensive lineman Kellton Hollins (#55) tries to console TCU running back Darius Anderson (#5) after Anderson's late-game fumble allowed Kansas to escape with a 27-26 victory over TCU. It was the Frogs' first loss to Kansas since TCU joined the Big 12. The win was the Jayhawks' fist Big 12 victory since November 19, 2016, against Texas, a stretch of 14 games.

(photos above and below) TCU head coach Gary Patterson, Kansas head coach David Beaty and Kansas and TCU players meet at midfield after Kansas beat TCU 27-26 in Lawrence on Saturday, October 27.

Kansas players, fans and coaches celebrate the Jayhawks' 27-26 victory over TCU.