Kansas State

The backfield gives Klein a practical way to spread the workload. According to Kellis Robinett, Joe Jackson leads a room reinforced by transfers Rodney Fields and Jay Harris. Fields rushed for 614 yards in 2025, and Harris arrived after scoring in Oregon’s playoff semifinal. A three-back rotation would let Kansas State preserve its physical style without forcing Johnson or Jackson to supply every important carry. Linkon Cure adds another dimension: Klein plans to use him predominantly as a true tight end while retaining his alignment flexibility and maintaining substantial two-tight-end usage.

Kansas State’s passing game will be shaped by whether its protection and receiving corps turn useful options into dependable answers. Transfer corner Kaleb Patterson identified Jaron Tibbs, Derrick Salley Jr. and Josh Manning as receivers who repeatedly challenged the secondary during spring, giving Johnson an experienced group with size. Spring praise alone does not establish a primary target. Up front, John Pastore and Tanner Morley had their work managed, while George Fitzpatrick progressed through medical benchmarks. No settled five-man line emerged, making protection chemistry the offense’s most consequential unresolved issue rather than merely another position battle.

Jordan Peterson’s defense is intended to win with pressure, flexibility and decisive situational execution. Peterson installed a multiple, adjustment-heavy system emphasizing speed, physicality and disruption after his 2025 Texas A&M defense led the nation on third down and ranked second in sacks and tackles for loss. Those results describe the standard and style he is bringing, not a guarantee that a heavily remade Kansas State unit will reproduce them immediately. The central task is to turn multiplicity into fast reactions instead of hesitation as players absorb new responsibilities.

The secondary offers the strongest platform for that approach. Returning starters Zashon Rich and Donovan McIntosh are joined by Illinois transfer Kaleb Patterson, who arrived with 15 career starts. Rich produced 11 pass breakups in 2025, and the competition for roles remained open during spring. That combination of experience and competition should give Peterson coverage options behind an aggressive front. Klein also identified Rich and McIntosh as vocal leaders alongside Rex Van Wyhe and Jordan Allen, an important internal core for a defense learning new language and assignments.

The schedule gives Kansas State an immediate chance to establish its habits at home against Nicholls, Washington State and Tulane before traveling to Cincinnati. The next major pressure point begins with Houston and Kansas visiting Bill Snyder Family Stadium, followed by consecutive road games at Arizona State and Colorado. November continues the alternating strain: Oklahoma State at home, TCU away, Arizona at home and Iowa State away. For a roster joining new teammates to new systems, the defining schedule challenge is sustaining communication and execution as venues and weekly demands change.

Kansas State does not need to search for its preseason thesis. Johnson’s familiarity with Klein should make the offense the team’s early anchor, supported by a deeper backfield and Cure’s formation versatility. Peterson’s experienced corners give the defense a place to begin building its disruptive style. The season’s direction will hinge on whether the offensive line becomes cohesive, a receiver commands Johnson’s trust and a remodeled defense plays Peterson’s system at full speed. Klein has a quarterback and a blueprint; turning widespread change into connected football is the job that will define Year 1.

Win probability

85%