Kansas State Wildcats head coach Bill Snyder is almost 80 years old. He was diagnosed with throat cancer earlier this year. Some people will wonder how and why Snyder is still coaching. Others will wonder why most Big 12 teams still can’t beat him. Kansas State finished in the upper division of the Big 12 last season. The Wildcats went 6-3 and then beat Texas A&M of the SEC in a bowl game. Snyder is simply one of the best coaches of all time. He made Kansas State out of nothing nearly 30 years ago, and after a few years on the sidelines, he has returned to coaching and remained a factor in his conference. What does he have in store for the coming season?
How Did They End 2016
The Wildcats had a frontloaded Big 12 schedule, with Oklahoma and West Virginia – two of the best three teams in the conference – in the first three games of the nine-game conference schedule. Once Kansas State got past that hurdle, it was able to get a lot of work done in the Big 12. Though starting 1-2 in the conference because of losses to West Virginia and Oklahoma, Kansas State won five of its last six, including a win at Baylor, to finish 6-3 in the conference. Kansas State lost to Oklahoma State in a game it led much of the way. KSU lost to the three best teams in the Big 12 in 2016 and handled everyone else. This season, KSU will try to beat the teams at the top of the league, not just the middle and the bottom.
Offseason Changes
Jordan Willis and the rest of the starting 2016 linebackers are gone. That is by far the main challenge for the Wildcats this season – getting enough able tacklers to make plays on defense and stay above water. The Big 12 is unforgiving on defenses and defensive coordinators. Kansas State is fine on the defensive line and in the secondary, but given the amount of responsibilities linebackers need to handle, the lack of playing experience among this group is concerning. Snyder and his staff will need to work quickly in making the new linebackers sharp and responsive enough to carry their own weight in the Big 12.
Team X-Factor
California transfer wide receiver Carlos Strickland needs to be there for quarterback Jesse Ertz on what was a stop-and-start offense in 2016. The 2017 offense has veteran pieces accustomed to the offensive system, but the Wildcats need a playmaking threat to change the nature of their offense and draw extra attention from defenses. Strickland, if he can become that piece, could make Kansas State very different – and better – than what 2017 expectations might suggest.
What To Expect From The Wildcats This Year
Kansas State is very consistent under Snyder. The Wildcats win the games they are supposed to win, and they usually win one or two games a year in which the opponent gains a lot more yards, but KSU commits two or three fewer turnovers and wins by virtue of not making any critical mistakes. Expect more of the same this season.
Record Last 5 Seasons
2016: 9-4
2015: 6-7
2014: 9-4
2013: 8-5
2012: 11-2
Schedule & Outlook
The Wildcats have the opportunity to get their season rolling with a manageable schedule to star the year. Back-to-back home games with Central Arkansas and Charlotte are sure to lead to wins. Then things ramp up with a road trip to Vandy and a visit from Baylor, but they could very well be 4-0. The story of their season will be decided in the next three games when they visit Texas, host TCU and then host Oklahoma in a span of three weeks. They’ll also have West Virginia and Oklahoma State in back-to-back weeks later in the season.
Oklahoma and Oklahoma State will probably beat the Wildcats, but will anyone else in the Big 12 do the same? Kansas State is so good at staying slightly ahead of the curve. Bill Snyder regularly has a thing or two to fend off the critics and keep his program humming along at an above-average level. Expect KSU to go 9-3.
Regular Season Win Total Prediction: Over 8
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