Kansas State vs South Dakota: Open Game Thread

Yet again, we’ve made it through the long slog of the offseason, and we have again arrived at the paradise known as college football season. And it’s finally time for your Kansas State Wildcats to take the field in competition.

Tonight at 6pm CDT, from the friendly confines of Bill Snyder Family Football Stadium, your Wildcats will open their 2018 campaign against the Coyotes of South Dakota. USD is not unfamiliar to BSFS, as the Coyotes visited the Little Apple to kick off the 2015 season. Lets hope that the 2018 season turns out far differently than the disastrous 2015 season.

There is certainly some buzz surround the Wildcat football program, at least locally and among K-State fans. The Wildcats are coming off a big bowl victory over UCLA, are returning the entire offensive line, starting running backs, starting quarterbacks (yes, plural to both), and some key players all over the field. Yes, several star players were lost to graduation and the NFL Draft, and they will be tough to replace, especially manimal Will Geary. Most of the losses come from the defense, as the Wildcats will be breaking in an entirely new starting LB unit, as well as a two new DB’s, and two new defensive linemen.

There are some talented youth ready to step up for the Wildcats, and they will have a fair test against the Coyotes. The Coyotes finished the 2017 with an 8-5 record, a #16 FCS ranking, and a 5th-place finish in the stacked Missouri Valley Football Conference. They also made it to the 2nd round of the NCAA Playoffs, falling in a close game to #5 Sam Houston State. These Coyotes are no North Dakota State, but they aren’t going to be a pushover either.

Even with all the newness on defense, the big question for the Wildcats is over on offense and who will trot out at QB for the first series. The latest reports indicate that Skylar Thompson will get the first series, but expect to see plenty of Alex Delton as well.

Regardless, of the questions, the answer should be a Wildcat victory tonight.

For a more in-depth breakdown of tonight’s game, be sure and check out the open of the 11th season of TB’s Kicking the Tires series. AMS has your How to Watch details, with odds and ticket info.

No “TV” for tonight’s game, but you can turn to the Internet as tonight’s game will be shown on ESPN3 (and also available on the WatchESPN app) with Brian Smoller (play-by-play) and former Wildcat tight end Travis Tannahill (analyst) on the call.

If you can’t connect to ESPN3, the game can be heard across the 39-station K-State Sports Network with Wyatt Thompson (play-by-play), former K-State quarterback Stan Weber (analyst), and Matt Walters (sidelines) calling the action. The game will also be on Sirius channel 126, XM Channel 201, and available on the TuneIn app. Live stats are available at k-statesports.com, and Twitter updates (@KStateFB) will also be a part of the coverage.

Go Cats!