22/25 Kansas State at Kansas: Sunflower Showdown Open Game Thread

The 2019 has been a season of new beginnings for both the Kansas State Wildcats and the Kansas Jayhawks. New coaches coaches have brought renewed energy to both programs. And big wins last week have brought renewed excitement to today’s contest.

It’s time for the Sunflower Showdown.

This may be the most anticipated game between the two rivals for both fanbases since Bill Snyder returned to the K-State sidelines and helped ruin the “History Awaits” season for Mark Mangino’s Jayhawks (which was also the last time KU won more than three games in a season). That win in 2009 ended a three-game win streak for the Jayhawks (their longest since their three-game win streak from 1988-1990), and started what has become a 10-game win streak for the Wildcats. The longest streak belongs to the Wildcats, who won 11-straight from 1993-2003, so a win by the Wildcats today would bring the current streak into a tie for longest.

But a win today won’t be easy. The last two games have been much closer than expected, and the 2018 game in Manhattan saw the Wildcats needing to hold off a late charge by the Jayhawks (aided by some very dumb penalties by the visitors — including trying to hide a penalty flag) to escape with a 21-17 victory for Snyder’s final Showdown victory. And while the 2019 Wildcats looked much improved from their 2018 version, so too do the 2019 Jayhawks look improved.

With last week’s win over the Red Raiders, the Jayhawks have already matched their best win total over the past decade with 3-wins, and the Les Miles-led ‘Hawks are looking for more in the Mad Hatter’s first season. But the Chris Klieman-led Wildcats are fresh off a big victory over Oklahoma, and Klieman’s Wildcats are one win away from securing bowl eligibility. The Jayhawks have some talent, but the Wildcats are the better overall team.

It should should be a good game, but the Wildcats should come out on top for the 11th straight time.

Be sure and check out our pre-game content for you this week. AMS brought you this week’s How to Watch post with all the important details for today’s game and TB dropped his Kicking the Tires preview of the Jayhawks.

We’re back to the afternoon time slot, with the 2:30pm kickoff airing on FS1 with Cory Provus (play-by-play), Petros Papadakis (analyst), and Shane Vereen (analyst) on the call. You might be able to stream the game via FoxSportsGo, if you are in the correct market.

If you don’t get FS1, or can’t access the stream, 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 83, XM Channel 381, 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!