Football is finally here

FOOTBAW. It’s finally in the air!

The turf is ready, the lines are painted, our long wait is over. There will be real live Kansas State football action this evening, when the Wildcats line up against the South Dakota Coyotes. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:10 PM and the game will be available to stream on ESPN3, with radio coverage available through the K-State Sports Network.

The all-important HOW TO WATCH post, courtesy of AMS, has all the details on today’s matchup you could possibly want.

To mark the official start of the 2018 football season, we have #CONTENT, so much of it, for your perusal. BracketCat wrapped up the 2018 football roster countdown with #1 running back Michael Warmack, brother of Dalvin.

Speaking of Warmack, JT VanGilder takes a closer look at the group in his running backs preview, and Jon Morse riffs on the relative lack of experience ion offense in the wide receivers preview. Finally, Drew Schneider returns with the second half of his preview on Alex Delton, this time with a closer look at areas of possible improvement.

Bill Snyder hasn’t named a starter at quarterback yet, describing the competition as “unimaginably tight.” (Dave Skretta, Associated Press, via Columbia Tribune). It’s possible Skylar Thompson will get the nod, although sentiment among BotC staff and commenters seems to lean towards Alex Delton. It’s likely both quarterbacks will get in on the action, and that real game speed this week and against Mississippi State may well reveal who the ultimate starter will be (Kellis Robinett, Wichita Eagle).

Today’s opponent, South Dakota, is familiar, and a quality FCS foe (Nathan Enserro, K-State Collegian). Still, there’s a sense among fans that the Yotes may not present the sort of stiff challenge that would help the team prepare for a visit from a ranked SEC foe. However, entitlement and a complacent attitude are the last things one would expect from a Bill Snyder-coached squad. There will be no looking past South Dakota (Arne Green, Topeka Capital-Journal).

Indeed, the Wildcats are focused on “going 1-0” every week rather than looking ahead, a trap they sometimes fell into last season (Greg Woods, Manhattan Mercury).

Football is clearly important to everyone on the roster, but it has a different—and greater—impact on some players than others. For Reggie Walker, it was an escape from a place where kids often get into trouble that ends otherwise promising athletic careers (Justin Toscano, Mercury). For Kendall Adams, it’s a chance at redemption as he returns to the field after losing most of last season to injury (Corbin McGuire, KStateSports Extra). Finally, for Dalton Risner, football is an opportunity to give back, along with a reminder that even football is not forever (Woods, Mercury).

Nearly every team that hasn’t already played a game this week is in action today. For all your college football TV needs, go HERE.

Happy kickoff!