Bye week, and plenty of blues

Let’s start with the good stuff, because there is a lot of it for a change.

Kansas State’s soccer team made history last night. The Wildcats beat Iowa State 2-1 to win their first Big 12 home match ever. The win ended an 18-match league losing streak, including 13 matches decided by just one goal.

The purple team was actually down by a goal at the half, thanks to a goal in the 29th minute from the Cyclones’ Courtney Powell. But Brookelynn Entz was true from 23 yards out in the 51st minute, and then found the goal again on a penalty kick to win the match. Entz is now the only player in school history to score two or more goals in a Big 12 match and the school’s career points leader.

Up next, the soccer squad travels to Lawrence for the Sunflower Showdown next Friday. The game will be available on ESPN+.

Continuing with the winning theme, Kansas State’s men’s golf team scored an upset victory over Oklahoma at the Big 12 Match Play Tournament at Houston Oaks in Texas. The Wildcats won 4-2-0 with head-to-head victories for George Clark, Kyle Vance, Will Hopkins, and Tim Tillmanns.

Going into day two of the event, Kansas State is tied with Baylor for second place in Pool B, currently led by Kansas. Today, the Wildcats are already in action against their hated in-state rivals, with Tillmanns and Vance leading their matches and senior Jacob Eklund currently in a tie.

Finally, the VolleyCats are taking on West Virginia this afternoon at Ahearn Field House. Kansas State is currently on a three-match losing streak and desperately needs a win to right the season. In their defense, that losing streak also includes two matches against Top 5 teams in Baylor (#1) and Texas (#4), so things might get a bit easier against the ‘Eers. Cross your fingers!

And yes, it is still college football season. Kansas State is having a much more subdued—but hopefully much more productive—bye week. There isn’t much in the way of news to share, because even the Wildcats’ social media accounts have been quieter this time. Maybe this is an attempt to refocus and prioritize? Certainly, Chris Klieman’s words suggest as much:

We need to make a number of corrections. I know the players and coaches were disappointed from Saturday because we didn’t meet the expectations that we want to have.

Is it ability? Is it coaching? Is it scheme? Is it lack of experience under our scheme? I think we look at everything. We’re up there all day Sunday, all night Sunday night and Monday night… trying to see what will make us better.

This is your EARLY GAME OPEN THREAD! If you’re wondering what to watch, remember THIS is your best resource.

I will leave you to your day of football with this one note that might be relevant to your watching of today’s Red River game.

Me: So if Texas wins today and goes on to win the Big 12, they’re a shoo-in for the CFP

My kid (almost-12-going-on-50): Nah fam. Texas? Nobody cares about them.

He’s wrong, of course. But he comes by this view fairly. He literally can’t remember a time when Texas was good enough to be part of the playoff/national title conversation.

Mull over that as you enjoy the bye week, college football nerds.