SLATE: Disrespect Abounds

Football

The biggest news out of the weekend was the release of the latest AP and Coaches Top 25 polls. The Associated Press voters at least got the Kansas State Wildcats on the list at #25 (which is still low), but the coaches (or most likely their interns) decided that the Wildcats were only worthy of a very minor bump, despite being 3-0 against good competition. More fuel to the fire.

Of course, part of that is that K-State has been shafted on TV assignments, starting the season buried on the 11am slot on FS1, before being relegated to ESPN+ for the next three games, including this weekends contest in Stillwater (at least ESPN isn’t trying to hide the fact that they really hate the Big 12 and want our games not to be seen). Despite getting the crappy “TV” assignment this week, the Cats are ready for Big 12 play, and don’t think they’ve even scratched the surface of what they are capable of despite the 3-0 start. At least next week we’ll finally be on a major TV network, as the Oct. 2nd game against Oklahoma in Manhattan has been set for a 2:30pm start time and will be broadcast on FOX.

The bettors are also not impressed with the Wildcats (or haven’t seen enough, anyway), and the Cats opened as a nine point underdog against the Pokes, though the line has moved to just six points (at this moment) thanks to optimistic K-State fans betting hard on that line. Oh, and Kellis has 5 things to know ahead of the game as well, like that K-State will need to pass against an OSU defense that’s nearly as stingy against the run as the Wildcats defense.

Other positive news out of the weekend came from the recruiting side of things. Less than 24 hours after the Wildcats moved to 3-0 after beating Nevada, 3-star Georgia defensive back VJ Payne committed to K-State over offers from Arizona State, Arkansas, Boston College, Michigan, Michigan State, USC (yeah, that one out in LA), and Vanderbilt (among others). Payne continues the Peach State Pipeline that has turned out very well so far for K-State.

One sportswriter is still high on the Cats, as The Oklahoman’s Berry Tramel’s latest power rankings have kept the Wildcats in the top spot, holding off the two Oklahoma schools at the moment.

Soccer

The SoccerCats continued a mostly successful start to the 2021 season with a win on Sunday that tied the school record for non-conference wins (5), as well as saw someone other than Brooklyn Entz put her name atop the record books. The 2-0 win over UTRGV on Sunday was led by junior Marisa Weichel, whose 19th-minute goal (on an assist from Entz) to put the Cats up 1-0 set the school record for game-winning goals in a season with three. The Texas Tech transfer has been tearing it up in Manhattan after heading north to join her younger sister at K-State, and also earned a Honorable Mention spot on this week’s TopDrawerSoccer.com National Team of the Week.

The Cats are off until Thursday, when they begin Big 12 play by hosting the Texas Longhorns at Buser Family Park at 7pm. The match will be available on ESPN+, and if you want to attend in person it is the designated “White Out” game.

Golf

The women’s golf team ended the first day of the Marilynn Smith/Sunflower Invitational at Colbert Hills in second place (and are currently still sitting in a tie for second today), behind the strong individual play of freshman Remington Isaac (younger sister of former Wildcats standout Reid Isaac), who also ended day one in second place on the individual leader board.