Adrian Holguin
October 13th, 2026
Top Three Takes: Coach Klein’s Week Six Presser
Kansas State is coming off a 35-16 loss to the Houston Cougars, but the Wildcats must now reset mentally as they head into what may be the biggest game of their season: a matchup with the Kansas Jayhawks. Here are the three biggest takeaways from Collin Klein’s recent press conference.
The Significance of Losing 50-50 Battles
Coach Klein repeatedly pointed out that his team lost key third-down battles and other contested plays. He said that’s why Houston won, and Kansas State lost.
Houston converted on 5-of-6 third downs of 6-plus yards. That includes the Cougars getting the
better of the Wildcats on a trio of 50-50 balls, which helped extend multiple drives. Klein
said those battles are where Kansas State must improve.
He also said K-State had only six explosive plays and needs closer to 12. The Wildcats
weren’t executing basic first- and second-down plays well enough, which forced them to
work from well behind the sticks.
Capitalizing on Turnover Chances and the Need to Handle Adversity
Klein highlighted two early missed takeaways against Houston: a tipped pass near the
middle of the field and a chance for Koy Beasley to intercept a stick route. He wants the
defense to read keys faster, rush the passer more efficiently, and turn those
opportunities into takeaways.
Klein also thinks both the offense and defense were put on their heels early on and
couldn’t settle the game down. He pointed out that the Wildcats could not settle the
game down after halftime. His main point was that the Cats must learn to respond to
adversity as a collective.
The Kansas Rivalry Requires a Full Reset, Not Just Emotion
Klein emphasized that the Sunflower Showdown rivalry is meaningful and significant.
He noted that the trophy is currently residing inside the Wildcats’ locker room, but past
results do not matter. Kansas State must earn the win through solid fundamentals,
preparation, and a winning brand of football. He pointed out that these aspects will be
even more prevalent because of the length, athletic quarterback play, and explosive
potential the Jayhawks bring to the table.