MANHATTAN — Carson Coffman was named starting quarterback at Kansas State by coach Bill Snyder this afternoon. Coffman beat out transfer Grant Gregory and will start K-State’s Saturday night opener against Massachusetts at Snyder Family Stadium.

Coffman, a 6-foot-3 junior from Peculiar, Mo., was thought to have the lead in the race for the starting job because of his participation in spring drills. Coffman has appeared in 10 games the past two K-State seasons, completing 28 of 46 passes for 308 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions.

Gregory, a sixth-year player who transferred from South Florida, was not eligible to participate in spring drills. A 6-1 senior, Gregory was a two-year backup to South Florida starter Matt Grothe and appeared in six games last season.

“College GameDay” will air at 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. that day, leading into a 6 p.m. KU-KSU tipoff in Bramlage Coliseum.

K-State is predicted to be a Top 25 team in many early-season polls, returning four starters from a 22-12 team. A five-man recruiting class also figures to make an immediate impact.

KU is thought of as the No. 1 team nationally in the preseason, returning all its top players from last year’s Sweet 16 team.

– Kirk Seminoff