Gameday Preview: K-State at Oklahoma

Oklahoma is ranked and Kansas State is not. Oklahoma is a 28-point favorite and Kansas State is not. Oklahoma is playing at home, where it has won a nation’s best 27-straight games, and Kansas State is not.

On the surface, this game is a mismatch.

But, at 5-3, the Wildcats do own a better record than the Sooners. Having won their last two games, they are also riding a longer winning streak than Oklahoma.

They are little things that won’t mean much once the game starts, but they have given K-State a jolt of confidence.
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Lamur, Hartman a dynamic duo at safety

Secondary

Look at Kansas State’s defensive statistics and they are the first two players you see.

Emmanuel Lamur leads the Wildcats in tackles (41) and blocked kicks (2).

Tysyn Hartman leads the Wildcats in interceptions (4), is second on the team in tackles (37) and is third on the team in pass breakups (6).

Both players are extremely athletic and can make a wide variety of plays on the football field, but here’s what makes them such a special combination at K-State’s two safety positions: they are only sophomores.
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A few minutes with … Tysyn Hartman

After completely shutting down Texas A&M’s potent offense over the weekend, the Kansas State defense earned all kinds of praise.

On top of allowing zero meaningful points throughout the game, the Wildcats’ defensive line came up with six sacks and their secondary made two interceptions.

Sophomore safety Tysyn Hartman grabbed one of those picks (his fourth of the season) and was fired up after the win. On Tuesday, he talked about that defensive effort and what it’s like to be on top in the Big 12 North.
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What we’ve learned about K-State football

We’re midway through the football season, and Kansas State is right about where most preseason predictions had it at 3-3 overall and 1-1 in conference play.

With six games remaining, there’s a lot that could still happen. But after six games, here’s what we’ve learned:
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Former quarterbacks looking to do more

Joseph Kassanavoid has come up with big hits in each of his last two games. He even forced a fumble last time out.

Collin Klein has made catches in his last two games. Two against Iowa State and one against Tennessee Tech.

They were the efforts of college football players trying to move up the depth chart, but what made them so interesting is that both came to Kansas State hoping to play quarterback. At the beginning of this season, that’s where both were listed on the official roster.

Throw Tysyn Hartman into the mix, and K-State currently has at least three former quarterbacks seeing time at new positions.
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Live Blog: K-State 24, Iowa State 23

FINAL
What a strange ending. Iowa State came through with a miracle touchdown pass to pull to within one point but K-State blocked the PAT to hold on for a 24-23 win.

Raphael Guidry is being credited for the block.

K-State improves to 3-2. Iowa State drops to 3-2.
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This week’s player to watch: Tysyn Hartman

David Sims/Tysyn Hartman

Kansas State’s secondary is off to a fantastic start this year, allowing just 149.8 passing yards per game, and sophomore safety Tysyn Hartman is a big reason why.

The former high school quarterback has been everywhere defensively. He’s a good tackler, he hits hard enough to force fumbles and he is tied for the Big 12 lead in interceptions with three.

He will once again be asked to do well in K-State’s conference opener against Iowa State, and Hartman will have an added carrot dangling in front of him for motivation. The person he’s tied with atop the Big 12 standings is his Iowa State counterpart, David Sims (pictured above).
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Postgame: K-State 21, UMass 17

Bill Snyder’s return to the Kansas State sideline didn’t go as well as he wanted it to, but it went well enough.

With 50,750 fans on hand (the largest crowd to ever witness a home opener at K-State) to celebrate his comeback to coaching and the grand pregame festivities involving more than 300 former players, the Wildcats took an 18-point lead and then sputtered to the finish.

They hung on for a 21-17 victory, but it left fans, players and coaches alike sweating.

Here’s how Snyder summed it all up: “We began to put things together … Then it all fell apart.”
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