Overview
- Kansas State officially ruled out starter Avery Johnson and listed backup Jacob Knuth as doubtful on Thursday and Friday, leaving the Wildcats without their top two quarterbacks for the Oct. 31 game at Folsom Field.
- With Johnson out and Knuth limited by an ankle injury sustained at Arizona State, Kansas State is likely to start either Blake Barnett or Dillon Duff, which would mark the program’s third different starter in three weeks.
- Colorado has also rotated quarterbacks this season and has not announced a settled starter, so the game could feature inexperienced passers on both sides and more conservative offensive game plans.
- The matchup heavily favors defense because Kansas State ranks among the nation’s best against the pass while Colorado averages roughly 266.6 passing yards per game and leads the Big 12 in turnovers, making ball security a decisive factor.
- The quarterback uncertainty will shape coaching choices on both teams, likely increasing Kansas State’s reliance on its running backs to protect a new starter and giving Colorado a clearer chance to snap a five-game skid if it limits mistakes.