Honestly, if you looked at the k state football results from this past 2025 season without watching the games, you’d probably just shrug. A 6-6 record. It looks like the definition of "mid." But for anyone who actually spent their Saturdays in Manhattan or glued to a screen, those twelve games were a bizarre, frustrating, and occasionally exhilarating rollercoaster that defied every preseason projection.
Kansas State entered the year with massive expectations. We’re talking "College Football Playoff sleeper" noise. They were ranked No. 17 in the AP preseason poll. Avery Johnson was supposed to be the dual-threat savior of the Big 12. Instead, the Wildcats ended up fighting just to keep their heads above water in a conference that has become a total meat grinder.
The Ireland trip that set the tone
Everything started in Dublin. The Aer Lingus College Football Classic was supposed to be a celebratory business trip. Instead, the k state football results began with a thud—a 24-21 loss to Iowa State. Losing the "Farmageddon" rivalry on international soil was a jagged pill to swallow. It wasn't just the loss; it was how it happened. The offense looked out of sync, and the Irish rain seemed to soak into the very soul of the playbook.
Then came the home opener. You’d think a game against North Dakota would be a "get right" opportunity. Technically, it was. K-State won 38-35, but it felt like a loss. Giving up 35 points to an FCS opponent at Bill Snyder Family Stadium? That was the first real red flag that Joe Klanderman’s defense was in for a long, grueling autumn.
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That brutal September slide
If the North Dakota game was a warning, the next two weeks were a full-blown crisis.
- Army 24, K-State 21: This one hurt. Army did what Army does—shortened the game, held the ball, and frustrated a more talented roster.
- Arizona 23, K-State 17: A Friday night trip to Tucson that felt like a funeral.
By mid-September, a team that thought they were Big 12 favorites sat at 1-3. The vibes in Manhattan were, frankly, terrible. People were questioning the offensive line, the play-calling, and whether the preseason hype was just a massive hallucination.
Finding a spark in the Sunflower Showdown
The turning point—or at least the moment the season was saved from total disaster—happened in late October. After splitting games with UCF (a 34-20 win) and Baylor (a heartbreaking 35-34 loss), the Wildcats headed to Lawrence.
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The Dillons Sunflower Showdown is always personal. But in 2025, it was a lifeline. K-State didn't just win; they dismantled the Jayhawks 42-17. Avery Johnson finally looked like the superstar everyone expected, throwing for multiple touchdowns and making defenders look silly in space. If there is one bright spot in the k state football results from this year, it’s that the streak over Kansas remains firmly intact.
A look at the full 2025 scoreboard
| Opponent | Result | Score |
|---|---|---|
| vs. Iowa State (Dublin) | Loss | 21-24 |
| North Dakota | Win | 38-35 |
| Army | Loss | 21-24 |
| at Arizona | Loss | 17-23 |
| UCF | Win | 34-20 |
| at Baylor | Loss | 34-35 |
| TCU | Win | 41-28 |
| at Kansas | Win | 42-17 |
| Texas Tech | Loss | 20-43 |
| at Oklahoma State | Win | 14-6 |
| at Utah | Loss | 47-51 |
| Colorado | Win | 24-14 |
The Utah shootout and the finish line
Late November provided the most entertaining, yet agonizing, game of the year. The 51-47 loss at Utah was absolute peak Big 12 chaos. Points were being scored so fast the scoreboard operators could barely keep up. While the defense was clearly gapped, seeing the offense put up nearly 50 points on the road against a Top 15 team showed what this group could have been if they hadn't spent the first month of the season tripping over their own feet.
Ending the season with a 24-14 win over Deion Sanders and Colorado was a nice bit of closure. It secured bowl eligibility and ensured the Wildcats finished with a winning record in conference play (5-4). It wasn't the trophy-raising season fans wanted, but it wasn't a collapse either.
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What these results actually tell us
Looking at the 2025 k state football results objectively, two things are clear. First, the Big 12 is arguably the most balanced and stressful conference in the country. There are no "off" weeks anymore. Second, K-State has a defensive problem that isn't going away by accident. They were gashed through the air repeatedly, and the portal additions for 2026—like safety Adrian Maddox from Georgia—suggest Coach Chris Klieman knows exactly where the leak is.
Avery Johnson finished the year with 2,385 passing yards and 18 touchdowns against 6 interceptions. Solid? Yes. Heismann-level? Not yet. The kid is 19. He’s learning.
Next steps for K-State fans
If you're looking to track where the program goes from here, keep an eye on these three areas:
- The Transfer Portal: The defensive secondary is being completely overhauled. Watch for news on incoming DBs to see if they can fix the "big play" problem that cost them games against Texas Tech and Utah.
- Spring Ball Progress: Pay attention to the development of the young offensive line. Avery Johnson was under fire way too often in the first four games of 2025.
- Bowl Game Matchup: Use the 6-6 finish as a baseline. A win in a mid-tier bowl game provides the momentum needed to wash away the "what if" feelings of the early-season losses.
The 2025 season was a lesson in humility and resilience. The Wildcats didn't reach the mountaintop, but they didn't fall off the cliff, either.