Why Kansas State’s win over Oklahoma is more than a ‘neat stat’ to Chris Klieman
You have probably seen the statistic by now.
The four teams that made it into this season’s College Football Playoff have a combined record of 51-1. Ohio State, LSU and Clemson all ended the regular season at 13-0, while Oklahoma went 12-1.
The only thing standing in the way of an undefeated foursome: Kansas State.
As the postseason begins, the Wildcats are the only team in the nation that owns a victory against a playoff team. You could say their 48-41 win over the Sooners on Oct. 26 has aged well.
“It’s a neat stat,” K-State football coach Chris Klieman said earlier this week. “We played exceptionally well that day, and it’s something I know that day here in October our guys are going to remember for an awful long time. But it’s also the standard we want to play to.”
K-State was certainly at its best when Oklahoma arrived as a huge favorite at Bill Snyder Family Stadium. The Wildcats pulled off the upset by scoring on eight straight possessions for a 48-23 lead early in the fourth quarter, then holding on for Klieman’s first statement victory in Manhattan.
Skylar Thompson threw for 213 yards and rushed for four touchdowns, James Gilbert ran for 105 yards and a touchdown and K-State’s defense held Oklahoma scoreless in the third quarter.
Fans stormed the field and K-State went on to win eight games. Over the weekend, it received an invitation to the Liberty Bowl, where it will play Navy on Dec. 31 in Memphis, Tennessee.
Beating Oklahoma still resonates.
Klieman said the victory is helping the Wildcats as early signing day approaches, because “a lot of recruits saw that game.” But it has helped most with the players currently on K-State’s roster. It showed them what they are capable of.
For Klieman, winning big games is nothing new, as he claimed four FCS championships while coaching at North Dakota. K-State players weren’t accustomed to winning marquee games. Now they know it can be done.
Beating a playoff team now could be beneficial as Klieman builds toward the future.
“If you play well, you have an opportunity to be successful,” Klieman said. “We did that day, and there are some days where we don’t play well and it doesn’t go our way. It was a great experience.”