Bowl picture coming into focus for K-State Wildcats with three games remaining
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- K-State needs two wins in three remaining games to reach bowl eligibility.
- Likely destinations include Liberty, Independence or midlevel bowls such as Texas.
- Low Big 12 standing eliminates top bowls; a three-game win streak could merit Texas.
The majority of Kansas State’s preseason goals are no longer within reach for the Wildcats (4-5, 3-3 Big 12) now that they are sporting a losing record with three games remaining in the regular season.
But K-State football coach Chris Klieman’s team still has one tangible thing left to play for — bowl eligibility.
The Wildcats have reached a bowl in every non-pandemic season under their current head coach. They have played in the Liberty Bowl, Texas Bowl, Sugar Bowl, Pop-Tarts Bowl and Rate Bowl since Klieman took over in 2019.
Although no one at K-State will be using a lower-tier bowl trip as a motivational tactic down the stretch, finishing the year with six or more wins certainly beats the alternative.
It shouldn’t be hard to accomplish. K-State will be heavily favored in two of its remaining three games (at Oklahoma State and against Colorado). If the Wildcats take care of business, they will be bowl eligible for the 14th time since 2010.
Where will K-State end up if it finishes 6-6 or 7-5?
One thing is for sure: The Wildcats won’t be playing in one of the Big 12’s upper-tier bowls. They are too low in the conference standings to hold out hope for The College Football Playoff, Alamo Bowl or Pop-Tarts Bowl.
Closing out the year with three straight wins could put them on the radar for the Texas Bowl. But it’s more likely that K-State will be in the running for the Liberty Bowl, the Independence Bowl or a bowl that doesn’t have a set link to the conference like the First Responder Bowl, Birmingham Bowl or Gasparilla Bowl.
K-State would normally be a candidate for the Rate Bowl, but it’s unlikely it will go there in back-to-back seasons.
The Wildcats are familiar with both the Liberty Bowl and the Independence Bowl, but it’s been a while since they played in either game. K-State appeared in the Liberty Bowl in 2019 and 2016. Its first ever bowl trip was to the Independence Bowl in 1982.
Here’s a look at all the possibilities ...
Kansas State bowl projections
Independence Bowl vs. Western Kentucky via SI or vs. Kennesaw State via ESPN or vs. Cal via College Football News.
First Responder Bowl vs. North Texas via USA Today.
Liberty Bowl vs. Florida via Athlon Sports or vs. Mississippi State via The Athletic or vs. LSU via On3.
Big 12 bowl order
College Football Playoff - Dec. 19 and Dec. 20 with the first round on campus sites.
Alamo Bowl - 8 p.m. on Dec. 30 in San Antonio.
Pop-Tarts Bowl - 2:30 p.m. on Dec. 27 in Orlando.
Texas Bowl - 8:15 p.m. on Dec. 27 in Houston.
Liberty Bowl - 3:30 p.m. on Jan. 2 in Memphis.
Rate Bowl - 3:30 p.m. on Dec. 26 in Phoenix.
Independence Bowl - TBD on Dec. 30 in Shreveport, Louisiana.
This is the Big 12 bowl order for Kansas State. New Big 12 teams Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado and Utah are eligible for different games. Any Big 12 team that needs a bowl game after all these slots are filled will be eligible for another ESPN-affiliated bowl.