2019 Baylor Football Opponent Quick-Hitter: Kansas State

Opponent: Kansas State

Nickname: The Wildcats

Kickoff: October 5th, TBD

Location: Bill Snyder Family Stadium

Conference: Big XII

Head coach: Chris Klieman

Last year’s record: 5-7

Notable outcomes: Lost to Baylor 37-34; beat UTSA 41-17; beat Oklahoma State 31-12

Key losses: Dalton Risner, RT; Alex Delton, QB (Transfer to TCU); Alex Barnes, RB

Strength: Offensive line. The line lost their right tackle to the Broncos, but the rest of the line is strong and returns great players in Scott Frantz at left tackle and Adam Holtorf at center.

Weakness: Quarterback. The Wildcats lost one of its two starters to transfer in Alex Delton. Skylar Thompson returns but here’s the issue with that... neither was particularly great last season. Thompson’s ability to run could work well in the new system though.

Prediction: Baylor won in shootout fashion last year in Waco against the Wildcats. Now that Bill Snyder has retired for a second time, it will be a new look Kansas State squad coached by Chris Klieman who used to be at North Dakota State. Will the Wildcats carry on the relative success Bill Snyder provided or start falling off like the last time he retired? Time will tell. Regardless, I think Baylor has better talent than the Wildcats and a more secure system. The key will be if the Bears can stop the run, which I think might be one of the Bears’ stronger defensive points this season (especially if safety play improves from the bowl game). This is a tricky road game but I’d give the Bears a ~60% chance of winning.

28-21 Baylor