Week 13: Kansas State at Fresno State

It’s crystal clear for K-State. Win. Or you are home for the holidays.

What appeared so promising in September has faded in November for the Wildcats, losers of three in a row. K-State was 3-1 and riding high after pounding Texas on the final Saturday in September.

That seems like years ago now for the Wildcats, who have allowed 122 points in their last two games. That hasn’t happened at K-State since 1988, a year before coach Bill Snyder arrived on the scene.

Now, K-State’s back is up against the wall. The Wildcats fully comprehend what is on the line. K-State junior linebacker/defensive end Ian Campbell compared it to what a National Football League team might face.

“It kind of feels like you’re playing for that wild card, and I want that spot,” Campbell said.

K-State has to prove it can tackle better and not turn the ball over so much if it plans to move on. The Wildcats were besieged by mistakes in a 49-32 loss to Missouri, and their defense which looked to be a strength early has struggled as the weeks pass.

That’s not good when you have to go to Fresno State, where the program looks like it’s on the way back after a one-year tumble. Coach Pat Hill, 50-12 at the school, has his guys bowl eligible for the eighth time in nine seasons. The Bulldogs’ offense, guided by QB Tom Brandstater, can be trouble. His mammoth tight end, Bear Pascoe, uses that 6-5, 260 body to his advantage. Pascoe leads Fresno State with 38 receptions for 474 yards and four touchdowns.

Like K-State, the Bulldogs excel at special teams. A.J. Jefferson tops the nation in kickoff return average at 35.8 (with two TDs) and Clifton Smith has five career punt returns for scores.

This wasn’t the scenario K-State coach Ron Prince anticipated when the date of the Fresno State game was changed. He wanted an open date before playing Texas, and that worked in the Wildcats’ favor. Back then, it didn’t look like K-State would need to win at Fresno to become bowl eligible. But that’s the way it is, whether Prince likes it or not.

“I’d much rather be playing a team where we were pretty confident we could go roll the ball out, that kind of thing, but that’s not the case,” Prince said.

BOTTOM LINE: K-State is wobbly, and that’s not a good thing when smash-mouth Fresno State is in your grill. The Bulldogs are primed to deliver the knockout.

Fresno State by 4