Kansas State Wildcats Football: Phil Steele 2025 Forecast

Veteran college football writer Phil Steele has provided his forecast for Kansas State ahead of the 2025 season. Steele is calling for the Wildcats to have potentially the best offense of the Chris Klieman era so far. He also believes their defense should once again be one of the strongest in the Big 12 Conference.

Klieman is headed into seventh season as head coach at K-State, where he’s led the Wildcats to a 48-28 record and a 3-2 bowl game mark. The ‘Cats have won at least eight games every season he’s been in charge except the 2020 shortened COVID-19 season (4-6).

Kansas State Offense

Kansas State boasted the fifth best offense in the Big 12 last season (426.8 YPG) led by quarterback Avery Johnson, who passed for 2,712 yards, 25 touchdowns and just 10 interceptions last season. Flanked by running back Dylan Edwards (546 rush yards in 2024) and his leading receiver from last season Jayce Brown, the Wildcats seemed poised to make an even bigger leap on that side of the ball this season.

“In 2023, all five OL starters were back. Kansas State improved to 445 YPG and 37.1 PPG (best since 2012) and had 40+ points in all six home games,” Steele wrote. “Last year, the OLine was a question and they lost their top two receivers and OC but my computer only called for a small drop to 33 PPG and they had 31 PPG. This year, they lose RB (DJ) Giddens (1,343 rushing yards) but QB Avery Johnson is back with a stronger receiving corps and Matt Wells takes over the offense with a solid hire. Coach (Chris) Klieman feels this has a chance to be the best offense he has had in his six years there.”

Kansas State Defense

Just as its offense was last season, Kansas State‘s defense was in the top-seven in the conference in both YPG allowed (343.4) and PPG allowed (23.4).

“In 2022, my computer called for them to allow 21.4 PPG and they gave up 21.9! In 2023, my computer called for 366 YPG and they allowed 373 PG and 21 PPG,” Steele continued. “Last year, they had eight starters back and my computer called for 24.9 PPG and they allowed 23.4!”

“This year, they go from having eight starters back on defense to just five but are solid on the DLine, LB and at safety with the biggest question who will emerge as the sun down corner. This time my computer calls for 349 YPG and 25.1 PPG.”

Kansas State 2025 Forecast

“This year, they have 10 returning starters and do have four tough road games and a trip to Ireland to contend with,” Steele wrote. “Two weeks after their trip to Ireland, they face Army and that is usually when that type of ravel affects a team. The Wildcats were +72.4 YPG in Big 12 play last year (No. 1) so were even stronger than their record.”

“They had a disjointed spring with just eight practices due to injuries instead of the normal 15 but coach Klieman felt they got three extra weeks to add strength in the weight room and viewed it as a positive. The Wildcats will be the preseason favorite to win the Big 12 along with Arizona State and those two do not meet in the regular season.”

No. 17 Kansas State opens its 2025 season in Ireland in a Big 12 clash against No. 22 Iowa State on Aug. 23. Kick-off is scheduled for 12:00 PM on ESPN.