Kansas State Football

The Kansas State Wildcats continue to be a problem for the Oklahoma Sooners after a 41-34 victory at Memorial Stadium on Saturday night.

No. 6 Oklahoma had been cruising to start the season. It won its first three games by a combined score of 127-30, albeit against vastly inferior opponents.

Adrian Martinez led the Wildcats' offensive attack with 382 yards of offense (148 rushing) and five total touchdowns. He ran for 59 yards on the final drive that sealed the win, including a 55-yard scamper on third-and-16.

Martinez scored from one yard out two plays later that gave Kansas State a two-touchdown lead with 1:57 remaining.

The 22-year-old Martinez spent the previous four seasons at Nebraska. He entered the transfer portal in December and opted to play for Kansas State. He came into this matchup with 454 yards of offense in the first three games of the season.

Kansas State was coming off a 17-10 loss to Tulane last week. The offense had just 336 total yards and went 2-of-15 on third downs in the game.

Oklahoma's offense had no problems moving the ball. It racked up 550 yards. Dillon Gabriel threw for a season-high 330 yards and four touchdowns. The junior quarterback has 11 touchdowns without an interception on 117 attempts in four games.

The problem for head coach Brent Venables was the defense and 11 penalties that cost the Sooners 87 yards.

Saturday marked Oklahoma's first home loss to an unranked opponent since Kansas State in September 2020.

Martinez did go up against Oklahoma last year with Nebraska. He was OK with 289 passing yards, 34 rushing yards and two total touchdowns in a competitive game the Sooners won, 23-16.

Wildcats head coach Chris Klieman is doing an excellent job with this program. Now in his fourth season since taking over for Bill Snyder, the 54-year-old has a 3-1 record in four games against the Sooners.

Per Alex Kirshner of Split Zone Duo podcasts, Klieman is 0-4 at Kansas State against ranked opponents outside of Oklahoma.

With Kansas State holding a 27-20 lead early in the fourth quarter, both teams traded touchdowns on the next four drives. The run began with Martinez's 15-yard rushing score with eight minutes remaining.

Oklahoma drove 75 yards in nine plays to cut the deficit down to seven with 4:36 left to play. The Wildcats put the game away with their own 75-yard scoring drive that included Martinez's heroic scamper on third down.

Brayden Willis caught a 10-yard touchdown pass from Gabriel with 35 seconds remaining, but Oklahoma's onside-kick attempt failed, allowing Kansas State to run out the clock.

A marquee win, combined with losses by No. 20 Florida, No. 21 Wake Forest, No. 22 Texas and No. 25 Miami, could push Kansas State into the Associated Press Top 25 for the first time since September 2021.

On the losing end, Oklahoma's playoff hopes are very much up in the air at this point. It will have opportunities for marquee victories, including a showdown with No. 9 Oklahoma State on Nov. 19, but its margin for error is essentially non-existent for the rest of the season.

The Sooners' first chance to rebound will come on Oct. 1 against TCU. Kansas State will host Texas Tech next Saturday.

Adrian Martinez is going to finish his college football career with Kansas State. 

The former Nebraska quarterback announced Thursday he is transferring to the Wildcats for the 2022 season. 

Martinez announced Dec. 2 that he was entering the transfer portal after spending four years at Nebraska. 

Coming out of high school in 2018, he was one of the first big recruiting wins for head coach Scott Frost. The California native was a 4-star prospect and the No. 7 dual-threat quarterback in his class, per 247Sports composite rankings. 

Despite some promising moments, Martinez's tenure with the Cornhuskers was largely disappointing. He threw for 8,495 yards, 45 touchdowns and 30 interceptions and completed 63.5 percent of his attempts in 39 games. 

A shoulder injury prevented Martinez from starting Nebraska's regular-season finale against Iowa. Freshman Logan Smothers started in his place and accounted for 262 yards with two rushing touchdowns in a 28-21 loss. 

Kansas State has a need for a new starting quarterback with Skylar Thompson set to wrap up his college career in the Texas Bowl against LSU on Jan. 4.

If Wildcats head coach Chris Klieman wants to have a competition for the starting job, Martinez will likely contend with Will Howard throughout the offseason.    

Kansas State football players announced Friday they've called off a boycott after the school laid out plans to address their diversity concerns.

Sophomore wide receiver Phillip Brooks posted the players' statement on Twitter:

In June, K-State's Black student-athletes released a joint statement saying they wouldn't participate in any games, practices or other athletic department events until their concerns were handled.

Christianna Carr, a guard on the women's basketball team, was among those to post the original announcement:

It's unclear whether the school's other teams are also ending their plans to boycott.

The decision came after KSU student Jaden McNeil, founder of the America First Students group, posted an insensitive message on Twitter about George Floyd, the 46-year-old Black man who was killed while in Minneapolis Police custody in May.

Kansas State announced Wednesday it plans to further its Diversity and Inclusion Plan, which was started four years ago, via a 10-point action plan.

"We will not stand for social injustice," athletic director Gene Taylor said. "Now is the time for us to build upon the Diversity and Inclusion program that we launched two years ago and make bigger strides in the areas of racial injustice and racism. I am so proud of our student-athletes, coaches and staff for working together on these steps and know that our department and University will continue to evolve and grow tremendously."

President Richard B. Myers also released a statement about the school's efforts.

"These initial steps have been based on the many voices heard so far; we will continue to listen and develop actions based on the many voices in our community," he wrote.

The Wildcats' football team is scheduled to start the regular season Sept. 5 against Buffalo.

Black student-athletes at Kansas State University released a statement Friday saying they'll no longer participate in games or other athletic department events unless a new anti-racism policy is created.

Christianna Carr, a guard on the women's basketball team, posted the announcement, which was shared by multiple athletes from the school:

The decision comes after an insensitive Twitter post by KSU student Jaden McNeil in reference to George Floyd, a 46-year-old Black man who was killed while in Minneapolis Police custody May 25. McNeil is the founder of America First Students, an organization with ties to white nationalism.

Kansas State announced Friday it launched an "immediate review of the university's options" and provided a statement from school president Richard Myers.

"The insensitive comments posted by one K-State student hurts our entire community," he said. "These divisive statements do not represent for the values of our university. We condemn racism and bigotry in all its forms."

Wildcats athletic director Gene Taylor also commented on the situation.

"Recent tweets from a K-State student downplaying the Black Lives Matter effort and the tragic and senseless death of George Floyd are disgusting and totally inappropriate and not reflective of who we are as a university or our athletic department," he wrote on Twitter.

K-State starting quarterback Skylar Thompson, who's white, said he'll stand with his fellow athletes against racism:

"Typing out a statement isn't enough. We must take ACTION and take every step moving forward mandating change. I will lead the way and do everything I can I PROMISE you that," he added. "To my teammates and brothers...I love you. I love you for you. No matter how much this world tries to divide us that's never going to change. Don't back down from ANYTHING. I got your back."

The Wildcats' football team is scheduled to start the 2020 season Sept. 5 against Buffalo, though the fate of the NCAA's fall sports remains unsettled because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Winter sports, including play for Carr and the women's basketball team, typically begin in early November.

A group of Kansas State football players have taken a stand in response to a student's offensive tweet about George Floyd.

Jaden McNeil—founder of America First Students, an organization linked to white nationalism—tweeted on Thursday: "Congratulations to George Floyd on being drug free for an entire month!"

Wildcats cornerback Tee Danson vowed not to play, while other players demanded changes be made:

Kansas State president Richard Myers issued a statement announcing an investigation into the situation:

"The insensitive comments posted by one K-State student hurts our entire community. These divisive statements do not represent for the values of our university. We condemn racism and bigotry in all its forms.

"We are launching an immediate review of the university's options. Black Lives Matter at Kansas State University and we will continue to fight for social justice."

Earlier this year, Chuck Tanner and Devin Burghart of the Institute for Research and Education on Human Rights wrote an article detailing McNeil's history and involvement with white nationalist organizations.

Per the America First Students credo, it is a "conservative organization defined by our support for closed borders, traditional families, the American worker and Christian values." It also vowed to defend "America against globalism, affirming the vision laid out by President Trump in his inaugural address."

The Kansas State football players join a growing list of student-athletes at schools across the country who have vowed not to play in games unless changes are made within their teams, athletic departments and universities.

In the Big 12, Oklahoma State running back Chuba Hubbard tweeted he wouldn't "be doing anything" with the school after head coach Mike Gundy was photographed wearing a One America News Network t-shirt. Texas student-athletes, led by football players, issued a list of changes they wanted to be made by the school before they participated in recruiting and donor-related activities.

There have been allegations of racist behavior by assistant coaches at Iowa, Clemson and Utah. Iowa reached a separation agreement with strength and conditioning coach Chris Doyle last week amid accusations of racist and disparaging behavior.

Kansas State University announced Saturday it paused the football team's voluntary workouts because 14 student-athletes tested positive for COVID-19.

Bryan Fischer of College Football Talk shared the news release, which stated the Big 12 school tested more than 130 student-athletes. Those who were positive for COVID-19 were placed in self-isolation and are being "medically managed" according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other guidelines.

Kansas State had announced Wednesday that eight student-athletes tested positive for COVID-19.

Tim Fitzgerald of 247Sports noted the Wildcats started team workouts Monday and that the "number of confirmed cases has risen steadily" with testing in place.

"The health and well-being of our student-athletes will always be our top priority," athletics director Gene Taylor said, per Fitzgerald. "Following the most recent test results, we felt like temporarily pausing all football workouts and access to our facilities was the best decision for everyone. We continue to take this situation very seriously and want to do everything we can to get back to workouts soon."

On Friday, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment announced the state had 12,059 confirmed cases of COVID-19.

There have been no plans to alter the college football season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Kansas State is scheduled to start its season Sept. 5 against Buffalo.

Kansas State University has confirmed eight of the at least 130 student-athletes tested for the coronavirus returned positive results, according to Bruce Feldman of Fox Sports.

The school is requiring the players to enter self-isolation for 10 days or until they are without a fever for 72 hours off medication, whichever takes longer. 

K-State has not announced which sports the athletes who tested positive play but noted the self-isolation guidelines will be applied to known individuals who have been in contact with them, per the Kansas City Star's Kellis Robinett.

According to Robinett, six or more concurring cases within one organization is considered an outbreak. 

KSU is far from the only school to see multiple athletes test positive. On June 4, Matt Zenitz of AL.com reported "at least five" Alabama Crimson Tide football players have confirmed cases. Clemson self-reported two football players and one basketball player have tested positive on June 12. 

Athletes at Kansas State are not permitted to use weight rooms or team facilities without first testing negative for COVID-19 and the school is not expected to postpone any workouts. 

Per Robinett:

"It’s likely that the players who have tested positive have been in contact with at least some of their teammates in off-campus settings. It is currently unclear if K-State will ask any additional players who may have been exposed to the coronavirus to quarantine. It is also not known how many teammates have been in contact with them.

"The Wildcats have taken special precautions to limit exposure within the football team during workouts, including limiting the number of players in their weight room at any given time, wearing masks inside their facility and cleaning equipment after each use. K-State athletic officials said they also screen all athletes and employees as they arrive at the team’s complex."

Football players only began arriving on campus this Monday per Big 12 guidelines allowing them to begin practices for the upcoming season. 

Kansas State Wildcats tight end Sammy Wheeler was arrested Sunday before he was released on $500 bond.

Ryan Black of The Mercury reported the news, noting Wheeler was arrested on charges of "unlawful use of a driver's license, purchase/possession/consumption of liquor by a minor (first offense) and interference with a law enforcement officer (intending to obstruct by falsely reporting information)."

A spokesperson for the football team said "the matter will be handled internally."

Wheeler arrived at Kansas State as a quarterback and 3-star prospect, per 247Sports' composite rankings.

He redshirted during the 2018 campaign, although the Wildcats' website notes he was a co-winner of the Red Raider Award as a top contributor to the scout team as a quarterback.

Wheeler transitioned to tight end heading into the 2019 season and finished the year with four catches for 78 yards. He suffered a torn ACL during Kansas State's win over Kansas on Nov. 2 and was lost for the rest of the season.