Kansas State just got a major win heading into the offseason, and it didn’t come from a recruiting flip or some wild transfer portal grab. This one came straight from the source. Joe Jackson is coming back to K-State in 2026, and he let everybody know about it in a recent YouTube video with Derek Richards.
If you’ve followed this program at all over the last year, you know how big this is. Jackson was the dude for the Wildcats in 2025. Following the midseason departure of Dylan Edwards, Jackson emerged as the lead back in Manhattan. He exploded in the final two games of the year, including a 296-yard rushing performance against No. 12 Utah, which broke the program’s single-game rushing yards record.
So when a guy like that says he’s sticking around, especially with all the coaching moves we’ve seen across the league, it matters. It hits different when it comes from someone who could’ve dipped into the portal and cashed in somewhere else. Jackson didn’t flinch. He’s running it back in Manhattan, and that’s a huge tone-setter for the new Collin Klein era.
While portal adds and high school signings may get all the hype, this being Klein’s first big move sets the tone for the rest of the roster. It’s keeping your top guys in the building and giving your team a leader who’s already proven he can deliver on Saturdays.
Jackson coming back is more than just good news for the running back room. It’s a message to the locker room and to every recruit watching: K-State isn’t resetting. They’re reloading, and one of their best is back to prove it.
