Kansas State‘s dominance of the Sunflower Showdown isn’t ending anytime soon. The Wildcats rallied from an early double-digit deficit to beat Kansas 35-24 on Saturday in Manhattan, extending their incredible winning streak over the Jayhawks to 18 consecutive games.
Kansas appeared ready to finally flip the rivalry early by taking a 17-7 lead in the first quarter. But Kansas State responded by controlling the line of scrimmage and dominating the game on the ground.
The Wildcats piled up 357 rushing yards and 568 total yards, averaging 7.6 yards per play. Joe Jackson led the way with 159 yards and a touchdown on 27 carries, while quarterback Avery Johnson added 132 rushing yards on just 12 attempts. Johnson also finished with 209 passing yards and a touchdown.
Kansas State chipped away at the deficit with three field goals and a safety in the second quarter to take an 18-17 lead into halftime.
Kansas briefly regained the lead when Dylan Edwards scored on a three-yard touchdown run early in the third quarter, but it didn’t last long. Jackson answered with an eight-yard touchdown run to put Kansas State back in front 25-24.
From there, the Wildcats took over.
Johnson connected with Jaron Tibbs for a nine-yard touchdown midway through the fourth quarter before Luis Rodriguez added a late field goal to put the game away.
Kansas quarterback Isaiah Marshall had success with his legs, rushing for 117 yards, but struggled through the air, completing just 12-of-26 passes for 151 yards with one touchdown and one interception.
The win gives Kansas State its first Big 12 victory of the Collin Klein era and, more importantly for Wildcats fans, keeps one of the most remarkable rivalry streaks in college football alive.
Kansas still hasn’t beaten Kansas State since 2008. Eighteen straight. Kansas will have to try again in 2027.
Kansas State is now 4-2 on the season and 1-2 in Big 12 play and will take on Arizona State on the road next week, while Kansas is 2-4 and 0-3 in the league, with a home match up vs. Baylor next week.
