Big 12 Power Rankings: Upsets, Quarterbacks Shake Up The Rankings

Aug 30, 2013; Manhattan, KS, USA; Kansas State Wildcats football players run off the field after pre-game warm-ups before the start of a game against the North Dakota State Bison at Bill Snyder Family Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Sewell-USA TODAY Sports

6. Kansas State Wildcats

Record: 0-1

Previous Rank: 3 (Trend: down)

Last Week: Lost to North Dakota State, 24-21

This Week: vs. Louisiana-Lafayette

Next Week: vs. Massachusetts

Welp.

The most shocking loss of the opening week in all of college football happened in Manhattan, Kansas as North Dakota State knocked off the defending Big 12 champions on the road. The Bison won by doing many of the same things the Wildcats have done over the last two seasons: great special teams, strong running game, opportunistic passing attack, conservative defense, and an avoidance of bad plays (i.e. turnovers, penalties).

Even with all of those things happening for the Bison, K-State still appeared to be a play away from winning the game. This was especially true on the final drive when they had several chances to stop NDSU on third down but could not make it happen.

The most concerning thing for Wildcats long-term has to be the running game on both sides of the ball. The inability to stop the run, especially on the final drive of the game, looks to be something that is going to take a while to fix. NDSU rushed for 215 yards against the Wildcats, averaging five yards per carry. No matter who the competition is, that cannot happen.

On offense, the Wildcats averaged only 1.8 yards per carry. No need to say anymore about the ‘Cats rushing problems.

Expect to see more of two names: Daniel Sams and Demonte Hood. Sams should see more snaps in rushing situations, while Hood may see more time with the starters considering he was one of the few lineman who could generate a push from the middle of the defensive line. Both of those adjustments could prove useful.