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Kansas State Football can’t stop run in first loss of Chris Klieman era

By Leigh Oleszczak

STILLWATER, OK - SEPTEMBER 28: Oklahoma State Cowboys running back Chuba Hubbard (30) goes after a loose ball during the big 12 conference football game against the Kansas State Wildcats on September 28, 2019 at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Oklahoma. (Photo by William Purnell/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
STILLWATER, OK - SEPTEMBER 28: Oklahoma State Cowboys running back Chuba Hubbard (30) goes after a loose ball during the big 12 conference football game against the Kansas State Wildcats on September 28, 2019 at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Oklahoma. (Photo by William Purnell/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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Kansas State football was ranked for the first time in several seasons, but likely won’t remain in the top 25 after losing to Oklahoma State on Saturday. Not being able to stop the run game was the Wildcats’ biggest issue in Stillwater.

Chuba Hubbard is likely still running after gashing the Kansas State Wildcats defense for 296 yards and a touchdown on the ground on Saturday night. In total, Oklahoma State rushed for 373 yards and used that to their advantage all evening long to help eat the clock and and double the amount of total yards Kansas State had.

It wasn’t a great performance by K-State, as they had just 244 total yards of offense (compared to OSU’s 526 yards) and only amassed eight first downs (compared to the Cowboys’ 21). It was a 16-3 deficit at half time, but the Wildcats made a game of it in the fourth quarter, putting up ten points and getting within ten.

Allowing Hubbard to rush for nearly 300 yards on the night was obviously Kansas State’s biggest problem, but the offense didn’t do much to help the team out either. They were down 13 points at half time and never really felt like they were in the game despite losing by just that same number.

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The rushing attack, which had been so prolific in previous games, was fine, but no particular running back stood out. James Gilbert had 44 yards rushing off of 12 carries and scored the only K-State touchdown. All together, the run game had 126 yards with Gilbert’s touchdown.

Skylar Thompson wasn’t terrible, but he wasn’t a difference maker either. He went just 11 of 23 for 118 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions, but he was second on the team in rushing yards with 27 on seven carries.

Next up for Kansas State football is a home game against Baylor, who are surprisingly 4-0 on the year to this point. The Bears took down a previously ranked Iowa State team and could easily waltz into Manhattan and topple the Wildcats as well. Baylor did have a 20-point lead against ISU and nearly blew it, so while they’re off to an undefeated start, they might not be as good as their record indicates.

Kansas State is still a good team, but their problems shone bright in their loss in Stillwater. The lack of run defense against Chuba Hubbard were front and center and they’ll have a team coming into town next week who aren’t quite as dominant in the run game.

No one expected Klieman’s Cats to be ranked so quickly into his tenure, so he’s already proven he can coach this team and do good things at the helm. We’ll have to see how he and his team respond to a loss, as this is the first one this program is facing under him.

Here’s to hoping for a rebound next week!

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