Kansas State football: Ranking the 5 easiest games on the 2021 schedule

1. Southern Illinois Salukis

2020 Record: 6-4

After a trip to Arlington for a game against the Stanford Cardinals, the Salukis appear next on the Kansas State football schedule. The Cats will be back in Manhattan to take on Southern Illinois where they will be welcomed by the roar of the crowd filling Bill Snyder Family Stadium.

The Salukis were only able to play one game in the fall last season and continued their regular season in the spring.

Southern Illinois is an FCS school that should not present a tough challenge for the Wildcats at home. In their spring postseason, SIU played South Dakota State in the FCS quarterfinal game losing 26-31.

That game, SIU gave up 232 rushing yards which plays well into a run first game plan featuring none other than Deuce Vaughn.

I think Stanford will be a relatively tough game to start the season, so if K-State can have this game under control by halftime then Klieman can rest starters and give backups some valuable reps. Fans would enjoy seeing Will Howard take some reps to show any offseason improvements that have been made.

I don’t see this game being much of a contest, but Wildcat fans have been let down in the past. In 2020, K-State opened the season with a home loss against Arkansas State even with Skylar Thompson at the helm.

Fans would like to forget that game and have a nice relaxing time watching Klieman’s team put together a complete home opener win.