⚡ CFB Dashboard

- The Kansas State columnist's stated play is Avery Johnson to rush for at least 40 yards at +100 in the Washington State matchup. His case favors Johnson's scrambling ability over relying on conventional running-back lanes behind an uncertain offensive line. This is the writer's published prop opinion and quoted price, not a live odds check or a dashboard recommendation. - The writer saw Johnson regain assertiveness and aggression in three quarters against Nicholls under Collin Klein. He expects Johnson to use his legs on broken passing plays against Washington State, but explicitly warns that repeated sacks would undermine the rushing prop. No designed-run count or coaching commitment to a particular workload is reported.

- Pick/market: GoPowercat's Tim Fitzgerald and Ryan Gilbert team up for another edition of the Powercat Podcast as Kansas State's 2026 football season started with a bang, coming in the form of a 71-3 victory over...

- Pick/market: Kansas State blasted Nicholls 71-3 on Saturday, so there wasn't exactly much to rant about from the Wildcats' perspective.

- Coaching: To say that Kansas State's season-opening game against Nicholls went well would be an understatement.

- Kansas State's GPC preview writers see the passing game as the better route against Washington State, citing the Cougars' run-defense resistance and young secondary while identifying tight ends, Jaron Tibbs and Josh Manning as possible targets; this is a matchup opinion, not a confirmed change in the Wildcats' play-calling. - Kansas State's preview notes that Nicholls quarterback Ean Rodrigue released the ball quickly in the opener, limiting sack opportunities and making Washington State a more revealing test for the defensive front rather than treating last week's sack production as a clean measure of its pass rush.

- Kansas State enters the Washington State game with reported early-season offensive averages of 559 yards and 7.9 yards per play, including 312 rushing yards at 7.1 per carry, but these raw figures are not adjusted for opponent quality. - Kansas State's reported defensive averages are 122 yards allowed and 2.1 yards per play, including 2.4 yards per rush and 1.6 per pass attempt, offering strong initial results without establishing a sustainable matchup-adjusted defensive level.

- Ryan Gilbert's post-Nicholls position review rates Kansas State's running backs as its strongest group, praising Joe Jackson and Rodney Fields while flagging Jay Harris' fumble and noting Monterrio Elston's 46-yard touchdown run as further evidence of depth. - The review highlights Darien Whitaker's strip sack as the standout edge contribution while Wendell Gregory had fewer splash plays, grouping the officially listed linebacker with the defensive ends for analysis rather than reporting a formal position change. - Gilbert identifies Gabe Powers as a breakout linebacker from the opener and voices hope for Mekhi Mason's return, but the article provides neither a confirmed return date nor a medical explanation for Mason's absence. - The Kansas State receiver assessment credits Jaron Tibbs and Josh Manning with encouraging early play, while cautioning that low snap counts and the weak Nicholls opposition limit conclusions about whether the group will become an offensive strength. - Kansas State's offensive line remains last in Gilbert's internal position-group ranking despite Ryan Howard passing his first test, with the writer explicitly saying the unit did not regress and treating Washington State as a more meaningful evaluation than Nicholls.

- GoPowercat's postgame assessment cautioned that Kansas State's offensive-line dominance in the 71-3 Nicholls win reflected a major talent advantage, with Washington State expected to provide a more informative test. - The reporter saw improved footwork, poise and command from Kansas State quarterback Johnson but noted that frequently open receivers against Nicholls limited how much could be inferred about the passing offense. - GoPowercat identified Jay Harris as Kansas State's clear third running back following the opener.

- Kansas State's offensive-line play drew strong praise in the recap, with Tyler Johnson and Ryan Howard among the specifically highlighted performers. - Tanner Morley was evaluated positively in limited action, without the supplied discussion establishing a clear reason for the restricted workload. - Oliver Miller's status remained uncertain, with the host discussing a potentially larger role later in the season only after he returns to health rather than reporting an imminent increase in work.

- QB/OL: Kansas State opened up its season with a dominant win over Nicholls.

- QB: Here is a look at K-State quarterback Avery Johnson's passing chart from the Wildcats' win over Nicholls, presented by GoPowercat's Ryan Gilbert.

- Kansas State's backup-quarterback play remained a concern in the podcast's opener review, which specifically discussed Blake Barnett's early difficulties without reporting an official depth-chart change. - The speakers cautioned that reserve quarterbacks were playing alongside other backups and that more meaningful competitive snaps would carry greater evaluation weight than their limited opener work.

- LB: I was very impressed by the backup rotation for keeping up that same intensity.

- Scott Fritchen Kansas State opened the Collin Klein era with a 71-3 trouncing of Nicholls in its season opener last Saturday. - 17 Washington in the debut of head coach Kirby Moore.

- Collin Klein was optimistic that Kansas State linebacker Mekhi Mason's injury was less serious than initially feared, but he did not provide a diagnosis or a return timetable. - Klein said Kansas State offensive lineman Tanner Morley had made consistent progress without setbacks for two and a half weeks, but his reintegration and snap share remained undecided after Charlie Adams played well in the opener. - Klein said Avery Johnson correctly handled every Kansas State third-down protection check in the opener and showed decisiveness, consistent leadership and clear recognition of the defense. - Klein described Washington State's run defense as a strong first- and second-level front that varies its fits with twists and line games and consistently gets several defenders to the ball, presenting a challenging blocking assignment for Kansas State. - Klein said Kansas State must prepare for injured Washington State receiver Tony Freeman because of his speed and dynamic playmaking, but that preparation comment did not establish that Freeman is cleared or expected to play.

- Collin Klein identified eye-discipline mistakes in Kansas State's secondary as a correction priority after the opener, noting that some small errors did not hurt the Wildcats in that game. - Klein attributed Kansas State's limited pass-rush opportunities to an opponent release time averaging 2.2 seconds and praised Wendell Gregory and Jordan Allen's defensive-line play despite the lack of a sack highlight for Gregory. - Klein said Kansas State intended to give all three running backs meaningful rhythm without predetermined carry quotas and reiterated that Jay Harris will receive another opportunity despite his fumble.

- Intel: My confidence level in the playcalling/coaching didn't change after Saturday because Nicholls is a bad football team compared to K-State.

- RB: GoPOWERCAT's DAILY DELIVERY | 09.10.26 A lot was made of Kansas State's transfer portal losses to other schools, but let's take a moment to appreciate who Coach Collin Klein added from Oklahoma State.

- Kansas State's offensive line is described as young and inexperienced beyond the opener, creating an early protection test against Washington State's pressure-producing defensive front.

- Offense: Ahead of Kansas State's game against Washington State on Saturday, here's a look at the raw numbers — the key statistics that you need to know ahead of kickoff.

- Defense: Guess the grass isn't always greener on the other side.

- Intel: The Tweets of the Week are getting busy, however, this is the last edition prior to football season starting.