Despite Jayhawk Troubles, The State of Kansas Football Impressive

Want to watch great football in the state of Kansas? Good news: there are plenty of teams in Kansas that are having great seasons. The bad news (if you’re a Jayhawk fan, which most of the people who read this blog are), your team is embarrassing.

Kansas State – The Wildcats are the biggest surprise in college football at 6-0. They have stayed under the radar for most of the season but have really impressed voters the past couple weeks. They’re currently #11 in the BCS Standings, 12th in the Associated Press poll and 16th in the USA Today poll. They’re ranked as high as 6th in computer rankings.

Their passing game ranks 114th in the country with 130.2 passing yards per game but it doesn’t matter because of their great running attack.

They’re led by a great running duo with quarterback Collin Klein leading the way with 578 rushing yards on 138 carries (4.2 average) and 10 rushing touchdowns (which is 7th in the country) and sophomore running back John Hubert has been just as good on the ground with 545 rushing yards on 105 carries (5.2 average) and just one rushing touchdown.

Want to know how good Klein has been on the ground? Only nine quarterbacks in college football this season have more than five rushing touchdowns and only Trent Steelman of Army, Denard Robinson of Michigan and Taylor Martinez of Nebraska have more than eight. If you follow college football, you’ve probably heard of Robinson and Martinez.

Klein has 739 passing yards, seven passing touchdowns and only three interceptions.

That last statistic is the most important one of all. The Wildcats have a +1.8 turnover margin in the 2011 season, which ranks fourth best in college football. Kansas State’s ability to hold onto the ball and not hurt themselves has been crucial, especially considering five of their games have been won by a touchdown or less.

Kansas State’s second half of their schedule is brutal, as they face No. 3 Oklahoma at home, at No. 4 Oklahoma State, No. 17 Texas A&M at home and at No. 24 Texas in consecutive weeks with no bye week.

Good news for the Wildcats? Those four tough teams are sandwiched in between two cupcakes: the Kansas Jayhawks and Iowa State Cyclones. At worst, the Wildcats are looking at an 8-4 record, but this team can surprise a lot of people by finishing 10-2 or better. If they can beat Oklahoma State or Oklahoma  and a combination of Texas A&M or Texas, they have a great shot at a BCS  bowl (especially if Kansas State can defeat the loser of the Oklahoma State vs. Oklahoma game).

What’s so amazing about this team is that five of their six wins have been so close. They defeated Eastern Kentucky 10-7 after scoring 10 points in the fourth quarter, Miami by four, coming back and defeating Baylor 36-35, and defeating Missouri and Texas Tech by a touchdown.

The Wildcats’ key is ball security. If they can continue their great turnover margin, they have a great shot. However, this season can easily turn into a disappointment.

Division II Football: Did you know two of the top four teams in Division II football are in the state of Kansas?

Washburn is ranked No. 3 and Pittsburg State is ranked No. 4 in the latest Division II football poll. Both are undefeated so far.

Washburn’s biggest test of the season comes this Saturday as they face off against Northwest Missouri State (6-1) in Maryville, Missouri.

Washburn and Pittsburg State face on November 5th in Pittsburg and could be one of the most anticipated football matchups this state as ever had.

Note: Fort Hays State and Emporia State are struggling as badly as the Jayhawks. They’re currently 2-5 each but they are in the same conference as Pittsburg State and Washburn and Northwest Missouri State (who was ranked #1 earlier in the season and lost to Pittsburg State in Arrowhead Stadium).

So if you’re looking for great football, Kansas Jayhawk fans, look no further. The Kansas State Wildcats come to Lawrence this upcoming weekend and the following weekend, College Gameday is coming to Manhattan to see the potential undefeated matchup between Oklahoma Sooners and Kansas State Wildcats.

If you despise the Wildcats, take a look at Washburn or Pittsburg State as they’ll provide entertaining matchups the rest of the season.