![](https://www.soonerpolitics.org/uploads/1/6/2/2/16224166/205546979.jpg)
Oklahoma State hits the road in Week 5, following up its Big 12 opener against newcomer Utah with a trip to see a familiar foe in Kansas State. The Cowboys’ conference schedule is front-loaded.
Although we’re beating the drum about the Cowboys’ returning production, the Wildcats have their own thoughts on who should be running to the new-look Big 12 and are the most recent conference champs still in the league. If OSU has some competition for conference supremacy among the returning Big 12 programs, it’s K-State.
Be sure to check out the previous episodes of our Summer Schedule series: Noncon | Utah
Week 5: Kansas State | Sept. 28 | Manhattan, Kansas
Series history: 43-24
Last meeting: The Cowboys beat the Wildcats 29-21 in Stillwater last season and have won four of the past five against K-State.
Kansas State in 2023: The Wildcats went 9-4 last season (6-3 in conference) and capped their year with a Pop-Tarts Bowl win over North Carolina. It was a slight step back from their Big 12 Championship and Sugar Bowl appearance in 2022, but there’s reason to believe the Cats can rebound in 2024.
Kansas State in 2024: The Wildcats ranked second in the league in both scoring offense and scoring defense and return a lot of that roster. They look to be even more dynamic at QB with Avery Johnson stepping up in place of departed Will Howard. K-State will also work in a new OC, with former O-Line coach Conor Riley stepping in for a departed Colin Klein.
As far as the defense goes, the Wildcats rank fourth in returning production percentage on that side of the ball as of writing, per ESPN. OSU ranks fourth overall in returning production. The difference is K-State’s 123rd ranking in returning offensive production.
Of note: First true road game.
Thanks to a Week 3 jaunt to Tulsa, this trip to the Little Apple in Week 5 will be the first time the Cowboys leave the state of Oklahoma. That’s the longest such stretch since 2018.
Pokes Better Hit the Ground Running
With K-State being tabbed to finish second in the Big 12 preseason poll, OSU (picked third) will face the Nos. 1 and 2 teams in its first two conference games. If the Cowboys want to live up to their own hype, they’ll need to hit the ground running faster than they did last year.
Fortunately, OSU should not have to answer the same questions it had at the start of 2023 with an established starter at QB in Alan Bowman and a Doak Walker winner in Ollie Gordon for him to hand it to, any forthcoming disciplinary measures notwithstanding. Add to that the fact that the Cowboys’ nonconference slate, replete with an FCS National Champion and Arkansas, should test their mettle plenty before Big 12 play gets underway. Regardless, we will know a lot about the Cowboys and the league before we even get to October.
![](https://pistolsfiringblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/global-menu-nav-logo-e1581389041329.png)
Read this original article at Pistols Firing Blog.