Kansas State coach Chris Klieman understands how small the margin for error is in college football.
His Wildcats have played in three close games this season and have won all of them, including last week’s 29-27 victory over rival Kansas.
No. 17 Kansas State (7-1, 4-1 Big 12) still hopes for a spot in the league title game and possibly a playoff chance before Saturday’s game at Houston (3-5, 2-3).
“We’ve been down in most games that we have had,” Klieman said. “Our guys haven’t panicked. Our guys stayed the course and stayed in the fight. It’s something that we’ve been preaching, the older guys have been preaching that kind of one play at a time (mentality). You can’t do anything about what has happened, now let’s move forward.”
The Wildcats are on a four-game winning streak and want to finish this part of their season strong. Klieman said Kansas State divided the season into three phases: a five-game stretch before the first bye week, the current four-game stretch before a second bye, and the final three-game stretch.
After finishing the first phase 4-1, the Wildcats aim to finish this second phase 4-0, including narrow wins against Colorado and Kansas.
“I know that the ownership that the guys took, especially from the adversity that we faced in Colorado,” Klieman said. “Having the lead, losing the lead and being down in that kind of environment in the fourth quarter and just watching those guys help each other on both sides of the ball.
The adversity that we have faced and the guys have faced during this four-game stretch – well, three of the four so far, I think has made us really grow as a football team.”
The Cougars have won two of their last three games, including a 17-14 win at home against Utah, which was one of the preseason favorites for the Big 12 title.
Klieman mentioned that finding balance on offense is something the Wildcats have focused on. Quarterback Avery Johnson has passed for 1,654 yards and 16 touchdowns while rushing for 373 yards and four scores, and running back DJ Giddens has rushed for 945 yards and four touchdowns this season.
“To be able to throw the ball effectively on any down and distance,” Klieman said. “That has been improving. The balance is where we are getting better.”
