K-State Q&A: Football music, special teams, Wildcats in NFL & Big 12 bowl games

It’s time for another K-State Q&A.

No need for an elaborate introduction this week. Let’s dive into your questions about the Wildcats. Thanks, as always, for providing them.

I believe Special Teams could be the reason for two or more wins this year. Will they be special this year in all facets of Special Teams? Will they be able to return. Kickoff for a touchdown and who will do returns this year? -@ChadFullington via X.

Let me start by saying that I think K-State has evolved beyond the point where it needs big plays on special teams in order to win a game.

That was Bill Snyder’s thing, especially during his second stint as coach.

With Chris Klieman in charge, the Wildcats are still doing everything they can to be good on special teams. But they would rather win with their offense and their defense. And they are good enough at both to do exactly that. Special teams is more of a bonus right now.

K-State might end up being a favorite in all 12 games this season, so not screwing up on special teams feels more like the goal than winning games with special teams.

But I will admit that the Wildcats should have some excellent kick and punt returners this season. Dylan Edwards, Keagan Johnson, Jayce Brown, Sterling Lockett and Keenan Garber are all candidates to make magic happen in those situations.

K-State should also be solid (if not spectacular) at kicker with Chris Tennant back in the fold. I am a little worried about punter, but the Wildcats have always been pretty good at that spot.

Bringing on Nate Kaczor as a special teams analyst who can actually do on-field coaching this season should help the unit overall.

We could see some big plays on special teams this season, but I don’t know that any of them will truly be game-changers.

My Q&A question for the week: Can you ask Coach if he is willing to post the daily practice playlist? -@the_funky_andy via X.

I will see what I can do!

Though I am unaware of the full assortment of songs that get played at K-State football practice, I can pass along a few of the musical selections that were made on Day 2 of training camp earlier this week on campus.

Spoiler alert: It was a day for throwback jams

• Beat it, by Michael Jackson

• This is how we do it, by Montell Jordan

• September, by Earth, Wind & Fire

• Return of the Mack, by Mark Morrison

• I want you back, by the Jackson 5

Those are the songs I can remember. In the past, I have also heard Ice Cube, Drake, YFN Lucci, Tupac, Dr. Dre, Wiz Khalifa and Snoop Dogg.

Klieman doesn’t play much rock or country. But it seems like any rap song that is popular enough to warrant a radio-edited version is fair game.

The latest basketball non-conference schedule feels only slightly better than a Bruce Weber non-con. I guess when you play in the best conference in ‘Merica you have to adjust? -@Houcat via X.

I feel bad for college basketball.

Players are staying at schools for one year instead of four, which has made it difficult for even die-hard fans to build a connection with them. And the NET ratings have encouraged teams from power conferences like K-State to schedule a bunch of hapless opponents like New Orleans, Cleveland State, Mississippi Valley State and UAPB.

For whatever reason, beating those teams by big margins can help a team reach the NCAA Tournament just as much as beating quality opponents by a small margin.

In other words, there isn’t much reason for a coach to make a hard schedule.

This is what Clemson coach Brad Brownell was talking about when he said the Big 12 had found a way to “manipulate” the system.

I’m not sure if that is what Jerome Tang had in mind with his latest non-conference schedule. Even though my son’s 10U basketball team could probably beat a few of the cupcakes coming to Bramlage Coliseum, I think Tang’s main priority is simply to line up winnable games early on for a roster that will feature only three returning players.

Is the schedule easy? Yes. But it is arguably better for K-State to play this lineup than a bunch of ranked teams, especially with the Big 12 moving to 20 games this season.

Also in Tang’s defense: LSU could be good and St. John’s could be really good. It’s not like this non-conference schedule is a complete walk in the park.

But pressure will be on the Wildcats to win at least nine of their 11 non-conference games ... and to win big.

If K-State starts 9-2 (or better) with a bunch of 40-point victories then it’s mission accomplished. If not, then the Wildcats will have lots of work to do in the Big 12.

What does the Big 12 bowl tie-ins look like this year? How will the expanded playoffs effect who goes where? Does the implosion of the Pac-12 change Big 12 opponents? Should the Pop-Tarts Bowl elevate above the Alamo? -@matthewengelken via X.

From a K-State perspective, there is no change in the Big 12 order this season.

As sad as it is for me to write this, here is the Big 12 bowl hierarchy that seems like it has been in place for too long:

1. Alamo Bowl

2. Pop-Tarts Bowl

3. Texas Bowl

4. Liberty Bowl

5. Guaranteed Rate Bowl

6. Independence Bowl

7. Armed Forces Bowl or First Responder Bowl

A handful of new bowls are technically now affiliated with the Big 12, but only teams that were in the Pac-12 last season will be eligible to play in them. I’m not sure on the pecking order, but they are: Holiday Bowl, LA Bowl, Las Vegas Bowl, Alamo Bowl, Tony the Tiger Bowl, Independence Bowl.

Weird as it may sound, there is a chance that we see a pair of Big 12 teams face off in the Alamo and Independence bowls.

The Big 12’s bowl lineup should change in the near future. I expect the Big 12 to secure a partnership with the Las Vegas Bowl and hopefully the Holiday Bowl. We will see about the rest, and how the expanded playoff changes the bowl system.

But the Big 12 could definitely use some new blood in its bowl lineup.

Which recently drafted KSU player is poised to have the biggest impact in the NFL in 2024 (Ben Sinnott, Deuce Vaughn, Julius Brents, Cooper Beebe, Felix Anudike-Uzomah, other) - Chase T. via e-mail.

Julius Brents, and it might not be close.

The former K-State cornerback was a major contributor in the secondary last season for the Indianapolis Colts. There’s a chance he could be a breakout defender this season.

His role with the Colts seems much more significant than any other recent K-State alum, though Cooper Beebe could win the starting center job as a rookie with the Dallas Cowboys. He might be the only threat.