2015 Kansas State Wildcats football team

The 2015 Kansas State Wildcats football team represented Kansas State University in the 2015 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Wildcats played their home games at Bill Snyder Family Football Stadium, in Manhattan, Kansas as they have done since 1968. The Wildcats were led by head coach Bill Snyder in his 24th overall and seventh straight season since taking over for his second tenure in 2009. 2015 was the 120th season in school history. K-State was a member of the Big 12 Conference. They finished the season 6–7, 3–6 in Big 12 play to finish in eighth place. They were invited to the Liberty Bowl where they lost to Arkansas.

2015 Kansas State Wildcats football
Liberty Bowl, L 23–45 vs. Arkansas
ConferenceBig 12 conference
Record6–7 (3–6 Big 12)
Head coach
Co-offensive coordinatorDana Dimel (9th season)
Co-offensive coordinatorDel Miller (16th season)
Offensive schemeMultiple
Defensive coordinatorTom Hayes (4th season)
Base defense4–3
Home stadiumBill Snyder Family Football Stadium
Seasons
← 2014
2016 →
2015 Big 12 Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
No. 5 Oklahoma $^   8 1     11 2  
No. 20 Oklahoma State   7 2     10 3  
No. 7 TCU   7 2     11 2  
No. 13 Baylor   6 3     10 3  
West Virginia   4 5     8 5  
Texas Tech   4 5     7 6  
Texas   4 5     5 7  
Kansas State   3 6     6 7  
Iowa State   2 7     3 9  
Kansas   0 9     0 12  
  • ^ – College Football Playoff participant
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from AP Poll

Previous season

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The 2014 Kansas State Wildcats football team finished the regular season 9-3, with losses to Auburn of the SEC, Baylor and TCU. The Wildcats had been ranked in all polls with the highest ranked in the new College Football Playoff rankings at number 7. Kansas State became bowl eligible after winning its sixth game against Texas on October 25 and was invited to play in the 2015 Alamo Bowl against UCLA. Kansas State fell short to the Bruins in San Antonio, Texas with a loss of 35–40.

Schedule

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Kansas State announced their 2015 football schedule on November 19, 2014. The 2015 schedule consists of seven home games and five away games in the regular season. The Wildcats will host Big 12 foes Baylor, Iowa State, Oklahoma, TCU, and West Virginia and will travel to Kansas, Oklahoma State, Texas, and Texas Tech.[1]

The Wildcats hosted two non conference games against South Dakota and Louisiana Tech and traveled to its other non conference foe UTSA in San Antonio, TX.

On December 6, 2015, Kansas State accepted an invitation to play in the 2016 AutoZone Liberty Bowl on January 2 in Memphis, Tennessee.[2]

DateTimeOpponentSiteTVResultAttendance
September 56:00 p.m.South Dakota*K-StateHD.TVW 34–053,297
September 1211:00 a.m.at UTSA*FS1W 30–329,424
September 192:00 p.m.Louisiana Tech*
  • Bill Snyder Family Football Stadium
  • Manhattan, KS
FSNW 39–33 3OT53,540
October 33:00 p.m.at No. 20 Oklahoma StateFS1L 34–3657,618
October 106:30 p.m.No. 2 TCU
  • Bill Snyder Family Football Stadium
  • Manhattan, KS
FOXL 45–5253,671
October 172:30 p.m.No. 19 Oklahoma 
  • Bill Snyder Family Football Stadium
  • Manhattan, KS
ABCL 0–5552,867
October 2411:00 a.m.at TexasFS1L 9–2388,283
November 56:30 p.m.No. 2 Baylor
  • Bill Snyder Family Football Stadium
  • Manhattan, KS
FS1L 24–3152,108
November 142:30 p.m.at Texas TechFS1L 44–5953,833
November 2111:00 a.m.Iowa State
  • Bill Snyder Family Football Stadium
  • Manhattan, KS (rivalry)
FS1W 38–3553,297
November 283:00 p.m.at KansasFS1W 45–1423,842
December 53:30 p.m.West Virginia
  • Bill Snyder Family Football Stadium
  • Manhattan, KS
FS1W 24–2352,918
January 2, 20162:20 p.m.vs. Arkansas*ESPNL 23–4561,136
  • *Non-conference game
  •  Homecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
  • All times are in Central time

[3]

Game summaries

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At UTSA

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1 2 3 4 Total
Wildcats 0 7 6 17 30
Roadrunners 3 0 0 0 3

Louisiana Tech

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1 2 3 4OT Total
Bulldogs 0 10 3 1010 33
Wildcats 3 3 7 1016 39

At Oklahoma State

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1 2 3 4 Total
Wildcats 14 14 0 6 34
Cowboys 7 13 6 10 36

Kansas State traveled to Stillwater, Oklahoma to take on the 25th-ranked Cowboys on October 3, 2015. Late in the second quarter, an officiating error gave Oklahoma State a first down when the offense was four yards short of the line to gain after the third down play. The series ended with a touchdown for Oklahoma State.[4]

The error brought into question Big 12 Conference officiating, especially in light that the game was on the 25th anniversary of the Fifth Down Game between the Colorado Buffaloes and Missouri Tigers.[5] SB Nation published "K-State lost to Oklahoma State, 36-34. Inept Big 12 officials gifted Oklahoma State a touchdown."[6] The Big 12 Conference later acknowledged the error[7] and that disciplinary actions will be addressed with both the field officials and chain crew.[8]

Oklahoma State won the game on a last-minute field goal.[9]

All-time record Big 12 record Last meeting Result
5–4 2–2 2014 TCU, 41–20
TCU Horned Frogs at Kansas State Wildcats – Game Summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
#2 Horned Frogs 14 3 142152
Wildcats 7 28 01045

at Bill Snyder Family Football StadiumManhattan, KS

  • Date: October 10, 2015
  • Game time: 6:30 p.m. CT (actual: 6:35 p.m. – 10:12 p.m.)
  • Game weather: Clear, 76 °F (24 °C), wind S 14 mph (23 km/h)
  • Game attendance: 53,671
  • Referee: Reggie Smith, Umpire: Joel Bellinger, Linesman: Mike Moeller, Line judge: Mark Stewart, Back judge: Lyndon Nixon, Field judge: Matt Mills, Side judge: Tim Murray, Center judge: Dan Scanlan
  • TV announcers (FOX): Gus Johnson (play-by-play), Joel Klatt (color), Molly McGrath (sideline)
  • Sources: TCU Game Notes,[10] GoFrogs.com[11]
Game information

As the winner of the 2015 TCU–Kansas State football game, TCU took the lead in the all-time series against the Wildcats, with an overall record of 5–4. The Horned Frogs' come-from-behind win marked Gary Patterson's first win as a head coach against his alma mater in Manhattan. Jaden Oberkrom tied the all-time TCU career field goal record with a 50-yd field goal in the first half. The win marked the Frogs' 14th in a row, tying the all-time TCU record for consecutive wins. TCU's 52 points notched a school-record 5-game-50+ point streak. With the win, the Horned Frogs are now 25–1 when ranked in the top 5 and 36–3 when ranked in the top 10 under coach Patterson.

Oklahoma

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#19 Oklahoma Sooners at Kansas State Wildcats – Game summary[12]
Quarter 1 2 34Total
#19 Oklahoma 14 21 13755
Kansas State 0 0 000

at Bill Snyder Family Football StadiumManhattan, KS

  • Date: October 17, 2015
  • Game time: 2:41 p.m. CDT
  • Game weather: Temperature: 60 °F (16 °C) • Wind SE 13 mph (21 km/h) • Weather: Cloudy
  • Game attendance: 52,867
  • Referee: Referee: Dan Romeo • Umpire: Scott Teifer • Linesman: Andy Warner • Line judge: Marc Bovos • Back judge: Chris Alston • Field judge: Ed Vinzant • Side judge: Craig Faulkner • Scorer: Ken Ray
  • TV announcers (ABC): Dave LaMont (Play-by-play),[13] Ray Bentley (Color)[13] & Dawn Davenport (Sideline)[13]
Game information

At Texas

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1 2 3 4 Total
Wildcats 0 6 3 0 9
Longhorns 3 13 0 7 23

Baylor

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1 2 3 4 Total
Bears 14 7 7 3 31
Wildcats 7 0 3 14 24

At Texas Tech

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Week Eleven: Kansas State Wildcats at Texas Tech Red Raiders – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Wildcats 7 14 71644
Red Raiders 28 7 101459

at Jones AT&T Stadium Lubbock, TX

  • Date: November 14
  • Game time: 2:30 CT
  • Game attendance: 53,833
  • TV: FS1
Game information

With the win, the Red Raiders broke a two-game losing streak against the Wildcats and became bowl eligible for the first time since the 2013 season. In the third quarter, kicker Clayton Hatfield made a season long 48 yard field goal.

Iowa State

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Game Eleven: Iowa State Cyclones – Game summary[14]
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Cyclones 7 28 0035
Wildcats 7 7 71738

at Bill Snyder Family Football Stadium, Manhattan, KS

  • Date: November 21
  • Game time: 11:05 a.m. CST
  • Game weather: Temperature: 36 °F (2 °C) • Wind N 11–15 mph (18–24 km/h) • Weather: Mostly sunny
  • Game attendance: 53,297
  • Referee: Referee: Brad Van Vark • Umpire: Michael Cooper • Linesman: George Gusman • Line judge: Jerod Phillips • Back judge: Brian Ernest • Field judge: Jason Ledet • Side judge: Gene Semko • Center judge: Brian Alos
  • TV announcers (FS1): Justin Kutcher (Play-by-play)[13] & Steve Hutchinson (Color)[13]
Game information

At Kansas

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1 2 3 4 Total
Wildcats 28 7 3 7 45
Jayhawks 7 0 0 7 14

West Virginia

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1 2 3 4 Total
Mountaineers 3 10 7 3 23
Wildcats 0 3 14 7 24

Vs. Arkansas

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After finishing their season 6–6, the Wildcats accepted their invitation to play in the game.[15]

This was the Wildcats' first Liberty Bowl. They would later play Navy in the 2019 Liberty Bowl where they would again suffer defeat.

Scoring summary
Quarter Time Drive Team Scoring information Score
Plays Yards TOP K-ST ARK
1 11:38 4 27 1:52 K-ST Winston Dimel 10-yard touchdown run, Matthew McCrane kick good 7 0
1 8:15 6 72 3:23 ARK Alex Collins 22-yard touchdown run, Cole Hedlund kick good 7 7
1 3:50 8 46 4:18 K-ST 36-yard field goal by Matthew McCrane 10 7
1 2:22 3 24 1:17 ARK Jared Cornelius 13-yard touchdown run, Cole Hedlund kick good 10 14
2 13:05 8 64 3:04 ARK Alex Collins 13-yard touchdown run, Cole Hedlund kick good 10 21
2 2:08 9 55 4:59 ARK 26-yard field goal by Cole Hedlund 10 24
2 0:21 8 49 1:41 K-ST 21-yard field goal by Matthew McCrane 13 24
3 12:44 4 74 2:10 K-ST Winston Dimel 48-yard touchdown reception from Kody Cook, Matthew McCrane kick good 20 24
3 7:54 9 82 4:42 ARK Jeremy Sprinkel 6-yard touchdown reception from Brandon Allen, Cole Hedlund kick good 20 31
3 1:46 11 47 6:02 K-ST 32-yard field goal by Matthew McCrane 23 31
4 12:04 8 78 4:34 ARK Alex Collins 14-yard touchdown run, Cole Hedlund kick good 23 38
4 4:46 9 80 5:38 ARK Kody Walker 10-yard touchdown run, Cole Hedlund kick good 23 45
"TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. 23 45

Source:[16]

Statistics[16] K-ST ARK
First Downs 13 30
Total offense, plays - yards 47–242 68–569
Rushes-yards (net) 22–79 42–254
Passing yards (net) 163 315
Passes, Comp-Att-Int 12–25–1 20–26–1
Time of Possession 22:30 37:30

Arkansas running back Alex Collins was named the game's MVP, after gaining 185 yards and 3 touchdowns on 23 carries.

References

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  1. ^ "K-State Announces 2015 Football Schedule" (Press release). Kansas State University Department of Athletics. November 19, 2014. Archived from the original on December 5, 2014. Retrieved December 26, 2014.
  2. ^ "K-State to Play Arkansas in AutoZone Liberty Bowl | KSU Wildcats". Archived from the original on December 8, 2015. Retrieved December 6, 2015.
  3. ^ "2015 Kansas State Wildcats Football Schedule". FB Schedules. Retrieved December 26, 2014.
  4. ^ Trotter, Jake (October 4, 2015). "Officials Place First-Down Marker in Wrong Spot, Leading to OK State TD". ESPN. Retrieved October 4, 2015.
  5. ^ Bromberg, Nick (October 4, 2015). "Oklahoma St. Apparently Mistakenly Awarded 1st Down in Win Over Kansas St". Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved October 4, 2015.
  6. ^ "Outrageous Officiating Incompetence Costs K-State". SB Nation. October 3, 2015. Retrieved October 4, 2015.
  7. ^ Trotter, Jake (October 4, 2015). "Big 12 Admits Officiating Error in Oklahoma State-Kansas State". ESPN. Retrieved October 4, 2015.
  8. ^ Fredrickson, Kyle (October 4, 2015). "Big 12 Acknowledges it Incorrectly Gave Cowboys a First Down Against Kansas State". The Oklahoman. Oklahoma City. Retrieved October 8, 2015.
  9. ^ Robinett, Kellis (October 3, 2015). "Oklahoma State Catches a Break in Win Over K-State". The Kansas City Star. Retrieved October 8, 2015.
  10. ^ "No. 2 TCU 52, Kansas State 45". Texas Christian University Department of Athletics. October 10, 2015. Retrieved October 10, 2015.
  11. ^ "Boykin Helps No. 2 TCU Rally Past K-State". Texas Christian University Department of Athletics. October 10, 2015. Retrieved October 10, 2015.
  12. ^ "Oklahoma vs Kansas State (Oct 17, 2015)". University of Oklahoma Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. October 17, 2015. Retrieved October 17, 2015.
  13. ^ a b c d e Bailey, Eric (October 15, 2015). "Oklahoma vs Kansas State (Chalk Talk)". Tulsa World. Retrieved October 17, 2015.
  14. ^ "Scoring Summary" (PDF). Iowa State University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. November 21, 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 23, 2015. Retrieved November 22, 2015.
  15. ^ "K-State to Play Arkansas in AutoZone Liberty Bowl". KStateSports.com. Kansas State University. December 6, 2015. Archived from the original on December 8, 2015. Retrieved December 7, 2015.
  16. ^ a b "Arkansas motors past Kansas State 45-23 in AutoZone Liberty Bowl". ESPN. Retrieved September 18, 2021.