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Three count: Extending the current streak, playoff rankings, KSU riding momentum

Joe Cookby:Joe Cook•10/31/22•

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(Tim Warner/Getty Images)

There’s intrigue ahead of this weekend’s matchup between Texas and No. 13 Kansas State in Manhattan, Kan., specifically for KSU head coach Chris Klieman. Plus, a look at if the Texas will make the cut for the first College Football Playoff rankings of the 2022 season, and observing the beatdown the Wildcats gave to Oklahoma State.

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Chris Klieman looking for win No. 1 over Texas

Chris Klieman has accomplished a lot in his career as a head coach. For five seasons leading the North Dakota State Bison, Klieman’s program won four national championships. He continued to keep the FCS juggernaut rolling upon taking over in 2014 and posted a 69-6 record in Fargo, N.D.

Klieman took over for Bill Snyder at K-State in 2019. His Wildcat teams have been praised for their strong competency and consistent ability to compete in nearly every game. Yet, Klieman has not coached a K-State team to a victory over Texas.

In fact, Texas has won every contest between the two teams dating back to 2017, when a freshman Sam Ehlinger led the Longhorns to a win over KSU in overtime.

Contests between the two teams, save for one, have been exciting. 2018 saw Texas defeat the Wildcats in Manhattan during Snyder’s final year. Cameron Dicker helped Texas overcome an early deficit in 2019 with a game-winning field goal in the final seconds in Austin.

2020 was a rout, with Texas scoring 69 points during the pandemic season. 2021 was a thrilling victory orchestrated by Roschon Johnson’s efforts.

Texas has been up-and-down during KSU’s era of solid consistency under Klieman, but they’ve yet to lose to the fourth-year head coach.

They hope to continue that trend this weekend.

Initial CFP rankings coming this week

The first edition of the 2022 College Football Playoff rankings will be released on Tuesday night on ESPN at 6 p.m.

With three losses on the year, Texas is out of the playoff picture. However, that doesn’t mean they are out of the rankings picture.

Where Texas is slotted, if they are at all, may have downstream effects elsewhere in college football. Texas has faced Alabama, who even with one loss is in Final Four contention. TCU and Texas have yet to play, but the Horned Frogs will certainly be wanting to notch another top 25 win on its currently spotless resume.

And of course, it’s always a positive to be ranked.

The Longhorns currently are one spot outside of the AP Top 25, and a few slots away from a ranking in the Coaches Poll.

With that in mind, and with the volume of teams who have both looked better and have fewer losses, Texas probably won’t be one of the 25 teams to hear their names called on Tuesday.

But, Texas should be in contention for a ranking, especially if they defeat Kansas State.

KSU welcomes Texas after winning four-of-five

There may not have been a team with a more impressive performance during Texas’ bye week than the Kansas State Wildcats.

KSU welcomed a beat up No. 9 Oklahoma State team. Spencer Sanders was still struggling with injury and the host of players who missed the contest versus Texas were still pretty beat up.

Sanders struggled, only completing 13 passes. The Wildcat offense had no issue at all. KSU had 495 total yards with 199 on the ground and 296 through the air. Deuce Vaughn rushed for 158 yards and had two total touchdowns. Will Howard, in Adrian Martinez’s place, passed for four touchdowns in KSU’s 48-0 win.

The Wildcats enter this week with Big 12 title hopes on their mind, and the ever-present “let’s beat this team before they go to the SEC” theme that so many of Texas’ fellow Big 12 members now possess.

And not to mention, they’re playing some darn good football.

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