Bowl Updates – Powercatgameday.com

K-State’s bowl options muddled with two games left

KMAN Staff — Thu, 20 Nov 2025 21:29:13 +0000

By Tim Everson

Kansas State’s possible bowl picture is still a little foggy with just a couple of weeks left in the 2025 season.

The 5-win Wildcats are a win away from guaranteeing a trip to their fifth-straight bowl game and the sixth under head coach Chris Klieman.

To view the full article visit theMercury.com.

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WATCH: K-State Pop-Tarts Bowl postgame press conferences

KMAN Staff — Fri, 29 Dec 2023 04:45:41 +0000

Orlando, FL – Following K-State’s 28-19 victory over NC State, head coach Chris Klieman and players spoke to the media. Videos courtesy of K-State Online.

K-State Head Coach Chris Klieman

Quarterback Avery Johnson (Pop-Tarts Bowl MVP)

Running back DJ Giddens

Left Guard Cooper Beebe

Pop-Tarts Bowl Updates are sponsored by Commerce Bank, Farm Bureau Financial Services Agent Joe Wilson in Manhattan and WholeHealth MHK.

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WATCH: K-State eats ‘edible mascot’ after Pop-Tarts Bowl win

KMAN Staff — Fri, 29 Dec 2023 04:17:13 +0000

Cover photo from K-State Football Twitter (@KStateFB)

Orlando, FL – K-State is the first-ever Pop-Tarts Bowl champion by beating the NC State Thursday night 28-19. Pop-Tarts didn’t sell itself short by providing entertaining firsts before and after the game. The excitement started when the Pop-Tarts Bowl announced it would have the ‘first edible mascot’ and the winning team would get to devour it after the game.

Adding to that postgame excitement before the game even began, the live Pop-Tart had to make a grand entrance.

Oh my god the edible Pop-Tart mascot is here and has emerged from his firework-and-smoke-machine-enabled toaster.

This is the greatest football game I’ve ever been to. Bar none. pic.twitter.com/USuD4CVApy

— Tejay Cleland (@KWCHTejay) December 28, 2023

It danced a little with both mascots…

The edible pop-tart mascot dancing with the other mascots. @PopTartsBowl pic.twitter.com/FWc3EWGkZ9

— Gifdsports (@gifdsports) December 29, 2023

But when the game was all said and done, only one team got to eat it. That team was K-State. It will go down in history. The first people ever to eat a deceased Pop-Tart was K-State head coach Chris Klieman and Pop-Tarts Bowl MVP Avery Johnson.

What winning the Pop-Tarts Bowl is all about. Eating the mascot! pic.twitter.com/m0oL4gXxRh

— Mitch Fortner (@MitchTheFort) December 29, 2023

Rest easy, sweet prince.

Pop-Tarts Bowl Updates are sponsored by Commerce Bank, Farm Bureau Financial Services Agent Joe Wilson in Manhattan and WholeHealth MHK.

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K-State Defense Holds Early Lead, Cats win Pop-Tarts Bowl 28-19

KMAN Staff — Fri, 29 Dec 2023 02:12:50 +0000

V.J. Payne’s sack of Brennan Armstrong on a two-point conversion with 1:50 remaining in the third quarter to keep Kansas State with a lead and the Wildcat offense would milk 7:24 off the fourth quarter clock before scoring one final TD to claim a 28-13 win over N.C. State at the Pop-Tarts Bowl.

K-State ran out to 21 first half points and an 11 point lead at the break before the defense had to make those points stand up in the second half at Orlando’s Camping World Stadium.

Payne – Breakdown of big hit on QB

Avery Johnson found Jayce Brown from 11 yards out with 2:48 remaining and an interception by Jacob Parrish of NC State’s Brennan Armstrong on the first snap following the kickoff would start the celebration in the stands behind the Kansas State bench.

Avery – We Knew

Junction City native D.J. Giddens ran for 20 yards to push the clock under 2:00 as the Wildcats wound the clock down to finish the season 9-4. Giddens ran for 152 yards on 28 carries and scored the night’s first touchdown on a 37 yard reception from Johnson.

DJ – on 1st TD

Johnson would run for one score and add the final TD through the air in his first start at quarterback. The freshman finished 14 of 31 passing for 178 yards and added another seven carries for 71 yards in being named the game’s MVP.

Avery – They believe in me

N.C. State closed the season 9-4 and fell short in a bid for the school’s second ever 10 win season.

Final Stats

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Pop-Tarts Bowl Update: Packed Pep Rally Sets Stage for Game

KMAN Staff — Thu, 28 Dec 2023 20:07:17 +0000

An estimated 5,000 fans were on hand Wednesday at Pointe Orlando for the Pop-Tarts Bowl Pep Rally, carried live on Newsradio KMAN.

Troy Coverdale talked with Dr. Adam Walker of the K-State Alumni Association about the organization’s planning and travel culminating in the pre-game activities.

Dr. Adam Walker

Pop-Tarts Bowl Updates are sponsored by Commerce Bank, Farm Bureau Financial Services Agent Joe Wilson in Manhattan and WholeHealth MHK.

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KMAN Pop-Tarts Bowl Update: Thursday morning

KMAN Staff — Thu, 28 Dec 2023 20:01:33 +0000

Tonight’s game pits a pair of squads that have lost a lot of pieces coming in. With players leaving for the transfer portal or opting out to prepare for the NFL Draft, it’s a night of opportunity. In K-State’s case a large part of that change comes at wide receiver and, yes, even at punt returner. North Carolina State also faces a lot of changes, including Bednarik Award winner Peyton Wilson, who opted out of the game.

All eyes are on Avery Johnson starting at quarterback and Chris Klieman said he was impressed with what he saw from the freshman during workouts ahead of the game.

Kli – How Avery impressed

Connor Riley takes over as offensive coordinator tonight, working closely with Johnson.

Kli – Riley

Wolfpack coach Dave Doeren says his team is focused on doing something the program hasn’t done but once in the past: win 10 games.

Doeren – 10 wins

Doeren is familiar with K-State’s program having coached at Kansas under Mark Mangino.

Kickoff is at 4:45 this afternoon and the weather should be nice. Skies are expected to clear off after morning rain, though it will be cool. It’s expected that the temperature will be 65 at game time.

Pop-Tarts Bowl Updates are sponsored by Commerce Bank, Farm Bureau Financial Services Agent Joe Wilson in Manhattan and WholeHealth MHK.

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Pop-Tarts Bowl Update: Coaches Address the Media

KMAN Staff — Wed, 27 Dec 2023 17:22:03 +0000

K-State Coach Chris Klieman and NC State Coach Dave Doeren talked with the media Wednesday morning ahead of the Pop-Tarts Bowl on Thursday.

Head Coaches

Pop-Tarts Bowl Updates are sponsored by Commerce Bank, Farm Bureau Financial Services Agent Joe Wilson in Manhattan and WholeHealth MHK.

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K-State’s depth chart offers glimpse into plan for bowl game

EMAW Online — Wed, 27 Dec 2023 16:58:03 +0000

by Kevin Fielder • EMAWOnline – Managing Editor – @TheKevinFielder

Kansas State released their final two-deep depth chart of the season ahead of the Pop-Tarts Bowl on Dec. 28.

While the depth chart isn’t set in stone, it does offer the closest explanation of what Kansas State plans to do with the departures from NFL Draft declarations and transfer portal departures.

Kansas State’s depth chart doesn’t feature any players who entered the transfer portal and also removes tight end Ben Sinnott and wide receiver Phillip Brooks, who both declared for the 2024 NFL Draft.

K-STATE’S DEPTH CHART

WHAT CAN WE LEARN?

Like many coaches, Chris Klieman has kept his actual depth chart to his chest ahead of the Pop-Tarts Bowl.

Kansas State’s final depth chart features 10 ‘or’ designations, including at starting right guard, right tackle, tight end, middle linebacker, and safety.

The most telling is safety, as it offers a potential sign of who might replace Kobe Savage, who entered the transfer portal.

The depth chart lists true freshman Jack Fabris and redshirt freshman Colby McCalister as potential starters.

McCalister has played more than Fabris this season, but defensive coordinator Joe Klanderman mentioned that the team decided to redshirt Fabris once he hit the four-game threshold.

“The thought, probably, with him was that we were not going to redshirt [Fabris],” Klanderman explained. “We got to that four-game threshold and just decided that the amount of reps he was getting in the game probably wasn’t worth his year.”

Because bowl games do not count towards redshirt, Kansas State can play Fabris as much as they want. In a sense, the bowl game is an opportunity for the Wildcats to take the training wheels off and let Fabris play as much as they’re comfortable playing him.

MORE FROM EMAW ONLINE: THREE TRUE FRESHMEN TO WATCH IN THE BOWL GAME

Defensive end is another position where a younger player could be allowed to “audition” for more playing time ahead of next season.

Nate Matlack’s decision to enter the transfer portal left a spot open along Kansas State’s defensive line for next season.

With the bowl game coming up, Chiddi Obiazor or Donovan Rieman may play meaningful snaps against another team. They’re both listed behind Khalid Duke as a backup defensive end.

There was also a prevailing thought that Tobi Osunsanmi would move to the line, but he’s still listed as a backup linebacker.

Offensively, the glaring hole is at tight end, where Sinnott’s departure leaves Kansas State without their established starter.

Will Swanson and Garrett Oakley are listed as co-starters on the depth chart, and it appears that both will see some level of playing time.

Keep an eye on Oakley, as interim offensive coordinator Garrett Riley mentioned him as one of the young players who has impressed him. That doesn’t guarantee significant playing time, but it does provide a glimpse into their overall plan for the game.

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Pop-Tarts Bowl unveils game trophy

KMAN Staff — Tue, 26 Dec 2023 15:48:36 +0000

Orlando, FL – On Tuesday morning, K-State head coach Chris Klieman and NC State head coach Dave Doeren had the honor of removing the silver Pop-Tart wrapping to unveil the first-ever Pop-Tart Bowl game trophy.

Had to call in some reinforcements to help with the unveil! pic.twitter.com/peOlC6uExc

— Pop-Tarts Bowl (@PopTartsBowl) December 26, 2023

Yes, that’s a football toaster on top with real Pop-Tarts in it.

In all its glory!

(Yes, those Pop-Tarts are real!) pic.twitter.com/QXK5aIfR1h

— Pop-Tarts Bowl (@PopTartsBowl) December 26, 2023

The winner of the Pop-Tarts Bowl will not only receive that trophy in a postgame ceremony, but will literally get to eat the edible Pop-Tart mascot.

Kickoff Thursday is at 4:45 PM. Powercat Gameday will begin at 12:30 PM on KMAN.

Pop-Tarts Bowl Updates are sponsored by Commerce Bank, Farm Bureau Financial Services Agent Joe Wilson in Manhattan and WholeHealth MHK.

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WATCH: Avery Johnson & Interim-OC Conor Riley speak to media

KMAN Staff — Tue, 26 Dec 2023 02:55:54 +0000

Orlando, FL – K-State quarterback Avery Johnson and interim offensive coordinator Conor Riley spoke to media on Christmas Eve about the Pop-Tarts Bowl on Thursday at 4:45. Powercat Gameday will begin at 12:30 PM on KMAN.

Videos from K-State Online

K-State quarterback Avery Johnson

K-State Interim offensive coordinator Conor Riley

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Wildcat Insider – 12/18/23

KMAN Staff — Tue, 19 Dec 2023 00:13:38 +0000

Hour 1:

Seg. 1 – Nebraska stuns K-State in Bramlage 62-46

Seg. 2 – Interview with the winners of Jingle Bell rock

Seg. 3 – Austin Moore and Brenden Mott to stay at KSU for super senior year

Seg. 4 – K-State baseball news

Hour 2:

Seg. 1 – Wichita state preview

Seg. 2 – Cats get commit from Austin Peay defensive lineman

Seg. 3 – K-State WBB now at No. 12 in AP poll, hosts Oral Roberts tonight

Seg. 4 – This week in the Big 12

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