Kansas State Faces North Dakota Home Opener Without Injured Star Running Back

Kansas State Wildcats, ranked 17th, are aiming to rebound after a narrow 24-21 loss to Iowa State in their season opener in Dublin, Ireland, with coach Chris Klieman emphasizing the need to improve on turnovers and fourth-down conversions. A significant setback for the Wildcats is the ankle injury to key running back Dylan Edwards, who will miss the upcoming game against North Dakota and is doubtful for the following week, impacting Kansas State's rushing attack and offensive balance. Quarterback Avery Johnson's ability to step up is crucial, as he showed promise with a late touchdown pass but needs to push the ball downfield earlier to spark the offense. Despite the early loss and injuries, Kansas State has not added many new players to its inactive list, which is a positive sign for team depth, although some key players remain sidelined. The matchup against North Dakota, an FCS opponent led by new head coach Eric Schmidt, presents an opportunity for the Wildcats to correct mistakes and gain momentum before facing tougher competition. Analysts suggest the season opener loss could affect Kansas State's playoff prospects, highlighting the importance of health and execution moving forward.