Kansas State will face Rutgers in the 2024 Rate Bowl in Phoenix

PHOENIX (AP) – Kansas State didn’t finish the regular season the way it wanted.

Not by a long shot.

Leading the Big 12 race — potentially the College Football Playoff — heading into the last month, the Wildcats stumbled to three losses in their last four games, including one to Arizona State, which went on to win the conference.

The good news: they played well enough early in the season to get a chance to end it on a high note in Thursday’s Rate Bowl against Rutgers.

“I hate losing in general,” Kansas State quarterback Avery Johnson said. “We deserved this opportunity to play another game. We just want to go out and showcase some of the things that we didn’t get to showcase.”

The Wildcats got the season off to a good start, with their only loss coming in the first seven games against BYU on Sept. 21. Then things started to tilt as teams found a way to slow down Kanas State’s power-running offense.

With opponents stacking the line for slow running back DJ Giddens, the Wildcats were far less productive offensively, scoring nine fewer points and putting up nearly 50 fewer yards over the last four games compared to the first eight.

“You can look at taking a loss two different ways: you can either sit there and sulk about it, or you can sit there and find something to get better at,” Kansas State center Hadley Panzer said.

Rutgers (7-5) had its rough midseason stretch, losing four straight games. The Scarlet Knights returned to beat Michigan State in the regular season finale after losing to no. 21 in Illinois by a touchdown.

Rutgers has had one of its best offensive seasons in years, averaging 27.9 points per game. game – best since 2009. The Scarlet Knights are also one of the nation’s best teams at taking care of the ball, ranking eighth nationally in turnovers and committing just eight.

Rutgers is making bowl games in consecutive years for the first time since a run of four straight from 2011-14.

“We battled through some real adversity this season, injuries to a level that I haven’t really seen in my 37 years, but a team that kind of reinvented itself in the middle of the season,” Rutgers coach Greg said Schiano.

Kansas State, Rutgers missing both running backs

Both teams will be without their top running backs, with Giddens and Rutgers’ Kyle Monangai opting out to prepare for the NFL draft.

Giddens led the Wildcats with 1,343 yards and seven touchdowns. Dylan Edwards, a transfer from Colorado, will likely carry more of the load after averaging 3.6 yards per carry. carry as Giddens’ backup.

Monangai ran for 1,279 yards and 13 touchdowns to lead the Scarlet Knights. Antwan Raymond was Rutgers’ second-leading rusher with 344 yards.

Rate Bowl facts and figures

Kansas State is playing in the Rate Bowl for the fifth time. The Wildcats beat UCLA 35-17 the previous time in the desert in 2017 when it was called the Cactus Bowl. … The Wildcats led the Big 12 and were 22nd nationally against the run, allowing 114.9 yards per carry. match. … Rutgers has won 10 straight nonconference games and 14 of the last 15. … K-State’s Avery Johnson joins Alabama’s Jalen Milroe as the only Power 4 quarterbacks with at least 2,500 passing yards and 525 rushing yards.