We're less than 2 weeks away from the 2023 KSU Cats football season. Post your season predictions here!
Week 1 vs SEMO: W. next.
Week 2 vs Troy: W. This will be a big step up in competition, Troy finished 2022 ranked #19. They return their 6th year QB and their entire D line, however their best WR transferred to Oregon and they lost the D coordinator. Cats get the W without too much trouble.
Week 3
@ Mizzou: W. This game does concern me quite a bit. The game wasn't particularly close last year, but Mizzou got noticably better throughout the season, and has a ton of talent. They also have an offensive coordinator for the first time under Drinkwitz. Their biggest downside is the unknown at QB. It's Brady cook vs a few freshman fighting for playing time. We'll see how that works out. Cats pull out a W but it's not a cakewalk like in '22.
Cats go 3-0 in nonconference play.
Week 4 vs UCF: W. UCF has a nice running game, including their QB who was their leading rusher with 862 yards in 2022. They will be a pretty decent team in the big 12, and as it's the first conference game of the year won't be worn down from a tougher schedule yet. Cats better come to play.
Week 5 Bye
Week 6
@ OSU: W. Cats absolutely destroyed this team last year, and I'm not sure Oklahome State did much to get better. A lot of outlets are picking OSU in this one, and I'm not sure why. Maybe just blind faith in Gundy. OSU lost a ton of players via the transfer portal, granted they did bring in a lot of talent as well, but it will take some time to get this team up to speed. I think the cats pull this one out on a Friday night in Stillwater.
Week 7
@ Tx Tech: L. The first loss of the season. Tech is picked as a darkhorse to win the big 12, and it's a pretty tough place to play. Cats will need to have a special performance to pull this one out.
Week 8 vs TCU: W. KSU bounces back with a nice win against a tough TCU team, although not as good as the 2022 version TCU will still be dangerous. They lose a lot of talent in their starting QB, best WR, and best RB. Expect the new offensive coordinator (Kendall Briles, gross) to put up a ton of points with Chandler Morris at QB and Alabama transfer Trey Sanders at RB. Cats pull this one off in Manhattan, though.
Week 9 vs Houston: W. Houston will not be very good. Holgerson is not a good coach. This is probably the easiest game outside of SEMO.
Week 10
@ Texas: L. Ugh I hate Texas. I hate Sark. Ewers is a big weirdo. But, they're super talented and it seems Sark is putting it all together. Winning in Austin is tough and it's been about a bajillion years since KSU won there. It's an L.
Week 11 vs Baylor: W. Is Baylor good? I don't know, maybe? Dave Aranda was supposedly the best coach in the Big 12, but after a losing season in 2022 the doubts are creeping in. Was that an anomaly or the new norm? I think they're better than 2022, but not good enough to beat the cats at home. This is probably the biggest unknown game of the year in my book.
Week 12
@ KU: W. Oof I'm scared of this one boys. Leipold is the real deal, and Kansas has some huge momentum going into this season. If they can stay healthy they'll be a handful in Lawrence. I'm counting on there being a few key injuries and after the starters their talent really drops off. Cats get the 2 and keep the streak alive, but it's a close one.
Week 13 vs ISU: Farmageddon baby. Cats win this one bc half of ISU's team is in the slammer. Big W to finish off the regular season.
Regular season record: 10-2
Big 12 Championship: Cats play Texas in the championship and take the L as the longhorns walk away from the big 12 champions.
Bowl game: Cats sneak into a NY6 game. Who knows if they win, but let's be honest they probably won't.
