MANHATTAN, KS - NOVEMBER 7: Defensive end DeSean Brown #87 of the Oklahoma State Cowboys tackles quarterback Blake Barnett #3 of the Kansas State Wildcats against the in the first half at Bill Snyder Family Football Stadium on November 7, 2026 in Manhattan, Kansas. (Photo by Peter Aiken/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Quarterback

*Starters in Bold

Blake Barnett: Snaps – 37 – Comp – 7/17 – Yds – 106 – Td – 1 – Int – 2 – Rush – 10 – Yds – 23
Dillon Duff: Snaps – 36 – Comp – 10/17 – Yds – 94 – Td – 1 – Int – 1 – Rush – 3 – Yds – 2

Grade: C-

This is the start of a 4-game job interview for Barnett and Duff. They’re competing against each other, and they’re competing against the specter of a potential portal quarterback.

The unknown quarterback won this week. Barnett started the game and was replaced by Duff at halftime. In Barnett’s 2 quarters of action, the Kansas State offense scored 7 points, turned the ball over on downs twice, and threw 2 interceptions; granted, the first interception should have been charged to Garrett Oakley after the ball hit him directly in the hands before coming into the defense’s possession. He also had a couple of nice runs but got stuffed on a 4th-and-1. Nothing about his game screamed, “This is the guy I want running the offense in 2027.” I assume he’ll get another opportunity next week to state his case for 2027.

Unfortunately, you can say the same thing about Dillon Duff. The good news is that Duff didn’t look like he was trying to swallow a pinecone, as he did last week in his brief 1st-quarter cameo against Colorado. In fact, he opened the second half with an 8-play, 45-yard drive that ended in an 18-yard touchdown reception on a Salley Jr. double move that made it look like playing quarterback in the Big 12 wasn’t that big of a deal. Then he threw an interception on his next pass attempt, although the ball was tipped on its way to the receiver, somewhat limiting his responsibility.

To Duff’s credit, he bounced back after the interception and led a 15-play, 66-yard touchdown drive that not only put 7 points on the scoreboard for the ‘Cats but also put the single-game scoring record at Bill Snyder Stadium by an opposing team out of reach for the Cowpokes. He made a couple of nice drive-extending throws on 3rd and 4th down to help lead the march down the field and into the end zone to cut the lead to 63-28

On his final drive of the day, he helped the offense hold onto the ball for 11 plays, again making a couple of nice drive-extending completions before turning the ball over on downs around midfield, again putting some distance between his defense and the infamous side of the record book ledger.

Between the two quarterbacks, Duff made the better case for 2027. He led the team on a couple of nice drives and was clutch on 3rd down. I’m far from nominating him for the starting job next season, but I’m more interested in seeing what he has to offer than I was after last week. Barnett earned the start against Oklahoma State because of his play against Colorado; Duff earned the start against TCU with his play against OSU.

Running Back

Rodney Fields Jr.: Snaps – 50 – Att – 20 – Yds – 87 – Td – 1 – Rec – 1 – Yds – 12
Joe Jackson: Snaps – 24 – Att – 4 – Yds – 8

Grade: C+

This was a better game from Fields. I still maintain that his lack of top-end speed limits his ability to break the big runs this offense needs, but he steadily moved the ball forward 4.4 yards at a time, broke 5 tackles, and even threw in a hurdle on his game-long 23-yard run. He’s a perfectly functional running back who runs hard and gets what is available on most plays.

With the offense in catch-up mode and Fields garnering 20 attempts, there wasn’t much left for Joe Jackson, and he didn’t do much with what he was given.

The running backs weren’t great, but they were functional, with Fields contributing a few tough, drive-extending runs in the 2nd half to help keep Oklahoma State’s offense on the sideline long enough to stave off an all-time butt-whipping after giving up 49 first-half points. They were on pace for 99 points, but didn’t have enough second-half possessions to reach that lofty goal, despite Kansas State’s defense doing its absolute best to help them make some history.

Wide Receiver

Josh Manning: Snaps – 69 – Targets – 4 – Rec – 1 – Yds – 7
Jaron Tibbs: Snaps – 73 – Targets – 9 – Rec – 6 – Yds – 42
Derrick Salley Jr.: Snaps – 45- Targets – 4 – Rec – 3 – Yds – 100 – Td – 2

Grade: B

Just reading the tea leaves here, if I were a wide receiver on the roster not named Jaron Tibbs or Derrick Salley Jr., I wouldn’t extend my lease. This is the part of the season where teams that aren’t in position to reach their preseason goals tend to expand their depth chart, especially in a game that was functionally over by the end of the first half.

Salley Jr. was one of the few bright spots from Saturday. Oklahoma State cut him loose on his 73-yard touchdown reception in the first quarter, but he broke out a nasty double move on his 18-yard touchdown reception to start the 2nd half. I’d start inquiring about his asking price for next season if I were in charge.

I’d also bring back Tibbs, who isn’t particularly explosive, but he is a tough, dependable wide receiver who will make tough catches in traffic and block well on the perimeter. He shouldn’t be the WR1 on a P4 team, but he’s fine as a WR3. He’s done enough to warrant another season, but I wouldn’t break the bank either.

Manning wasn’t much of a factor in this game and has been hit-or-miss all season. I much prefer Salley Jr. at boundary receiver, but if Manning wanted to return and compete with Tibbs for a starting spot, I wouldn’t protest. At the same time, like Tibbs, I wouldn’t break the bank to bring back a guy who appears to have limited upside and has done nothing to indicate he’s a WR1 option in 2027.

Not much went right on Saturday, but Salley Jr.’s price tag probably went up a bit after this performance.

Tight End

Garrett Oakley: Snaps – 50 – Targets – 4 – Rec – 1 – Yds – 6
Linkon Cure: Snaps – 45 – Targets – 8 – Rec – 5 – Yds – 33
Oliver Miller: Snaps – 9 – No Stats

Grade: D

Everything needed to go right in this game for Kansas State to have a chance, and that was no longer an option after Oakley forgot how to operate his hands, gifting the Cowboys an interception on what looked like an otherwise routine catch. This was a terrible game for Oakley, who has cost himself some money this season. He’s supposed to be a reliable tight end who keeps your offense on the field with 3rd-down receptions, not a guy whose hands turn into frying pans at least once a game.

Cure continues to flash coming down the stretch and has my attention. He had 5 receptions in this game, including 2 first-down snags to keep the chains moving. Unlike last week, he couldn’t find any room to show off his wheels after the catch, but at least the quarterbacks are finding him now. I’m starting to think Avery was simply not getting far enough through his progression to get the ball to Linkon; the backups seem to be able to find him.

Oliver Miller has his eye on a starting offensive-line job next season and performed well as a puller in the run game.

Quarterback

Running Back

Wide Receiver

Tight End

Offensive Line

Bring On The Cats

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