Central Florida
1st Conference USA10-3
Kansas State
7th Big 127-5
Central Florida @ Kansas State preview
Bill Snyder Family Football Stadium
Kansas State running back Daniel Thomas doesn’t have the name recognition and supporting cast needed to win the Heisman Trophy, but he is certainly playing like one of the best in the nation.
Coming off another Heisman-worthy performance, Thomas looks to lead the Wildcats to their best start in seven years Saturday against Central Florida.
Kansas State, which finished 6-6 in Bill Snyder’s return to the sideline last season, is on the verge of opening with four straight wins for the first time since 2003.
The Wildcats have gotten to this point relying heavily on Thomas, who is second in the nation in rushing (184 yards per game) behind Michigan quarterback Denard Robinson (186.4 ypg).
Thomas put the offense on his back again last Saturday against Iowa State, rumbling for 181 yards and two touchdowns on a career-high 34 carries in a 27-20 comeback win. The 6-2, 228-pound senior has scored two touchdowns in every game and is averaging 6.7 yards per carry.
Equally impressive, Thomas is doing it with little help from the passing game.
Senior Carson Coffman threw for just 104 yards on 12 attempts against the Cyclones and is averaging a mere 150 yards per game. In fact, 280 of Carson’s 450 passing yards came against FCS school Missouri State.
The Knights (2-1) also were dealing with quarterback issues in their first two games, but appear to have found a starter in true freshman Jeff Godfrey.
Godfrey completed 15 of 24 passes for 130 yards in his first start -- a 24-10 win over Buffalo last week. He calmly led the Knights on the pivotal 15-play, 90-yard touchdown drive, which was capped by Ronnie Weaver’s 14-yard run.
Godfrey’s strong play helped him wrestle the job from junior Rob Calabrese, who started the first two games but threw for just 282 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions.
Godfrey became the first Central Florida quarterback to win his first start on the road in 10 years, but winning in Manhattan will be infinitely tougher.
The Wildcats have won 56 of their last 59 non-conference home games and are 64-14 against non-conference opponents under Snyder. Furthermore, Kansas State is 36-2 in September home games since 1992.
Still, the Knights may have a shot if the Wildcats lose focus and get caught looking ahead to next week’s Big 12 North showdown with No. 7 Nebraska.
Coming off another Heisman-worthy performance, Thomas looks to lead the Wildcats to their best start in seven years Saturday against Central Florida.
Kansas State, which finished 6-6 in Bill Snyder’s return to the sideline last season, is on the verge of opening with four straight wins for the first time since 2003.
The Wildcats have gotten to this point relying heavily on Thomas, who is second in the nation in rushing (184 yards per game) behind Michigan quarterback Denard Robinson (186.4 ypg).
Thomas put the offense on his back again last Saturday against Iowa State, rumbling for 181 yards and two touchdowns on a career-high 34 carries in a 27-20 comeback win. The 6-2, 228-pound senior has scored two touchdowns in every game and is averaging 6.7 yards per carry.
Equally impressive, Thomas is doing it with little help from the passing game.
Senior Carson Coffman threw for just 104 yards on 12 attempts against the Cyclones and is averaging a mere 150 yards per game. In fact, 280 of Carson’s 450 passing yards came against FCS school Missouri State.
The Knights (2-1) also were dealing with quarterback issues in their first two games, but appear to have found a starter in true freshman Jeff Godfrey.
Godfrey completed 15 of 24 passes for 130 yards in his first start -- a 24-10 win over Buffalo last week. He calmly led the Knights on the pivotal 15-play, 90-yard touchdown drive, which was capped by Ronnie Weaver’s 14-yard run.
Godfrey’s strong play helped him wrestle the job from junior Rob Calabrese, who started the first two games but threw for just 282 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions.
Godfrey became the first Central Florida quarterback to win his first start on the road in 10 years, but winning in Manhattan will be infinitely tougher.
The Wildcats have won 56 of their last 59 non-conference home games and are 64-14 against non-conference opponents under Snyder. Furthermore, Kansas State is 36-2 in September home games since 1992.
Still, the Knights may have a shot if the Wildcats lose focus and get caught looking ahead to next week’s Big 12 North showdown with No. 7 Nebraska.