The Zeitgeist List · Rivalries

Sunflower Showdown

Kansas65-54-5Kansas State
National Program III#68 of 138–Power Program III#32 of 138–
See both programs’ full 91-year Zeitgeist History, side by side →
This year’s game — the live preview →
2 players crossed straight to the rival since 2021 — the turncoat ledger →

Kansas leads the all-time series 65-54-5. They've met 124 times since 1902. Kansas State has won the last 18.

Current season

Vegas win totals and transfer-portal swing right now, plus what fans are actually saying — not history, this year.

Kansas
Win total
4.5
Vegas over/under
Transfer portal
+1
portal net points (weighted) · raw ledger: +21
What fans are saying · player performance
fans argue the defense struggles to stop opponents on 4th-down attempts
This team can't compete for anything until they can learn how to win a close game, the amount of drops and the inability of our defense to get a stop on 3rd and 4th down is going to cost us several more games this season if they can't get it fixed
Verified verbatim
Kansas State
Win total
7.5
Vegas over/under
Transfer portal
-2
portal net points (weighted) · raw ledger: -23
What fans are saying · player performance
fans believe the defense struggles to tackle effectively in run situations
I really hope we see some improvement in the defense today. Giving up 250+ on the ground multiple weeks is not a receipe for success.
Verified verbatim

Stature & the series, 1902–2026

Both programs’ standing over time, each line named at its end, with every meeting beneath — read down to see who was bigger and who won. (Stature is each program’s season-by-season standing on the Zeitgeist List, 1936–present — one score blending on-field performance, program achievement, and roster talent.)

program stature over timeKansasKansas Stateevery meeting (bar height = margin; dark: Kansas won, gray: Kansas State won)192019401960198020002020

The identity war

Kansas has been the more pass-heavy program more often than not.

Across 23 seasons of real play-level data (2004–2026), Kansas led 15 and Kansas State led 8.

more passmore runKansasKansas State2004200620082010201220142016201820202022202420262009Kansas 20.0 ptsKansas State won 17-102017Kansas 19.8 ptsKansas State won 30-202004Kansas 13.7 ptsKansas won 31-28
Source team_season_stats (CFBD season totals) · pass rate = passAttempts ÷ (passAttempts + rushingAttempts)

Kansas State once won 18 in a row. The biggest win was Kansas State by 64 in 2002. The biggest crowd, 53,439, was in 2014.

The coaching duels

Glen Mason vs Bill Snyder3-5
Jack Mitchell vs Doug Weaver6-0-1
Mark Mangino vs Bill Snyder1-4
Lance Leipold vs Chris Klieman0-5
Pepper Rodgers vs Vince Gibson3-1
Don Fambrough vs Vince Gibson3-1

The draft ledger

Every NFL Draft pick either program has produced since the modern era began, decade by decade.

Draft picks
85-95
Kansas State leads
1st-rounders
6-5
Since
1967
First CFBD-carried draft class
KansasKansas State
1960s5-1
1970s32-15
1980s13-2
1990s10-16
2000s9-31
2010s8-15
2020s8-15

Best picks, either side

2003Terence Newman Defensive Back · Dallas CowboysRd 1, pick 5#5 overall
1971John Riggins Running Back · New York JetsRd 1, pick 6#6 overall
1977Mike Butler Defensive End · Green Bay PackersRd 1, pick 9#9 overall
1981David Verser Wide Receiver · Cincinnati BengalsRd 1, pick 10#10 overall
1971Clarence Scott Defensive Back · Cleveland BrownsRd 1, pick 14#14 overall
1974Don Goode Linebacker · San Diego ChargersRd 1, pick 15#15 overall
2009Josh Freeman Quarterback · Tampa Bay BuccaneersRd 1, pick 17#17 overall
2008Aqib Talib Cornerback · Tampa Bay BuccaneersRd 1, pick 20#20 overall

Recent meetings

Gate premium

Kansas1.19×its own average home crowd
2026Kansas State35-24
2025Kansas State42-17Kansas — Kansas routed by 25
2024Kansas State29-27Kansas — decided by 2
2023Kansas State31-27
2022Kansas State47-27
2021Kansas State35-10
2020Kansas State55-14
2019Kansas State38-10
2018Kansas State21-17
2017Kansas State30-20
2016Kansas State34-19
2015Kansas State45-14
2014Kansas State51-13
2013Kansas State31-10

Every meeting since 2018, play by play

Each line is Kansas’s chance to win through that meeting. Kansas is 0-4 in the meetings since 2018 that were still close in the fourth quarter.

2026Kansas State 35-24Kansas lost 24-35 at Kansas State. Chance to win started at 33%, low under 1%, high 78%.Steady
2025Kansas State 42-17Kansas lost 17-42 vs Kansas State. Chance to win started at 74%, low under 1%, high 83%.Steady
2024Kansas State 29-27Kansas lost 27-29 at Kansas State. Chance to win started at 30%, low 5%, high 59%.
2023Kansas State 31-27Kansas lost 27-31 vs Kansas State. Chance to win started at 26%, low 7%, high 82%.Steady
2022Kansas State 47-27Kansas lost 27-47 at Kansas State. Chance to win started at 18%, low under 1%, high 27%.Busy
2021Kansas State 35-10Kansas lost 10-35 vs Kansas State. Chance to win started at 5%, low under 1%, high 12%.
2020Kansas State 55-14Kansas lost 14-55 at Kansas State. Chance to win started at 8%, low under 1%, high 13%.
2019Kansas State 38-10Kansas lost 10-38 vs Kansas State. Chance to win started at 34%, low under 1%, high 37%.
2018Kansas State 21-17Kansas lost 17-21 at Kansas State. Chance to win started at 25%, low 13%, high 79%.
Read a quote from each meeting
  • 2026
    “Gonna enjoy this lead while it lasts”
    A Kansas fan
  • 2025
    “That’s such a Kansas thing to do against K State happens every year”
    A Kansas fan

This season’s plays, Kansas and Kansas State

Official highlights with our numbers, from the 5 plays on film when they met.

  1. Q3, 6:32 · Kansas State down 6, takes the leadJoe Jackson runs 8 yards for a touchdownKansas at Kansas State, week 7Q3, 6:32 · Kansas State 25, Kansas 24▲20%Kansas State’s chance to win, 45% to 65%▲20%Kansas State’s chance to win, 45% to 65%J.Jackson rush middle for 8 yards gain to the KAN00 touchdown, kick goodWatch from this playCFB ON FOX
  2. Q1, 13:17 · Kansas State tiedRodney Fields Jr. runs 4 yards for a touchdownKansas at Kansas State, week 7Q1, 13:17 · Kansas State 7, Kansas 0Kansas State opened the scoringKansas State opened the scoringR.Fields Jr. rush middle for 4 yards gain to the KAN00 touchdown, kick goodWatch from this playCFB ON FOX
  3. Q4, 10:02 · Kansas down 1Logan Bartley intercepts Isaiah Marshall and returns it 16 yardsKansas at Kansas State, week 7Q4, 10:02 · Kansas 24, Kansas State 257Kansas’s turnover led to a touchdown7Kansas’s turnover led to a touchdownKansas’s turnover led to a touchdownI.Marshall pass intercepted by L.Bartley at KSTATE00 QB hurried by W.Gregory L.Bartley return 16 yards to the KSTATE16 (C.Bruhn)Watch from this playCFB ON FOX
  4. Q4, 8:28 · Kansas State up 1Avery Johnson finds Jaron Tibbs for a 9-yard touchdownKansas at Kansas State, week 7Q4, 8:28 · Kansas State 32, Kansas 24▲10%Kansas State’s chance to win, 78% to 88%▲10%Kansas State’s chance to win, 78% to 88%A.Johnson pass complete short right to J.Tibbs caught at KAN06, for 9 yards to the KAN00 touchdown, kick goodWatch from this playCFB ON FOX
  5. Q1, 3:20 · Kansas State down 7L. Cure fumbles and Kansas recoversKansas at Kansas State, week 7Q1, 3:20 · Kansas State 7, Kansas 143Kansas State’s turnover led to a field goal3Kansas State’s turnover led to a field goalKansas State’s turnover led to a field goalA.Johnson pass complete short left to L.Cure caught at KSTATE31, for 6 yards to the KSTATE27 fumbled by L.Cure at KSTATE32 forced by D.Brinkley recovered by KAN D.Santiago at KSTATE27, End Of PlayWatch from this playCFB ON FOX

Meetings with their own story page

9 meetings in our archive, 2015 to 2025.