Kansas State coach Chris Klieman always praises the loyalty and support from the Wildcats fanbase. But he also used Thursday night to thank the band for their dedication and devotion. “Hats off to K-State nation for coming out and watching us play,

Turns out, the uniforms weren’t holding the Wildcats back. Avery Johnson and Dylan Edwards led K-State to a 44-41 win that will go down as one of the biggest turnarounds in K-State bowl history. And they killed the uniform curse in the process.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — As Chris Klieman bounced around the midwest, going up and down the coaching ladder from a Division III DC to a national champion head coach at the FCS level before becoming Kansas State’s head coach, the Rutgers football program occasionally came onto his radar.

Kansas State coach Chris Klieman credited everyone from Dylan Edwards to Joe Jackson to the school band for Thursday's Rate Bowl victory

The Kansas State football coach wants to beat Rutgers on Thursday at the Rate Bowl. He wants the Wildcats to hoist a shiny new trophy as they party at Chase Field in downtown Phoenix. And he definitely wants EMAW nation to head into the offseason with positive vibes.

K-State fans will remember the arrangement from when the Wildcats beat UCLA in the 2017 Cactus Bowl. Other topics were also on Klieman’s mind when the K-State football team arrived in Phoenix for its bowl games.

Nov 30, 2024; Ames, Iowa, USA; Kansas State Wildcats quarterback Avery Johnson (2) is pressured by Iowa State Cyclones linebacker Jacob Ellis (44) in the fourth quarter at Jack Trice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-Imagn Images / Reese Strickland-Imagn Images