3MAW Podcast Breaks Down K-State's 71-3 Win Against Nicholls in Week 1
Kansas State couldn’t have hoped for a much better start to the Collin Klein era. The Wildcats opened their 2026 season Saturday night with a dominant 71-3 victory over Nicholls at Bill Snyder Family Stadium, giving K-State fans plenty to discuss following Klein’s first game as head coach.
The 3Maw podcast broke down the Wildcats’ performance after their victory, highlighting the biggest takeaways from an impressive season opener.
There wasn’t much that went wrong for K-State.
The Wildcats piled up 559 yards of total offense while limiting Nicholls to just 122. The majority of the work was on the ground for K-State, as the Wildcats finished with 312 rushing yards.
Quarterback Avery Johnson looked outstanding
Johnson completed 15 of 21 passes for 199 yards and three touchdowns while adding another touchdown on the ground. His first touchdown pass of the season, a seven-yard connection with Jaron Tibbs, gave Johnson the K-State career record for touchdown passes, breaking his tie with former Wildcats quarterback Will Howard.
Rushing attack could be the best in the Big 12
Oklahoma State transfer Rodney Fields Jr. led the way with 101 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries. Joe Jackson contributed as both a runner and receiver, while Jay Harris and Monterrio Elston Jr. also were able to score a touchdown on the ground.
Defense was dominant
K-State’s defense was equally impressive. Nicholls managed only 30 passing yards and didn’t score a touchdown; its only points came on a second-quarter field goal. The performance gave Klein a convincing victory in his first game leading his alma mater and provided K-State with momentum heading into next week’s matchup against Washington State.
The Wildcats were dominant in Week 1, but it was against Nicholls. Was Saturday night's performance more about K-State or Nicholls?
Check out the complete 3MAW podcast postgame show in the video above for instant reaction, analysis, and takeaways from the Wildcats’ 71-3 victory.
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Mark has over a decade of experience as a reporter, with his content being on numerous websites including, ESPN, Newsweek and Cleveland.com among many others. His career started at K-State as the sports editor for the K-State Collegian. He also coaches high school basketball at Blue Valley West in Overland Park. KC Sports Network is the premier destination for Kansas City sports fans with podcasts, YouTube and social media content. Stay connected with the latest news and analysis by following KCSN on all social media platforms.
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