Kansas State football and soccer both start their seasons this weekend.
Soccer
The soccer team opens up its 2020 season against Big 12 Conference foe Texas Tech at 7 p.m. on Friday in Buser Family Park.
K-State finished its 2019 campaign with a 3-3-12 record, logging wins against South Dakota State, Tulsa and Iowa State. Senior midfielder Brookelynn Entz was also named to the All-Big 12-second team last year.
Texas Tech is coming off of a 2019 season that saw the Red Raiders finish with a 15-4-3 record and an appearance in the NCAA Tournament second round, falling to Michigan 2-3.
The Red Raiders are the favorites to win the Big 12 title this year, earning 72 points and six first-place votes among league voters. Texas Tech also has three players on the preseason All-Big 12 soccer team, including last year’s Big 12 offensive player of the year forward Kirsten Davis, as well as last year’s Big 12 freshman of the year goalkeeper Madison White.
This will be a daunting first match for the Wildcats, who haven’t defeated the Red Raiders in team history.
The last time these two teams played was in the Wildcats season finale last year when the Red Raiders defeated K-State 4-1.
Tickets for the match can be bought online 24 hours ahead of kickoff, and can also be purchased at the Buser Family Park ticket booth before the match.
The game can be seen live on Big 12 Now on ESPN+ and heard on 101.5 KROCK.
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Football
Football kicks off 2020 with a non-conference tilt against Arkansas State at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday at Bill Snyder Family Stadium.
K-State finished its 2019 campaign with an 8-5 record, an appearance in the Liberty Bowl and a tie for third in the Big 12. Senior quarterback Skylar Thompson returns to lead the offense along with weapons at wide receiver in sophomores Malik Knowles and Joshua Youngblood.
Junior defensive end Wyatt Hubert will also return to the field to wreak havoc on opposing offenses. Even with all of that firepower, K-State was tabbed seventh in the Big 12 polls.
Hailing out of the Sun Belt Conference, the Red Wolves of Arkansas State got an earlier start on the season than the Wildcats, coming off of a hard-fought 24-37 defeat at the hands of Memphis on Saturday night.
Finishing last season with an 8-5 record as well and a Camellia Bowl victory, expectations are high for the Red Wolves this season as they are expected to finish third in the Sun Belt this year.
Arkansas State is led by quarterback duo Logan Bonner and Layne Hatcher who put up 299 combined passing yards on offense Saturday night.
The last time these two teams met was on Sept. 27, 1980, when the Wildcats defeated the Red Wolves 31-7 in Manhattan.
The game can be seen live on Fox Sports 1 and can be heard on the K-State Sports Network.
