Skip to main content
Kansas State
Join Now

Three and out: Projecting the first three kick times for Kansas State

pcfKDrv-_400x400by: Mason Voth05/25/26TheRealMasonV

By the end of this week, we should know the start times and TV networks for the first three Kansas State games of 2026. But what good is waiting, I will try to take a crack at predicting the three start times and TV networks that will be unveiled this week for games against Nicholls, Washington State and Tulane.

September 5 – Kansas State vs Nicholls

It is going to seem like the season never comes this year. After calendar quirks and Week 0 in 2025, K-State will kick off its season nearly two full weeks later than it did on August 23 in Ireland last season.

The FCS opener is like a free space when predicting what time the game will be and who will broadcast it. K-State’s last non-night kickoff against an FCS opponent was in 2009, when Tennessee Tech kicked off at 2:00 PM. But that was an odd year, and K-State faced two FCS squads, with the season opener coming at night against UMass.

Game Time Prediction: 6:00 PM
TV Prediction: ESPN+

September 12 – Kansas State vs Washington State

There are a lot of games floating around in Week 2 that could put K-State in a number of TV spots, but I think the mid-afternoon window is likely for kickoff. Washington State’s standing in the college football world will play a factor in who picks this game up.

With the number of games that could earn significant TV slots this week, there would be a chance that this ends up on ESPN+ like the Tulane game in 2022. If that happens, watch for what time the game kicks off. Home teams get to select the time they want to start for ESPN+ football games. Chris Klieman religiously picked 11:00 AM, outside of the FCS opener. He made that move after the 2022 loss to Tulane at 2:30 PM. It was put into practice a few weeks later when the matchup with Texas Tech started at 11:00 AM.

This game could get the bump up to FOX

Game Time Prediction: 2:30/3:00 PM
TV Prediction: ESPN2

September 19 – Kansas State vs Tulane

This is a really solid game for any TV network to pick up. This was evidenced in 2024 when ESPN selected the game for its 11:00 AM slot following College Gameday for the matchup in New Orleans. For the final game of the three-game series. I think a night game on FOX could be in play here, but I think an ESPN property probably takes this game.

Game Time Prediction: 11:00 AM
TV Prediction: ESPN

You may also like