Kansas State head coach Chris Klieman looked back on Saturday’s defeat to Army with raw honesty, acknowledging the disappointment in the locker room and the missed opportunities that swung the game away from the Wildcats.
“Everybody’s really disappointed in the outcome of the game,” Klieman admitted. “That locker room’s pretty crushed because we had a really good week of preparation and I thought the guys were dialed in. Congratulations to Monk and Army. I’ve been in that game a lot and played triple option teams, and we played them as good as we could play ’em the first half. We didn’t finish drives. That’s why it was 13–7 at half and not 21, because you can’t settle for field goals.”
The game unraveled quickly after halftime, capped by what Klieman called the “freakiest thing” he has seen on a field, a bizarre onside kick that Army managed to recover. “I’m positive they were trying to drill it and hit a guy because they knew we were ready. Not only does it hit the guy square, it’s like a 90 mph fastball from 10 yards. It doesn’t go backwards to our line, it goes right to their line. Now they’ve got another possession, our offense is sitting on the sideline, and we’re going to play about 45 plays in a row. That’s the way this team can beat you.”
Klieman said momentum shifted when his offense opened the second half with a three-and-out. “We can’t go three and out on offense after that. And then it started to snowball on us a little bit. When you’re running the ball for three yards and two yards and then four yards and you’re getting cut at your knees every play, it wears on you.”
🎥: #KStateFB head coach Chris Klieman following the 'Cats loss to Army as 2+ TD favorites:
— Tejay Cleland (@KWCHTejay) September 7, 2025
"They can hammer me to death about not getting this win. I'm going to come back. I'm going to come back tomorrow and give it my all with those guys."
(h/t @KWCHRachelH) pic.twitter.com/oi6wgOmLUu
Despite the frustration, Klieman praised his team’s fight. “Guys, I’m dang proud of that football team we have in there. I’m disappointed in the loss just like everybody else is, but it’s going to be hard to win college games and that’s the way the season’s going to go. As a leader, it ain’t sunny and 70 every day. When it ain’t sunny and 70, who’s got to stand up? It’s got to be me.”
He added, “They can hammer me to death about not getting this win. I’m going to come back tomorrow and give it my all because those guys deserve it.”
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