Five key storylines for Kansas State’s football game against Iowa State on senior day

The Kansas State football team will try to finish the regular season with a bang when it hosts Iowa State at 7 p.m. on Saturday at Bill Snyder Family Stadium.

The Wildcats (8-3, 6-2 Big 12) are in contention for a spot in the Big 12 championship game, and they can earn a trip to Arlington, Texas by beating the Cyclones (6-5, 5-3 Big 12) and getting some help from other teams across the league.

No matter what happens on Saturday, K-State can improve its bowl stock with a victory. This game will have postseason implications. It will also be senior day for the Wildcats.

Here is everything you need to know to start preparing for this week’s game.

Iowa State at Kansas State: Game details

Kickoff: 7 p.m. Saturday

Where: Bill Snyder Family Stadium in Manhattan

TV: FOX

Radio: KCSP (610 AM) in Kansas City and KFH (1240 AM and 97.5 FM) in Wichita

Betting line: K-State by 11.5 with an O/U of 48.5

Five things to know

1. K-State has a chance to go undefeated at home this season. The Wildcats have been downright dominant in Manhattan this year. One more victory would make them perfect at home for the first time since 2012. K-State is off to a 6-0 start at Bill Snyder Family Stadium this season will all six victories coming by double digits.

2. The Wildcats can reach the Big 12 championship game with some help. There are several paths for K-State to take to the conference title game, but only one won’t come down to a convoluted tiebreaker that not even the Big 12 seems able to accurately project. Here’s what the Wildcats need: a win over Iowa State combined with losses from both Oklahoma and Oklahoma State. K-State should know if it is still alive in the league championship race well before kickoff on Saturday.

3. One more year for Chris Klieman. Every time Klieman guides the Wildcats to eight or more wins in the regular season he is rewarded with an automatic one-year contract extension at a salary of $6.5 million. K-State reached eight victories over the weekend, which means Klieman is now under contract until 2031.

4. The Cyclones will test the Wildcats on defense. Matt Campbell’s team is once again strong on defense. Iowa State ranks fourth in the conference in points allowed per game (20.5), second in yards allowed per rush (3.7) and first in yards allowed per pass (6.3). Rocco Becht has also been a nice surprise for Iowa State on offense. The freshman has thrown for 2,444 yards and 17 touchdowns.

5. DJ Giddens can top 1,000 yards this week. The sophomore running back from Junction City is having a strong season for the Wildcats, and he is putting up the stats to prove it. With 961 yards and eight touchdowns to his name, he is well positioned to reach a season milestone on Saturday and eclipse 1,000 yards for the first time in his college career. Only 32 players have rushed for 1,000 yards in program history. Giddens can make it 33.