Houston exposes K-State's struggles in 35-16 loss

Cougars pile up 475 yards of offense as Wildcats look to regroup before facing Kansas in Sunflower Showdown.

Garret Oakley (86) is tackled into the end zone for a touchdown on Oct. 10. during K-State's loss to Houston at Bill Snyder Family Stadium. (Tyler Harbert)

Houston’s offense proved too much for K-State on Saturday, as the Cougars totaled 475 yards and handed the Wildcats a 35-16 loss at Bill Snyder Family Stadium.

Fifth-year quarterback Connor Weigman threw for 242 yards and 4 touchdown passes to tight end Patrick Overmyer, helping Houston improve to 5-1 overall and 2-1 in Big 12 play.

The Cougars also rushed 233 yards and controlled possession for nearly 35 minutes. Houston's front linemen dominated the trench battle, whether that was offensively letting up a total of zero sacks or defensively wreaking havoc for the Wildcats' run game.

K-State struggled to match Houston’s offensive production, finishing with fewer than 300 yards of total offense.

“We were out of sync," head coach Collin Klein said. "It was so frustrating. There were times when we got the coverage we wanted and the call we wanted, but the receiver wasn't in the right place, wasn't running the right route, or wasn't creating separation against match-bracket coverage."

Defensively, multiple mistakes on crucial downs led to points for the Cougars.

“We have to be better fundamentally," Klein said. "We have to be better disciplined. There are way too many penalties on conversion downs in situations that are giving them free yards. This is completely unacceptable. That's not how we play. That's not our identity, and that's what it was today."

The loss dropped the Wildcats to 3-2 overall and 0-2 in conference play as they prepare for their upcoming matchup against Kansas. The Sunflower Showdown gives the Wildcats their next opportunity to respond, but they will need to make adjustments after struggling to keep pace with Houston’s dominant performance.