Venue, Date & Time
Location: Bill Snyder Family Stadium, Manhattan, Kansas
Kickoff: 12:00 PM ET / 11:00 AM CT
Broadcast: FS1
Weather Forecast (Manhattan, KS)
Conditions: Sunny, low humidity
Temperature: High 87°F (31°C), low 56°F (13°C)
Wind: 6–10 mph
Impact: Warm but comfortable; no weather disruptions expected
Injury Report
UCF Knights
Out: DB Isaiah Reed, DB Jayden Williams, EDGE Josh Dorsainvil
Questionable: TE Dylan Wade (shoulder), DB DJ Bell, EDGE Isaiah Nixon (ankle), OL Connor Meadows
Kansas State Wildcats
Out: S Colby McCalister, WR Jerand Bradley, LB Ralph Ortiz, K/P Cub Patton, S Dominic Mitchell, LB Darien Whitaker Jr., OL Maguire Richman, OL George Fitzpatrick, OL Michael Capria, OL Joe Vickers, OL Leyton Simmering
Doubtful: DT Holden Bass
Probable: DT Patrick Tackle
Key Note: RB Dylan Edwards (ankle) expected to play after limited action vs. Arizona
Key Player Matchups
QB Tayven Jackson (UCF, 694 yds, 3 TD, 0 INT, 72 rush yds, 3 rush TD) vs. QB Avery Johnson (KSU, 851 yds, 6 TD, 1 INT, 62 rush yds, 2 rush TD)
Dual-threat QBs will dictate tempo; Jackson mistake-free so far, Johnson needs efficiency.
RB Jaden Nixon (UCF, 160 yds, 3 TD) vs. RB Dylan Edwards (KSU, returning from injury)
Nixon’s explosiveness vs. Edwards’ health and impact on KSU’s struggling run game.
WR Jayce Brown (KSU, 25 rec, 284 yds, 2 TD) vs. UCF Secondary (missing starters)
Brown is Johnson’s top target; UCF’s depleted DB unit will be tested.
LB Austin Romaine (KSU, 26 tackles) vs. UCF rushing attack (202 yds/game)
Romaine anchors KSU’s defense; UCF’s ground game is its offensive identity.
Recent Team Forms
UCF Knights (3-0, 0-0 Big 12)
W 17–10 vs. Jacksonville State
W 68–7 vs. North Carolina A&T
W 34–9 vs. North Carolina
Trend: Balanced offense (39.7 PPG) and elite defense (8.7 PPG allowed, 4th nationally)
Kansas State Wildcats (1-3, 0-1 Big 12)
L 21–24 vs. Iowa State (Dublin, Ireland)
W 38–35 vs. North Dakota
L 21–24 vs. Army
L 17–23 vs. Arizona
Trend: Offense inconsistent (24.3 PPG, 84th nationally); defense giving up 26.5 PPG
Conference Context
UCF: Opening Big 12 play under Scott Frost’s second tenure; aiming for first 4–0 start since 2019.
Kansas State: Preseason Big 12 contender, but reeling at 1–3; needs win to salvage season.
Series History
All-time H2H: Kansas State leads 2–0
2010: KSU 17–13
2023: KSU 44–31
Trend: Wildcats have won both meetings, both in Manhattan.
Betting Trends
Kansas State:
0–4 ATS in 2025
0–2 ATS as favorite of 5.5+ points
1–3 O/U this season
UCF:
2–1 ATS in 2025
1–2 O/U this season
8-for-8 on 4th down conversions this year
Historical Betting Results (Head-to-Head)
2023: Kansas State -6.5 covered, won 44–31 (Over 55.5)
2010: Kansas State -7 failed to cover, won 17–13 (Under 44.5)
Game Odds
Central Florida Knights 48.5
Kansas St. Wildcats – 5.5
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odd Direct as of Friday, September 26, 2025
