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The No. 22 Houston Cougars are gearing up for a Big 12 conference road game against the Kansas State Wildcats in Manhattan, Kansas, this Saturday. Houston brings a 4-1 record into the matchup, having secured a comeback victory over UCF at home last week. Meanwhile, Kansas State sits at 3-1 and is coming off an early bye week. This game marks the Wildcats' Big 12 home opener.
Although Houston may lack the rest advantage, it remains a crucial conference road test that the Cougars must find a way to win. Houston did not face Kansas State last season and will play at the Wildcats' home stadium for only the second time in program history. The two teams previously met in Manhattan in 2023 and at TDECU Stadium in 2024.
In both of those contests, Kansas State quarterback Avery Johnson saw playing time. He started in 2024 but also took a significant number of snaps in 2023. Johnson is the player Houston fans will need to keep a close eye on.
Scouting Avery Johnson
Now a senior, Johnson is an elite dual-threat quarterback who can hurt defenses on the ground and through the air. The 6-foot-3, 200-pound signal-caller has thrown for 910 yards and seven touchdowns with two interceptions on a 66 percent completion rate in four games this season. He has also rushed for 291 yards and three touchdowns on 30 carries.
Johnson's potential was on full display in Week 3 against Tulane, where he ran for 152 yards and two touchdowns on just 12 carries while completing 21 of 28 passes for 227 yards. His speed allows him to break off big runs, and his passing ability remains a constant threat. Houston must contain him to prevent explosive gains.
Johnson will be hard to miss, but the Cougars need to keep him in the pocket. Houston's four-man pass rush has not been strong, so forcing Johnson to rely on his arm gives the defense its best chance to succeed.
New Kansas State head coach Collin Klein, a former quarterback for the program, spent the past two seasons as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Texas A&M. That background could help Johnson continue to develop as a quarterback.
As a junior, Johnson threw for 2,385 yards and 18 touchdowns with six interceptions on just under a 60 percent completion rate. He also ran for 477 yards and eight touchdowns on 109 carries.
Maanav Gupta is a staff writer for Houston Cougars on SI. He graduated from the University of Houston in the summer of 2025 with a bachelor's degree in journalism and a minor in Spanish. Gupta spent three years at the student newspaper, The Daily Cougar, and also covered the 2025 Final Four and National Championship as the Houston beat writer for College Basketball Review. He also runs his own YouTube channel, Maanavs Sports Talk, where he has interviewed professional athletes and broadcasters such as Jim Nantz, Jose Altuve, J.J. Watt, Rich Eisen, and Alperen Sengun. Gupta was also a contributor to the Houston athletic program as a student. You can find Gupta on X, Instagram, and TikTok @MGSportsTalk.