What to Watch Four: K-State vs Alabama

The biggest question when it became clear that Alabama would be K-State’s opponent in the Allstate Sugar Bowl was who will opt out? Most initially assumed the Crimson Tide would be without their Heisman-winning quarterback and potential number-one draft pick linebacker, Will Anderson.

Both made what 2022 standards would consider surprising decisions, as they are with the team in New Orleans and set to play on Saturday. Now the question shifts to how much they actually see the field.

Alabama head coach Nick Saban continues to use the phrase that the “institution” is doing as much as it can to “minimize the risk for them to play.” What that actually means is yet to be seen, but it could mean they play their normal amount or also don’t see the field at all.

Last year, Iowa State’s Breece Hall opted out of playing in their bowl game but went through bowl practices with the Cyclones and made the trip to Orlando even. The mystery and charade will likely go up to Saturday morning before we know for sure what is in store for the two Alabama stars.

My final opinion on what Saban continues to say is that we probably don’t see those two maximize their snap counts, but that is just a gut feeling.

In 2022, the Crimson Tide had just two receivers with over 400 yards this season. Compared to just 2021, the Tide had two over 1,000 yards and two more over 400. The Alabama passing attack hasn’t been as potent in 2022 as has become the norm over the last few seasons with players like Jalen Hurts, Tua Tagovailoa, Mac Jones and Young a season ago.

For K-State, this might be a spot that they actually have a leg up in. With talent at the corner position with Julius Brents and Ekow Boye-Doe, who K-State hopes to have healthy, the Wildcats’ success in this game will become apparent with their performance defending Alabama’s passing attack. K-State finished their season strong by holding their final four opponents at 251 yards passing or fewer.

In order to force this matchup to be a reality, the K-State defensive line and linebackers will have to be up to the challenge of navigating the Alabama offensive line and slowing running back Jahmyr Gibbs enough so Alabama doesn’t rely so heavily on the run.

K-State’s big offseason acquisition, since that is really what the transfer portal is now, was getting Adrian Martinez from Nebraska. It locked up a quarterback with loads of experience and a high ceiling. After the first three games, it looked a lot like what forced Martinez and the Huskers to part ways.

But as Big 12 play started, Martinez made the rest of the country take notice and he received Heisman buzz and his own feature on ESPN’s College Gameday ahead of the game with TCU.

Then he got injured and missed most of that game as well as the next against Oklahoma State. In those two games, Will Howard became the start that Chris Klieman said he was each offseason.

When Martinez returned, he put up strong numbers against Texas, but the Wildcats came up just short. The following week at Baylor he was injured again early in the game and hasn’t seen the field since. Now he has returned to practice and the plan for him to return for the bowl game seems to be in place.

I don’t think there is any doubt that Martinez sees at least a few snaps against Alabama, but my curiosity comes down to how he will be used. It seems likely that his running ability will be the emphasis whenever he finds himself in the game. Short yardage and goal-to-go situations seem likely to net him a few plays. I actually like the chances of Martinez rushing for a touchdown in the game on Saturday.

The approach in most, if not all, games this season for Klieman and his team is that they are going to go out and play the game they want to, regardless of the opponent. With Alabama waiting and the supreme talent that will be on the field, I wonder if that changes a little bit.

We have seen the Wildcats elect to take the ball first in pivotal games for them, like against Oklahoma and Oklahoma State, amongst others. I would like to see the Wildcats keep their aggressive mindset and let the offense try to get off to a hot start. In doing so, you can ease the notion that K-State doesn’t belong on the same field as Alabama. I also saw what happened when a team with dynamic playmakers gets the opening kickoff at the 2013 Fiesta Bowl against Oregon…

Another question will be if the Wildcats continue to use their style that I call “calm tempo.” Where they are under control and not rushing, but also making sure they are getting ready for the next snap quickly and have the option to keep the defense on its toes. Some under-matched teams will play the game by trying to dominate the clock more, I get the feeling that Klieman and K-State won’t be planning on that.

I think a lot of what goes into pulling off the task at hand for K-State on Saturday is treating it like a normal game and believing you belong. It’s certainly more than just another game, but the Wildcats have already navigated a Big 12 Championship against TCU and other large moments in the season.