Kansas State football can think about bowl eligibility again. How can it happen?

MANHATTAN — What a difference a month makes.

After starting the season 1-3 and looking hopeless heading into the remainder of the season, Kansas State football has taken steps in the right direction, opening the door for possible bowl eligibility at the season's end.

That wasn't the ultimate goal heading into a year in which the Wildcats were picked by some to win the Big 12, but getting to six wins after a dreadful start to the season wouldn't be the worst consolation prize.

With five games remaining, the Wildcats are currently 3-4 and need a trio of victories to qualify for their fifth consecutive bowl, their sixth in seven seasons under coach Chris Klieman.

ESPN Analytics gives Kansas State a 47.5% chance of reaching six wins. Considering its remaining schedule, it's possible.

Here's a look at the Wildcats' remaining schedule and their path to at least six wins.

at Kansas, Oct. 25

The Sunshine Showdown feels as wide-open as it has in quite a while heading into this year's edition. Kansas has to feel like it has an opportunity to earn its first win over the Wildcats since 2008, but it doesn't feel as certain as it did just a month ago.

Kansas State actually opened as a very early 3.5-point favorite to win the game on the road, according to oddsmakers. The Jayhawks have been up and down in recent weeks, heading into an open date coming off a 42-17 loss at Texas Tech.

The Jayhawks' run and redzone defense ranks at the bottom of the Big 12, while the offense is among the nation's worst on third-downs. Quarterback Jalon Daniels is doing a good job of taking care of the ball and ranks second in the nation in passing touchdowns.

This feels like a must-win for the Wildcats for multiple reasons, especially considering the challenge that awaits them on Nov. 1. They don't want to put themselves in a position where they have to win their final three games to become bowl eligible.

vs Texas Tech, Nov. 1

The Red Raiders are a wagon in 2025 and are the clear favorites to win the Big 12. They have the nation's top-ranked offense and a top-10 defense. The most recent US LBM Coaches Poll has TTU as the No. 8 team in the country, and that might be too low.

K-State won't be favored here, even at home. It will, by far, be the toughest opponent the Wildcats face all year.

Not many outside the K-State locker room will think the Wildcats have a shot at this one. If they're able to pull this off, we're talking about how amazing a turnaround that Klieman and the Wildcats have accomplished.

at Oklahoma State, Nov. 15

Must-win. A loss to this year's Cowboys team would be catastrophic. They already fired long-time coach Mike Gundy, and they continue to perform like one of the worst Power 4 teams in the country.

No excuses here.

at Utah, Nov. 22

At this point, you're hoping that Kansas State went at least 2-1 over the previous three games, and need to win one of their final two to become bowl eligible.

A trip to No. 22 Utah looks like the second-most-difficult remaining game on the Wildcats' schedule. They have one loss this year against Texas Tech and are heading into a Holy War matchup at BYU this week.

Kansas State has never won a game in the state of Utah, and Utes coach Kyle Whittingham has done a great job getting the team right after a 5-7 debut in the Big 12.

vs Colorado, Nov. 29

Colorado finds itself in a similar position as Kansas State, sitting at 3-4 heading into its final five games. The Buffaloes have winnable games, including a home date against Arizona and a trip to West Virginia, on their schedule. They've lost two of their last three, but their 24-17 victory over Iowa State on Saturday, Oct. 11, may have them feeling like they're ascending as well.

This regular-season finale between two middle-of-the-pack Big 12 teams could have a lot of meaning. It could be a battle for bowl eligibility, and it's worth wondering, with the number of health problems adding up, if this could be Deion Sanders' swan song as Colorado's head coach.

Wyatt D. Wheeler covers Kansas State athletics for the USA TODAY Network and Topeka Capital-Journal. You can follow him on X at @WyattWheeler_, contact him at 417-371-6987 or email him at [email protected]

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Kansas State football can think about bowl eligibility again