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Kansas State Football: Preview -K-State’s Defense vs Houston’s Run Game.

Kansas State’s defense enters its showdown with Houston facing a daunting challenge after struggling to contain Cincinnati’s ground game last week. The Wildcats’ front seven, known for its sideline-to-sideline speed, was exposed by the Bearcats’ offensive line, which repeatedly pushed K-State off the ball and carved out gaps for its rushing attack.

Cincinnati’s 18th-ranked rushing attack averaged 5.95 yards per carry, totaling 1,154 yards and 17 touchdowns on the ground—a formula Kansas State’s undersized defensive line will need to disrupt if it hopes to avoid a repeat performance. Houston, ranked 19th nationally in rushing, presents a similar threat, though its efficiency fluctuates: the Cougars averaged 8.6 yards per carry against Southern but settled for 3.6 against UCF.

However, their recent 5.2-yard average against Texas Tech—including 57 yards on 13 runs in the A gap and 43 yards on five in the B gap—reveals a dangerous ability to exploit interior lanes, a tactic that proved decisive for Cincinnati against K-State. The Cougars’ dual-threat backfield, featuring power back Makhi Hughes and speedster Re’Shaun Sanford II, adds another layer of complexity, with Sanford averaging 11.5 yards per carry outside the left tackle but also proving effective inside the box.

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