Here are the four confirmed non‑conference opponents that stand out on Kansas State’s 2025‑26 schedule, according to multiple recent reports:
- Indiana Hoosiers (away, Bloomington) — a high‑octane new roster filled with transfers like 20‑point scorer Lamar Wilkerson, Sun Belt POY Tayton Conerway, and veteran frontcourt help from Reed Bailey
- Creighton Bluejays (away in Omaha for the home‑and‑home series) — retooled after losing core scorers, added Iowa transfers Owen Freeman and Josh Dix plus MEAC freshman star Blake Harper
- Mississippi State Bulldogs (neutral site in the Hall of Fame Classic) — led by electric guard Josh Hubbard, joined by Georgetown’s Jayden Epps and frontcourt presence Quincy Ballard
- California Golden Bears (home in Manhattan) — a roster in flux after portal exits, anchored by new arrivals Chris Bell (Syracuse) and Dai Dai Ames (Virginia)
The evening sky over Manhattan crackles with anticipation as autumn twilight descends upon Bramlage Coliseum. With ten home games on the slate, the Wildcats are revving up for what Coach Jerome Tang hopes will be a season‑defining restart. But before conference play, four non‑conference clashes promise to test this rebuilt roster—and maybe, just maybe, rewrite its destiny.
First up: Cal. The Golden Bears roll into Manhattan on a Thursday night in mid‑November—a team stripped down by portal losses, yet buzzing with potential from newcomers like Chris Bell and Dai Dai Ames. In my version of that game, the stands wobble with the roar of purple and white as Cal’s unknowns punch above their weight. Ames dribbles into the lane, rises for a textbook pull‑up jumper…and misses. But Bell corrals the rebound, kicks it back, and the shot arcs through a sea of defenders. Manhattans gasp. The scoreboard ticks. And Kansas State exhales—but this is just the first puzzle piece.
Neutral‑site drama at the Hall of Fame Classic brings Mississippi State next, a guard‑driven wrecking crew helmed by Josh Hubbard. In my scene: the T‑Mobile Center is electric. Hubbard explodes for step‑back threes, Jayden Epps darts through screens, eyes hardened. But K‑State punches back with gritty defense. In this version, late in the fourth, the Wildcats force a turnover, sprint coast‑to‑coast, and Tyson lifts a runner that barely kisses the glass. Silence—then riotous cheers. The Cats walk off believing.
Then comes Indiana, in the historic red of Bloomington, the crown jewel of the non‑con slate. A fresh Indiana roster floods the court—Lamar Wilkerson hammering inside, Conerway slicing from the arc, Bailey patrolling the paint. In my fictional retelling, Kansas State arrives under the bright Big Ten lights with outsider’s swagger. They share the ball, contest every rebound, turn Wilkerson into a team player. At crunch time, a senior guard drives baseline, kicks to the wing: corner three. Swish. A gasp. It’s enough. A road shocker blooms.
Out in Omaha, Creighton stands ready. The Bluejays percolate with new offensive weapons in Freeman, Dix, and Harper. In my dramatic twist: Kansas State tips off with quiet resolve. Every cut is crisp. Every screen is sticky. A late possession, Creighton runs its set—but a soft overplay on defense leads to a steal. A fastbreak dunk later, and the Wildcats’ bench empties in celebration. They leave Nebraska believing: this rebuilt core is no joke.
These vignettes may be fiction—crafted scenes between real opponents—but they anchor Kansas State’s real challenge: facing Indiana, Creighton, Mississippi State, and Cal before the calendar flips. Each opponent carries weight, each venue a proving ground. Win or lose, Kansas State steps into Big 12 play battle‑tested—and if this fiction plays out with even a hint of its spirit, the Wildcats won’t just return to relevance—they’ll gallop toward it.
In sum, those four confirmed non‑conference opponents—Cal at home, Mississippi State neutral, Indiana and Creighton both on the road—offer a potent mix of talent, venues, and narratives. The Wildcats’ early season could be cinematic… and in my telling, it turns into something unforgettable.
