Kansas State’s defense is no longer safe from criticism. After a sluggish start to the season capped off by a disappointing loss to Arizona, the Wildcats’ defense is failing to meet the standard that has defined this program for decades. From the trenches to the linebackers to the secondary, nothing is clicking — and the numbers back it up. In this episode of Locked On Kansas State, we dig deep into: Linebacker struggles: Austin Romaine’s worst game in purple, Gabe Powers’ limited snaps, and why Rex Van Wyhe was the only bright spot. Run defense collapse: Kansas State ranks 113th nationally, giving up 234 yards on the ground to Arizona — a stat that mirrors some of the worst defenses in the country. Secondary signs of life: Zionne Rich’s ironman performance, Quay Moss’ breakout, and why tackling grades from the back end might be the lone silver lining. Trenches & pass rush woes: Just three sacks and 10 hurries on 83 defensive snaps — nowhere near enough pressure to disrupt opposing quarterbacks. Red zone disaster: Opponents are scoring at an 83% clip inside the 20, a number that could sink the Wildcats in Big 12 play. The question isn’t just what’s wrong with Kansas State’s defense — it’s whether Chris Klieman and Joe Klanderman can fix it fast enough to salvage the season. With Big 12 play looming, the Wildcats need answers immediately. Subscribe, drop your take on who the defensive MVP has been so far, and join the conversation as we hold this unit accountable. Locked On College Conferences, HBCU, Basketball & More 🎧 https://linktr.ee/LockedOnCollege Follow on Twitter: https://x.com/lockedonKState Follow the show on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3HhcfyjaoLGxYjsL1KmSZM #KansasState #KansasStateFootball #KansasStateWildcats #NCAA #CollegeFootball Big 12 Conference: Arizona Wildcats, Arizona State Sun Devils, Baylor Bears, BYU Cougars, UCF Knights, Cincinnati Bearcats, Colorado Buffaloes, Houston Cougars, Iowa State Cyclones, Kansas Jayhawks, Kansas State Wildcats, Oklahoma State Cowboys, TCU Horned Frogs, Texas Tech Red Raiders, Utah Utes, West Virginia Mountaineers Locked on Kansas State

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