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Kansas State, Rutgers to Meet in Guaranteed Rate Bowl

Updated: 21 minutes ago

Kansas State Quarterback Avery Johnson — © Scott Sewell-Imagn Images

Kansas State (8-4) will play Rutgers (7-5) in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl at 5:30 p.m. EST on Dec. 26 at Chase Field in Phoenix. Rutgers ended its season winning three of the last four games while Kansas State lost three of its last four games. These two teams have one previous meeting, the 2006 Texas Bowl where Rutgers came away victorious 37-10.

The Rutgers defense gives up 381.5 yards and 23.8 points per game. The offense, led by quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis, scores 27.9 points and gains 381.2 yards per game.

Kansas State, led by quarterback Avery Johnson, scores 29.7 points and gains 417.3 yards per game. The defense gives up 21.9 points and 338.6 yards per game.

Key Bowl Game Opt-Outs

Kansas State had a few key players enter the Transfer Portal, receivers Tre Spivey and Keagan Johnson. Possibly the most noteworthy transfer out for K-State is starting offensive tackle Carver Willis who entered the portal before the bowl game. Starting running back DJ Giddens and cornerback Jacob Parrish also opted out in preparation for the NFL Draft.

Rutgers has not had as many players opt-out as K-State has. Still, three players, including wide receiver Chris Long, defensive end Wesley Bailey and linebacker Timmy Hinspeter, have hit the portal. Star running back Kyle Monangai has opted out of the game while key players on defense, including linebacker Tyreem Powell and defensive tackle Kyonte Hamilton among others, will play.

Key Players: Kansas State

Dylan Edwards, Running Back

This game will be the first time the sophomore running back has been the featured running back in his college career. He has run for 350 yards and 3 touchdowns with 106 yards receiving and a touchdown this season. Edwards is the type of player who can break one and take it to the house when he gets the ball in his hands. The Rutgers defense gives up 147 yards rushing on the ground per game and they will have their hands full with Edwards and Johnson and the K-State rushing attack.

VJ Payne, Safety

Payne is a hard-hitting safety who fills run gaps well and can make you pay if you make a bad throw. He is second on the team with 61 tackles and 2 interceptions. Rutgers is a balanced team that can run the ball well with an efficient quarterback that has only thrown 6 interceptions on the season. K-State will have to capitalize on any mistakes that may happen in this game to win the game.

Key Players: Rutgers

Athan Kaliakmanis, Quarterback

Kaliakmanis has thrown for 2,459 yards, 17 touchdowns and 6 interceptions on the season. The Kansas State defense has given up big plays in the passing game at times this season. If Rutgers is looking to pull off this win he will have to complete some shots downfield to loosen up the stiff Wildcats rushing defense.

Dariel Djabome, Linebacker

He comes into this game with 102 tackles, 3 sacks and 2 forced fumbles. While the Kansas State offense can be explosive they have had some moments of being stagnant. Djabome will have to play sound defense while leading the Scarlet Knights and be prepared for some mistakes that are made by the youthful Johnson for K-State.

What the Rate Bowl Means

In the landscape of college football, the non-playoff bowl games are losing their meaning. Both of these coaching staffs will use this game to build momentum into the offseason and develop young players through practice and game experience.