Kansas State Wildcats football is stepping into a transformative chapter as the 2026 campaign approaches, and no storyline carries more weight than what unfolds under center.
The Wildcats reshaped their program this offseason, beginning with the hiring of former K-State quarterback and 2012 Heisman Trophy finalist Collin Klein after Chris Klieman announced his retirement in December. With kickoff drawing closer, momentum is building around the program’s fresh leadership — including first-year quarterbacks coach Christian Ellsworth — and expectations are rising fast in Manhattan.
Christian Ellsworth’s resume and what it means to be a Kansas State quarterback
Ellsworth takes on his first quarterbacks coaching assignment heading into 2026. Before returning to The Little Apple, he was the starting quarterback at Northern Iowa Panthers football from 2016 through 2019.
He later reunited with Klein at Texas A&M Aggies football, serving two seasons in 2024 as a senior offensive analyst and tight ends coach.
His coaching journey also included stops at South Carolina Gamecocks football as a graduate assistant and at Nebraska Cornhuskers football as an offensive analyst. Earlier in his career, Ellsworth worked at Kansas State from 2020–21 as a graduate assistant. Now he returns to the place where his coaching path began, fitting perfectly with Klein’s philosophy: “it’s family business.”
According to Ellsworth, the Wildcats’ quarterback position is not merely among the nation’s best — it stands above the rest.
“It’s a position at K-State that has a rich tradition of success and history,” Ellsworth reportedly said in a release by Kansas State Athletics. “It’s a tremendous honor.”
Ellsworth praises Avery Johnson ahead of the 2026 season
Ellsworth has consistently highlighted the development and upside of third-year quarterback Avery Johnson, who started every game last season for the Wildcats.
“I think he’s one of the best in the country,” Ellsworth said. “There’s a lot of work left to prove that, but we have all the pieces aligned to get that done.”
Johnson began his collegiate career in 2023 backing up former Kansas State signal-caller Will Howard. Howard later captured a national championship as QB1 for the Ohio State Buckeyes football in 2024. Though Johnson did not start as a freshman, he remained committed to the program rather than entering the transfer portal.
Across the past two seasons, Johnson has thrown for 43 touchdowns and eclipsed 5,000 passing yards, completing 59 percent of his throws in 2025. He finished that season 11th in the Big 12 in passing, trailing current Devon Dampier of the Utah Utes football. His 146.8 quarterback rating ranked among the top five starters at his position.
“It’s been awesome watching [Johnson] grow as a leader on and off the field,” Ellsworth said. “He’s incredibly smart, [and] he wants to be challenged as well.”
Kansas State will enjoy seven home games in 2026, highlighted by the return of the Dillons Sunflower Showdown to Manhattan. The Wildcats are set to host Houston, Kansas, Oklahoma State and Arizona in conference play.
Nonconference home matchups include Nicholls, Washington State and Tulane. Meanwhile, road trips to Cincinnati, Arizona State, Colorado, TCU and Iowa State round out what promises to be a defining schedule in this new era of Wildcats football.