1998 Kansas State Wildcats football team

The 1998 Kansas State Wildcats football team represented Kansas State University in the 1998 NCAA Division I-A football season. The team's head football coach was Bill Snyder. The Wildcats played their home games in KSU Stadium. 1998 saw the Wildcats finish with a record of 11–2, and an 8–0 record in Big 12 Conference play.

The Wildcats finished the regular season undefeated (11–0) and were ranked second in the nation ahead of their match-up with tenth-ranked Texas A&M in the 1998 Big 12 Championship Game. Kansas State lost in overtime, losing their chance at a national championship.

After the Big 12 Championship Game, Kansas State did not receive a spot in the inaugural Bowl Championship Series despite being ranked in its top four as well as the highest ranked non-champion from any conference. They also were not invited to the Cotton Bowl Classic in Dallas, as the conference runner-up typically would be, or the Holiday Bowl in San Diego, which at the time was contracted to invite the third place team in the conference; those bowls chose Texas and Nebraska instead. Instead, Kansas State was invited to the Alamo Bowl, where it lost to the unranked Purdue Boilermakers, who drove 80 yards for a touchdown in the final minute to defeat Kansas State 37–34.

Following the end of the season, a new rule was created. Nicknamed the "Kansas State Rule", the #3 ranked team would always have an automatic bid to a BCS bowl game.

The Wildcats finished the season as the top scoring team in NCAA Division I-A (at 48 points per game), and set a school record for points scored with 610.

Indiana State
First Quarter KSU- Bishop 1-yard run (Gramatica kick) 7:13 KSU - DeAndrea Robinson 6-yard blocked punt (Gramatica kick) 5:46 KSU - Eric Hickson 7-yard run (Gramatica kick) 3:22

Second Quarter KSU - Bishop 8-yard run (Gramatica kick) 7:26 KSU - Allen 63-yard punt return (Gramatica kick) 5:17 KSU- Gramatica 55-yard field goal 0:09

Third Quarter KSU - Gavin Peries 58-yard pass from Bishop (Gramatica kick) 12:12 KSU - Brian Goolsby 7-yard run (Gramatica kick) 6:51

Fourth Quarter KSU - David Conley 3-yard run (Gramatica kick) 14:54 KSU - Marlon Charles 39-yard run (Gramatica kick) 11:43

Northern Illinois
First Quarter KSU - Allen 1-yard run (Gramatica kick) 8:18 KSU - Allen 69-yard punt return (Shad Meier pass from Jeremy Milne) 7:10 NIU - Bill Andrews 1-yard run (Clark kick) 2:43 KSU - Gramatica 46-yard field goal 1:33 KSU - Cooper 15-yard interception return (Gramatica kick) 1:12

Second Quarter KSU - Bishop 2-yard run (Gramatica kick) 14:05 KSU - Bishop 2-yard run (Gramatica kick) 9:46 KSU - Hickson 36 pass from Bishop (Gramatica kick) 8:01 KSU - Gramatica 37-yard field goal 4:10 KSU - Marlon Charles 4-yard run (Gramatica kick) 2:35 KSU - Gramatica 65-yard field goal 0:02

Third Quarter KSU - McDonald 27 pass from Bishop (Gramatica kick) 10:20

Fourth Quarter KSU - Helm 5-yard run (Goodnow kick) 13:03

Texas
Kansas State welcomed Texas for their first Big 12 Conference matchup, and first meeting since 1942, and Texas' first trip to Manhattan since 1926. 1998 Heisman Trophy winner Ricky Williams was held to just 43 yards on 25 carries for an average of just 1.7 yards per carry. He did not score in the game. Williams averaged 202 rushing yards per game in 1998 and was held to a season low 43 yards, his next lowest yardage output was 90 yards against Oklahoma State. K-State racked up 223 yards on the ground on 51 carries and the Wildcats won handily, 48–7.

First Quarter KSU - Eric Hickson 44 run (Gramatica kick)

Second Quarter KSU - McDonald 7 pass from Bishop (Gramatica kick) KSU - Allen 93-yard punt return (Gramatica kick) KSU - Kelly 17 interception return (Gramatica kick) KSU - Bishop 1-yard run (Gramatica kick)

Fourth Quarter UT - McGarity 13 pass from Applewhite (Stockton kick) KSU - McDonald 7 pass from Bishop (kick blocked) KSU - Charles 2 run (Gramatica kick)

Northeast Louisiana
First Quarter KSU - Lockett 33 pass from Bishop (Gramatica kick) NELA - Spencer 1 pass from Vige (Babineaux kick)

Second Quarter KSU - Hickson 4 run (Gramatica kick) KSU - Gramatica 39-yard field goal

Third Quarter KSU - Gramatica 24-yard field goal KSU - Lockett 97 pass from Bishop (Gramatica kick) KSU - Hickson 19 run (Gramatica kick) KSU - Swift 28 pass from Bishop (Gramatica kick)

Fourth Quarter KSU - McDonald 22 pass from Bishop (Gramatica kick) KSU - Hickson 5 run (Gramatica kick) KSU - Charles 7 run (Gramatica kick)

At #14 Colorado
Kansas State beat Colorado for the second consecutive year (only their second win against the Buffaloes since 1984) and won their first game in Boulder since 1973. K-State came to Boulder with a 2-24 all-time record in games played in Boulder. K-State came to Colorado beating the opposition by an average of 57 points a game, and had a defense which had allowed a total of 21 points in its first 4 games. Colorado was a 17-point underdog and had only lost once in the last 13 seasons to the Wildcats. Colorado held K-State, which was averaging 470 yards and 62 points coming into the game, to 332 yards and just 16 points. Colorado had just 225 yards of total offense, including 37 yards rushing on 31 attempts.

First Quarter KSU - Gramatica 30-yard field goal

Second Quarter KSU - Goolsby 2-yard run (Gramatica kick)

Third Quarter KSU - Gramatica 34-yard field goal

Fourth Quarter KSU - Gramatica 41-yard field goal 4:10 CU - Stiggers 5-yard pass from Moschetti (pass failed) CU - Aldrich 20-yard field goal

Oklahoma State
First Quarter KSU - Bishop 1-yard run (Gramatica kick) OSU - Sydnes 32 yard FG KSU - Lockett 59 pass from Bishop (Gramatica kick)

Second Quarter OSU - Sydnes 40 yard FG KSU - Lockett 81 pass from Bishop (Gramatica kick) KSU - Murphy 46 pass from Bishop (Gramatica kick) OSU - Richardson 14 pass from Tony Lindsay (Sydnes kick)

Third Quarter KSU - Gramatica 43-yard field goal KSU - Murphy 2 run (Gramatica kick)

Fourth Quarter OSU - Rivers 6 pass from Chaloupka (Sydnes kick) KSU - Bishop 3-yard run (Gramatica kick) KSU - Hickson 22-yard run (Gramatica kick)

Iowa State
First Quarter KSU - Hickson 5-yard run (Gramatica kick) KSU - Lockett 13 pass from Bishop (Gramatica kick)

Second Quarter KSU - McDonald 20 pass from Bishop (Gramatica kick) KSU - Peries 30 pass from Bishop (Gramatica kick)

Third Quarter KSU - Helm 1 run (Gramatica kick)

Fourth Quarter KSU - Gramatica 31-yard field goal KSU - Goolsby 9 run (Gramatica kick) ISU - Groce 14 pass from Bandhauer (Kohl kick) KSU - Murphy 11 run (Gramatica kick)

At Kansas
First Quarter KSU - Bishop 10-yard run (Gramatica kick)

Second Quarter KSU - Gramatica 30-yard field goal KSU - Gramatica 45-yard field goal KU - Chandler 8 pass from Alexander (kick failed) KSU - Murphy 1 run (Gramatica kick) KSU - Gramatica 36-yard field goal

Third Quarter KSU - Swift 1 pass from Bishop (Gramatica kick) KSU - Hickson 9-yard run (Gramatica kick) KSU - Gramatica 26-yard field goal

Fourth Quarter KSU - Bishop 9-yard run (Gramatica kick) KSU - Charles 31-yard run (Gramatica kick)

At Baylor
First Quarter KSU - Hickson 22-yard run 13:33 (Gramatica kick) KSU - Lockett 37 pass from Bishop (Gramatica kick) 11:44

Second Quarter KSU - McDonald 6 pass from Bishop (Gramatica kick) 8:06

Third Quarter BU - Bryant 26 FG 5:53 KSU - Goolsby 24 run 2:51 (Gramatica kick)

Fourth Quarter BU - Bryant 45 FG 13:25 KSU - Bishop 1-yard run 9:22 (Gramatica kick) KSU - Allen 77-yard punt return (Gramatica kick) 5:28 KSU - Helm 1 run (Gramatica kick) 0:00

Nebraska
Michael Bishop threw for 306 yards and 2 touchdowns, and ran for 140 yards and two more scores as the Wildcats finally broke through against the Huskers. Kansas State beat Nebraska for the first time since 1968 (for a total of 10,962 days) and the first time in Manhattan since 1959. With the win and Missouri's loss to Texas A&M the same day, Kansas State clinched the Big 12 North Division and a bid in the Big 12 Championship game.

First Quarter NU - Jackson 7 pass from Crouch 11:29 (Brown kick) KSU - Bishop 2-yard run 3:32 (Gramatica kick)

Second Quarter NU - Cheatham 45 pass from Crouch 11:00 (Brown kick) NU - Brown 18 FG 4:55 KSU - Bishop 1-yard run 0:49 (Gramatica kick)

Third Quarter KSU - McDonald 20 pass from Bishop (Gramatica kick) 8:20 KSU - Gramatica 26-yard field goal 5:03 NU - Brown 74 yard fumble return (Brown kick) 1:05

Fourth Quarter KSU - Gramatica 21-yard field goal 10:57 NU - Jackson 9 pass from Crouch 8:22 (kick failed) KSU - McDonald 11 pass from Bishop (Gramatica kick) 5:25 KSU - Kelly 17 interception return (2PC failed) 0:03

At #19 Missouri
Kansas State visited Columbia with their national title hopes very much alive and were able to squeak out a 31–25 victory. School rushing career record Eric Hickson missed the game with a high ankle sprain and was replaced by Marlon Charles, David Allen, and Frank Murphy in the backfield. Kansas State's running back depth was further affected when Marlon Charles suffered a broken hip in the third quarter. Second team All-American kicker Martin Gramatica uncharacteristically missed two field goals. Punt returner David Allen nearly returned his seventh career punt return for a touchdown, setting up a nine yard Frank Murphy touchdown run for Kansas State to go up 24-13 in the third quarter. Kansas State's Keith Black downed a late punt at the two foot line to cause Missouri to have to try to drive 99 yards to win or tie on their final drive, and Frank Murphy fell on his own fumble in the end zone for a touchdown to help to preserve a Kansas State win. The Wildcats won their sixth consecutive game over the Tigers (they would eventually extend the streak to 13 games).

First Quarter KSU - Peries 30 pass from Bishop (Gramatica kick)

Second Quarter KSU - Gramatica 48-yard field goal MU - Jones 5 yard run (Long kick) MU - Wise 20 pass from Jones (kick failed)

Third Quarter KSU - Bishop 1-yard run 0:49 (Gramatica kick) KSU - Murphy 9 run (Gramatica kick) MU - Long 21 FG

Fourth Quarter MU - Dausman 20 pass from Jones (pass failed) KSU - Murphy fumble recovery in end zone (Gramatica kick) MU - Long 29 FG

Texas A&M (Big 12 Championship)
K-State lost in devastating fashion in double overtime and lost their chance at playing in the National Championship.

Purdue (Alamo Bowl)
Kansas State had 125 yards in penalties, 7 turnovers, and allowed the Boilermakers to drive 80 yards in only 54 seconds for the game-winning touchdown.

Postseason Awards

 * Bill Snyder – Named Big 12 Coach of the Year, Paul "Bear" Bryant Award, Walter Camp Coach of the Year, AP Coach of the Year, Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Award
 * Michael Bishop – Davey O'Brien Award, Heisman Trophy runner-up, All-American, First-Team All-Big 12
 * Jeff Kelly – Consensus All-American, First-Team All-Big 12
 * Martín Gramática – Consensus All-American, First-Team All-Big 12
 * David Allen – Consensus All-American, First-Team All-Big 12
 * Ryan Young – First-Team All-Big 12
 * Darnell McDonald – First-Team All-Big 12
 * Darren Howard – First-Team All-Big 12
 * Jarrod Cooper – First-Team All-Big 12