Blake Barnett to Start Against Oklahoma State as Kansas State Waits on Avery Johnson

Blake Barnett will start at quarterback for Kansas State against Oklahoma State on Saturday, coach Collin Klein said, while Avery Johnson remains sidelined by an undisclosed injury.

Klein said Johnson still has an outside chance to play again this season, although the coach indicated his absence was looking more prolonged. Jacob Knuth is also trending toward being unavailable this week, according to Kansas State’s Tuesday report.

Barnett earned the assignment after replacing Dillon Duff during the first quarter at Colorado. He completed 18 of 28 passes for 224 yards and three touchdowns and ran 16 times for 40 yards in the Wildcats’ 27–24 overtime loss.

Klein said Barnett had been scheduled to enter that game even before the change was made. His performance then persuaded the staff to keep him on the field.

Kansas State is 4–4 overall and 1–4 in Big 12 play. Oklahoma State enters the game 5–3 overall and 3–2 in the conference.

The new starting decision follows the earlier quarterback injury changes before Colorado. Klein has not announced a return date for Johnson.