The Kansas State football team will not play in a bowl game this postseason, even though the Wildcats are eligible to do so.
K-State has opted to decline a bowl invitation following Chris Klieman’s unexpected retirement earlier this week.
That decision comes with a high price tag. The Big 12 has announced a $500,000 fine for the Wildcats.
In a statement, the league acknowledged that the timing around a coaching change can be difficult but felt a fine was necessary because the Big 12 is responsible for fulfilling its contractual obligations to its bowl partners. Iowa State has been fined the same amount for also choosing not to play in a bowl game.
K-State athletic director Gene Taylor announced the decision to decline a bowl invitation Sunday morning, after he spoke with K-State football players, coaches and Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark.
“Following our recent coaching change and conversations with our player leadership and Commissioner Yormark, I determined that we will not accept a bowl invitation on Sunday,” Taylor said. “This decision was not taken lightly, but with our coaching staff transition and several uncertainties regarding player availability, I felt it was not in our best interest to try to field a team that was not representative of Kansas State University.”
Elsewhere, Notre Dame also declined a bowl invitation after it was snubbed by the College Football Playoff.
K-State was a prime candidate to play in a number of bowl games after it finished the regular season with a 6-6 record.
The most likely landing spot appeared to be the Independence Bowl in Shreveport, Louisiana. But the Wildcats were also in the running for the Rate Bowl, Liberty Bowl and others.
K-State players publicly said they were looking forward to a bowl game after they finished the regular season with a home victory over Colorado. But that was before Klieman announced his retirement.
Collin Klein has since been hired to replace him as head football coach in Manhattan.
That, as much as anything, made it difficult for the Wildcats to send a team to the postseason.
Some fans hoped Klieman would want to coach one more game. But he informed Taylor that he was not interested. Klieman spent the weekend in Fargo, North Dakota, watching his son coach for North Dakota State in an FCS playoff game.
K-State could have pivoted to an interim coaching staff, but that proved challenging with many members of Klieman’s staff already seeking new jobs as Klein works to bring in his own assistants.
Immediately after Klieman’s retirement, Taylor said he would leave the team’s bowl fate up to a vote from players. But it’s unclear if that ever took place.
The Wildcats had played in a bowl game in each of the past four seasons.
“We applaud this group for fighting back from a 2-4 record to lead us to bowl eligibility yet again,” Taylor said, “and we are happy that our seniors were able to go out on top with a victory inside Bill Snyder Family Stadium.”
