The K-State Wildcats are now 2-0 after pouncing on Missouri 40-12 last Saturday. Last week’s win was out of the ordinary with the rain delay interrupting the momentum K-State had going into the break. Running back Deuce Vaughn talked about how the team kept its mojo throughout the near hour delay.

The win meant a lot to the Cats. The game meant more to players who were recruited by the Tigers like wide receiver Phillip Brooks whose dream school was Missouri. He contributed in a big way with a 76-yard punt return for a touchdown after the delay.

Now they take on the Tulane Green Wave (2-0) out of the American conference. This is only their second game versus an American conference opponent with the first being against Navy in the 2019 Liberty Bowl. The last time they played a team that is currently in the American during the regular season was 2010 when they defeated UCF 17-13. The league formed in 2013.

K-State has played Tulane only once in a 20-16 loss in New Orleans in 1988. It was the first time K-State had ever played a football game indoors.

Head coach Chris Klieman has started 3-0 in two of his first three years at K-State and he’s looking to do it again with a win on Saturday.

Tulane’s head coach Willie Fritz is in his seventh season with a record of 33-43. Him and Klieman know each other from when Fritz was the defensive coordinator at Sam Houston State and Klieman was at North Dakota State.

Last season, Tulane played Oklahoma in Norman, but it was supposed to be in New Orleans. Hurricane Ida’s impact on the city forced the game to be played at OU.

The Green Wave had a chance to win the game with 2:18 left after they recovered an onside. Trailing 40-35 with a fourth and 13, quarterback Michael Pratt was unable to convert while trying to run for the first down marker.

Their 2021 season would spiral from that point as they went just 2-10 with their only wins coming against Morgan State and USF.

Pratt is back for his junior season, and he is off to a solid start. Tulane has already matched their win total from a year ago, and they have looked good in doing so.

Pratt has been solid so far with some throws into tight coverage and some long runs when faced with pressure. He has a completion percentage of 70.7% on 41 passes with five touchdowns.

The Green Wave have not faced much competition, though, as they mowed over UMass in Week 1 42-10 and FCS opponent Alcorn State last Saturday 52-0.

They will face a K-State defense that has five interceptions so far this season which is the most through the first two games since 2000. They have only allowed six points per game this season which is the fifth-best scoring defense in the country.

The “lynch mob” also has the third best passing defense, fourth best red zone defense, fifteenth best total defense and sixteenth best turnover margin.

As for the offense, they have 531 rushing yards which is the most in the Big 12 and the sixth most in the country.

Vaughn looks to continue a couple of streaks that can cement him in the K-State history books. Vaughn has nine consecutive games with a rushing touchdown which is the second most in school history on behind Collin Klein’s 12 back in 2012. He also has eight straight games with 100 or more rushing yards which is the second most behind Darren Sproles’ record of 10 straight.

Quarterback Adrian Martinez needs to show flashes that he can really sling it this week. Through two games, Martinez has the fourth lowest QBR (34.0) among Power 5 quarterbacks. He has yet to throw a touchdown this season and only has 155 yards and a completion percentage of just 54.0%.

Klieman talked with his quarterback on the sideline about their strategy for the second half. Martinez said he was willing to do whatever it took to win, even if it meant not having the passing game being as heavily involved.

Another area they can clean things up from last week is the number of penalties. They had eight penalties for 68 yards with a lot of them coming at pinnacle points of their offensive drives.

Coach Klieman said he wasn’t worried about the penalties immediately after the win, but he said he will look at the tape and improve on those in practice this week.

Saturday’s game is generating a lot of excitement with K-State debuting brand new helmets with white pants. It will be the first time they have worn alternate uniforms since 2019.

Prediction: K-State 52, Tulane 10.

Kickoff will be at 2 p.m. and pregame will start at noon. You can listen to the game on KNZA 103.9 FM and on KMZA 92.1 FM.