Kansas State's class advantage looms large over Tulane

The gap between these two is not subtle. Kansas State enters ranked 25th in FBS, 26 spots ahead of Tulane at No. 51, and Versus grades the Wildcats A across the board on offense, defense and overall play. Tulane checks in at C or C+ in every major category, a full letter grade behind almost across the line.

Kansas State is one of just 19 FBS teams graded in the Versus top 25 in both offense and defense, and that balance shows in the matchup: Tulane's No. 96 scoring offense in FBS runs into a Kansas State defense ranked 13th. The Wildcats also arrive undefeated at 2-0, having climbed into the Versus top 25 for the first time this season after beating Washington St.

Tulane is not without stability. The Green Wave have not finished below .500 since 2021, and their defense is capable enough at 73rd nationally to keep this from getting fully out of hand. Their offensive rank of 96 is the bigger concern against a Kansas State defense playing at an A level.

This is a non-conference game, so nothing in either team's conference standing is at stake. Versus projects Kansas State to win 39-12, giving the Wildcats a 93 percent chance, continuing where the teams left off in their last meeting in September 2024, a 34-27 Kansas State win.