The Stanford Cardinal enter the 2021 season after a 4-2 year in 2020 eager to get a complete season in. There is a QB battler between Jack West and Tanner Mckee with McKee expected to get the start in week 1. Brycen Tremayne and Michael Wilson will step into the roles of primary target this year for which ever QB takes the helm. Stanford will feature a 3 back set with Austin Jones leading the charge as the teams #1 back.
Stanford had a lackluster year defensively giving up points in bunches at times but with 8 of the 11 starter back this season the Cardinal will improve on that side of the ball. Levan Damuni will step into the defensive leader position coming off a 2020 season in which he posted 42 tackles in only 6 games. The secondary allowed just over 200 yards per game in 2020 and will welcome 3 out of 4 guys back looking to improve the numbers from a year ago.
Kansas State enters the 2021 season looking to improve off of a 4-6 record in 2020. QB Skylar Thompson got hurt early in the year last season but is back healthy and will be back under center immediately improving the Wildcats offense. Deuce Vaughn will be in the backfield again returning as a top weapon for Kansas State with 640+ yards and 7 touchdowns in 2020. Malik Knowles and Chabastain Taylor will see the majority of throws for the receiving group.
The Wildcats struggled defensively ranking int the bottom of most categories within the conference. Several key pieces are gone from last year meaning the pieces returning will be Vitale. Transfer Tommy Horne and Eli Huggins will form a strong duo for the Wildcats expected to make big plays. There are many questions still to be answered for the defense but the pieces are there to be productive.
