No. 15 Kansas State hosts Troy on Saturday, Sept. 9. The game will be live streamed on fuboTV (free trial).

The Wildcats began last season with a shutout of South Dakota, ran roughshod through Missouri in Week 2, then faced a team from Tulane that the Wildcats were expected to beat at home.

They were dumped 17-10 and left searching for answers.

The Wildcats quickly found them, beating Oklahoma the following week and rolling to the Big 12 title game, where they beat College Football Playoff participant TCU for the championship. Those answers have stuck with the No. 15 Wildcats through a shutout of Southeast Missouri State to open the season and with Troy visiting Saturday — a team much like the Green Wave, talented and successful.

Perhaps the Wildcats (1-0) were overconfident a year ago. Or maybe they were looking ahead to their trip to Oklahoma. Whatever the reason, coach Chris Klieman’s bunch look nothing like the team that beat the Sooners when they lost to Tulane.

Indeed, the Trojans (1-0) played Ole Miss tough a year ago, and South Carolina down to the wire in 2021. They have two wins over Big 12 teams, beating ex-member Missouri in 2004 and Oklahoma State three years later. And they were 12-2 last season, winning the Sun Belt and the Cure Bowl while finishing 19th in the final AP Top 25 poll.

They opened last week with a 48-30 win over perennial FCS power Stephen F. Austin.

When is Kansas State-Troy?

Kansas State and Troy play at 11 a.m. (noon ET) on Saturday, Sept. 9.

Will it be live streamed?

FuboTV

The game will be live streamed on fuboTV, which offers a free trial. The most basic of plans is the “fubo pro” package, which comprises 146-plus channels for $74.99 per month. Like all cord-cutting alternatives, there are plenty of options, especially for sports. It comes with more than 1,000 hours of cloud-based DVR, and up to 10 screens at once.

There is also the “fubo elite” package, which comprises 205-plus channels for $84.99 per month. It comes with fuboExtra (48 more channels) and News Plus (11 more channels). Plus, more than 1,000 hours of cloud-based DVR, and up to 10 screens at once.

The “fubo premiere” package is “fubo elite” with the addition of Showtime for $94.99 per month.

Will it be televised?

Kansas State and Troy will be broadcast on FS1.

Preview

TROJANS’ HORSE: Troy running back Kimani Vidal ran for a school-record 248 yards on 25 carries a week ago. He’s eclipsed 200 yards in three of his last five games, and Vidal needs just 845 yards the rest of the season to break the school’s career rushing mark.

“He had some big home runs,” Klieman said. “He’s a physical runner. He’s got great vision, great quickness.”

NON-POWER FIVE WOES: Along with losing to Tulane last season, the Wildcats lost to Arkansas State in their only non-conference game during the 2020 season, which was altered dramatically by the COVID-19 pandemic. Meanwhile, Kansas State is 3-0 against non-conference Power Five opponents during that stretch, beating Mississippi State, Stanford and Missouri.

K-STATE’S QB2: Klieman said not to read too much into the fact that freshman Avery Johnson got second-team reps against Southeast Missouri State. He has been competing with Jake Rubley for the job, but the veteran quarterback was nicked up heading into the opener and sat it out. Johnson was 3 of 4 for 55 yards with 35 yards rushing and a touchdown.

TROY IS STREAKING: The Trojans have won 12 straight games, the second-longest active streak in the nation behind the 18-game of top-ranked and defending national champion Georgia. Troy’s winning streak, which began after a loss at Appalachian State last September, is its longest since the 1987-88 seasons, when the Trojans were still a Division II school.

POTENTIAL REINFORCEMENTS: The Wildcats hope to have Iowa transfer Keagan Johnson available after the wide receiver missed the opener with an undisclosed injury. They also will get North Dakota State transfer Marques Sigle back after the safety was suspended for Week 1. Both of the newcomers earned rave reviews throughout fall camp and fill significant positions of need for Kansas State.

“Trending towards being able to play,” Klieman said of Johnson. “We’ll just have to play it as the week goes.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.