Kansas State football coach Bill Snyder enters every bowl season with two goals.
First, he wants to prepare the Wildcats for their postseason game. Second, he wants to begin building toward the future.
This time around, they were equal goals.
Though the Texas Bowl was the end of an era for some K-State players, it was a transitional game for most. The future appeared bright for the Wildcats, win or lose. But it seems especially bright after a 33-28 victory over Texas A&M.
K-State went 9-4 — tied for its best season since 2012 or “two plays away” from 11-2 as Snyder puts it, referencing narrow losses to Oklahoma State and West Virginia — during the regular season with a young roster that featured seven seniors as full-time starters.