Upcoming Kansas State Wildcats Football dates
Dates and live ticket listings appear here as soon as they are on sale. The guide below covers what to know before you buy.
Kansas State football: the Snyder turnaround and after
The Kansas State Wildcats play home football games at Bill Snyder Family Stadium in Manhattan, Kansas, an open-air stadium with an official capacity of 50,000. Home games run from late August or early September through late November, and K-State has played in the Big 12 since the conference began in 1996.
For most of its history, K-State was one of the weakest programs in major college football. When Bill Snyder arrived in 1989, the team had gone 27 games without a win and held the worst all-time record in Division I-A. What followed is widely regarded as one of the great rebuilding jobs in the sport: the program's first bowl win (the 1993 Copper Bowl), an 11–0 regular season and No. 1 ranking in 1998, 108 straight weeks in the AP poll from 1995 to 2001, and a Big 12 title in 2003, the school's first conference championship since 1934. Snyder retired, returned in 2009, won another Big 12 title in 2012 and retired for good after 2018 with 215 wins. He is in the College Football Hall of Fame.
The program added a third Big 12 championship in 2022, beating TCU in the title game and playing in its first Sugar Bowl. The Powercat logo, introduced in 1989, became the symbol of the modern program.
Where to sit at Bill Snyder Family Stadium
The stadium is a bowl with the field running north to south. Each side has a distinct character, and knowing them makes choosing a seat easier.
- West side: the limestone West Side Stadium Center, opened in 2013, holds the press box, suites, club and loge seats, the main concourse and the Tailgate Terrace. The Bill Snyder statue stands in front.
- East side: the side with the upper deck, added after the 1998 season, plus a club and upper-deck concessions.
- North end: the Vanier Football Complex and the team entrance.
- South end: the Shamrock Zone, opened in 2021, a premium club area that connects the stadium to Bramlage Coliseum.
Student section and band
Students enter through Gate G and sit in a first-come, first-served general-admission section. The Pride of Wildcat Land marching band returned to Section 26, in the middle of the student section, in 2022. Seats near the student section are the loudest in the building; families may prefer a quieter spot.
Sun and sideline choice
With a north–south field, the afternoon sun drops into the western sky, so the east sideline faces it during a day game while the west side, under the press box, has it at its back. Lower-level sideline seats between the 30-yard lines give the best view; the east upper deck is farther away but shows the whole field. Early-season day games can be hot, and late-November games on the Kansas plains can be cold and windy.
Sunflower Showdown, Farmageddon and the big home games
- Kansas: the Sunflower Showdown, first played in 1902 and every year since 1911, is one of the longest continuous series in college football. The winner receives the Governor's Cup. Kansas leads the all-time series, but K-State has won the large majority of the games since the late 1980s.
- Iowa State: played every year since 1917, the longest uninterrupted series in the sport. Fans call it "Farmageddon" after neutral-site games in Kansas City in 2009 and 2010; the 2025 game was played in Dublin, Ireland.
- Colorado: a former Big Eight and Big 12 rival that rejoined the conference in 2024.
- Former rivals: Nebraska, Missouri and Oklahoma have left for other conferences. K-State's 1998 win over Nebraska ended a 29-game losing streak in that series, and the 2000 Nebraska game drew 53,811, still the stadium record.
The Kansas game, when it is in Manhattan, is usually the hottest ticket of the year, followed by ranked Big 12 visitors, homecoming in late October and night games. Early non-conference games are the easiest and least expensive way in.
Willie's push-ups, Harley Day and K-State traditions
- Willie the Wildcat: the mascot does push-ups after K-State scores, one for each point, followed by a "K-S-U, Wildcats" cheer.
- "Good for a Wildcat first down": since the 1990s, the public-address announcer's first-down call has become a call-and-response, with fans finishing the phrase and the arm motion.
- Harley Day: since 1998, a parade of motorcycles circles the field during the pregame show, led by Willie in biker gear.
- Fort Riley Day: an annual game honoring soldiers and families from nearby Fort Riley, often with a flyover and military vehicles on display; it tends to draw large crowds.
- EMAW: short for "Every Man a Wildcat," a phrase that dates to the old Ahearn Field press box.
The Pride of Wildcat Land performs a pregame show built around the alma mater, "Wildcat Victory" and "Wabash Cannonball." Tailgating fills the lots around the stadium and Bramlage Coliseum. As of the 2026 season, parking lots open five hours before kickoff; check K-State Athletics for current lots and permits before you go.
How K-State football tickets work
K-State sells season tickets first, and seat locations are tied to the Ahearn Fund, the athletics donor organization, which uses a priority points system to rank buyers. Students buy an athletic pass that renews automatically each year, then claim a ticket for each game in advance through the K-State Sports app; the pass does not guarantee admission to every game when demand is high. Single-game tickets go on sale to the public after renewals, and tickets are mobile.
Because season ticket holders and students take most of the stadium, single-game seats for the Kansas game and ranked conference visitors can be scarce, and the resale market is often the main way in. Demand rises when K-State is ranked and for night games, and it softens for early non-conference games. Every GoodSeats order includes guaranteed entry.
Bill Snyder Family Stadium bag policy and entry
As of the 2026 season, K-State's posted stadium policies allow clear, non-tinted plastic, vinyl or PVC bags up to 12 by 6 by 12 inches, plus a small clutch under 5.5 by 7.5 inches. Backpacks, camera bags and non-clear purses are prohibited, along with coolers, outside food and drink, umbrellas and noisemakers. Check K-State's stadium policies for current rules before you go.
- Gates: open two hours before kickoff.
- Re-entry: tickets must be scanned out when you leave; after the third quarter, re-entry is limited to Gates D and E.
- Payment: all K-State venues, including concessions and parking, are cashless.
- Alcohol: sold to all ticket holders at the North and South Goss Family Tailgate Terrace and the Powercat Porch, two drinks per ID at a time, from two hours before kickoff through the end of the third quarter.
Frequently asked questions
Where do the Kansas State Wildcats play football?
K-State plays at Bill Snyder Family Stadium in Manhattan, Kansas. It opened in 1968 as KSU Stadium and has an official capacity of 50,000.
Where is the student section at Bill Snyder Family Stadium?
Students enter through Gate G and sit in a general-admission section, with the marching band in Section 26 in the middle of it.
Why does Willie the Wildcat do push-ups?
Willie does a push-up for each point the Wildcats score, followed by a K-S-U cheer. It happens at every home and road game he attends.
What is the largest crowd at Bill Snyder Family Stadium?
A crowd of 53,811 watched K-State beat Nebraska 29–28 on November 11, 2000, the stadium record and the largest for any college sporting event in Kansas.
What bags are allowed at K-State football games?
As of the 2026 season, clear bags up to 12 by 6 by 12 inches and small clutches under 5.5 by 7.5 inches are allowed. Check K-State's stadium policies before you go.