Kansas State head coach Bill Snyder had pulled off what many observers considered the greatest building job in the history of college football. Barry Switzer, legendary former coach of Oklahoma said that Snyder was the “coach of the century” for what he accomplished at Manhattan. Snyder’s greatest achievement of all came in 2003 when he led the Wildcats to a shocking 35-7 upset win over an undefeated Oklahoma team touted as perhaps the greatest in college football history in the Big 12 Championship game as a 14-point dog. K-State finished that season 11-4 straight up and in a BCS Bowl, which they lost 28-35 to Ohio State.
| Straight up | 5-6 overall, 2-6 conference, 6th Big 12 North
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| Against the spread | 6-5 (5-1 home, 1-4 away, 0-2 grass)
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| Over/Under | 8-3 (4-2 home, 4-1 away, 2-0 grass)
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| Offensive Rank | 96th
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| Defensive Rank | 55th
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| Turnover Margin | -.55 per game |
Kansas State slid into the valley quickly after reaching the peak
Snyder had built a program that featured double digit wins and bowl berths on an annual basis and the Big 12 title was simply considered a portent of more great things to come, particularly since the Wildcats played in the relatively weak Big 12 North, which they were expected to dominate. Incredibly enough, however, K-State suffered their first losing season since 1991 under Snyder in 2004 as they stumbled to 4-7 straight up and 3-7 against the spread. Kansas State made uncharacteristic mistakes throughout 2004 but they also seemed to be down a notch with their athletic ability. The Wildcats slid into the valley quickly after reaching the peak and this was cause for alarm in the “Little Apple.”
Return to a bowl was expected
Despite the poor 2004 campaign expectations were such that a return to a bowl was expected at K-State for the 2005 season. Most observers wrote off 2004 as an aberration rather than a new pattern.
Things were not the same
Kansas State Wildcats opened the 2005 season at home against Florida International, a virtual college football “expansion” team as a whopping 33-point chalk. In the past, the Wildcats would bully such opposition with easy covers but not any more as they scored an uninspiring 35-21 win that proved things were not the same at K-State. In their next game at Marshall the Wildcats were a 10-point chalk and barely escaped with a 21-19 straight up win, failing to cover the spread for the second straight week.
Reminiscent of better days Kansas State
In their next game at home versus North Texas the Wildcats were hefty 27.5-point chalks but scored an impressive 54-7 win and cover in a game that was reminiscent of better days gone by.
Reality check
In their next game at Oklahoma the 3-0 Wildcats were a seemingly large 8.5-point dog against the struggling Sooners. K-State was embarrassed 21-43 in a reality check defeat. The Wildcats did recover in their next game at home versus intrastate rival Kansas with a 12-3 win as 5-point chalks to improve to 4-1 straight up and 2-3 against the spread.
Free fall
Although they were not dominating opponents as they did in the past K-State still seemed to have a bowl berth well in hand. But then they traveled to Texas Tech where, as an uncharacteristic 15-point dog, they were bombarded with a 20-59 loss, which began a free fall of epic proportions.
In their next game at home versus struggling Texas A&M as a 5-5point dog, the Wildcats covered a 28-30 defeat. Next against a beatable Colorado team, K-State proved to be a solid bargain as 7.5-point home dogs in a heart crushing 20-23 loss. K-State next went to Iowa State and was blown away by the Cyclones 17-45 as a 7.5-point dog for their fourth straight defeat. K-State would have to win their final two games to crawl into a bowl game. At Nebraska as a 5-point dog, K-State suffered a cruel 25-27 defeat for their fifth consecutive straight up loss, (in which they covered three games). Snyder announced that he would retire after the season finale against Missouri.
Grand finale
K-State was a 3-point home chalk against Mizzou and took a 36-28 win for a grand finale to the Snyder era.