2003 Kansas State Wildcats football team

American college football season August 2023 February 2026 2003 Kansas State Wildcats Kstate text logo.svg 150 Big 12 Conference North Big 12 13 14 11–4 6–2 Bill Snyder 15th Del Miller 7th Greg Peterson 1st Spread Bret Bielema 2nd Bob Elliott 2nd 4–3 KSU Stadium Big 12 championBig 12 North champion Big 12 Championship Game W 35–7 vs. Oklahoma Fiesta Bowl L 28–35 vs. Ohio State The 2003 Kansas State Wildcats football team represented Kansas State University in the 2003 NCAA Division I-A football season. The team's head coach was Bill Snyder. The Wildcats played their home games in KSU Stadium. The team finished the season with a win–loss record of 11 wins and 4 losses, and a Big 12 Conference record of 6 wins and 2 losses. They notched a stunning 35–7 victory over the #1 ranked Oklahoma Sooners in the Big 12 Championship Game. With their 1st conference championship since 1934, they earned a berth in one of the Bowl Championship Series bowl games, the 2004 Fiesta Bowl, where they were defeated by the Ohio State Buckeyes, 35–28. The Wildcats played 15 games, most in school history. During the 2002 and 2003 seasons teams were allowed to schedule 12 games as well as a kickoff game. As a result, Kansas State became only the second team in the modern era to play a 15-game schedule. The first was the 1996 BYU Cougars. Running back Darren Sproles led the nation in rushing, and the Wildcats scored 549 points, good for third all-time at Kansas State.Points scored fact https://web.archive.org/web/20080725010252/http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/div_ia/big12/kansas_state/most_points_season.php July 25, 2008 Until 2022, this was the only season in college football history in which Kansas State, Kansas, and Missouri all played in a bowl game in the same season. Schedule 2003 AP Central August 23 6:45 p.m. w y y 7 California Arrowhead Stadium Kansas City, MO BCA Classic ESPN 42–28 50,823 August 30 6:10 p.m. w y 7 Troy State KSU Stadium Manhattan, KS 41–5 41,812 September 6 6:10 p.m. w y 7 McNeese State KSU Stadium Manhattan, KS 55–14 44,544 September 13 1:10 p.m. w y 7 UMass KSU Stadium Manhattan, KS 38–7 46,102 September 20 11:40 a.m. l y 6 Marshall KSU Stadium Manhattan, KS FSN 20–27 46,700 October 4 2:30 p.m. l y 16 Texas 13 Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium Austin, TX College GameDay ABC 20–24 83,643 October 11 11:30 a.m. l y 22 Oklahoma State Boone Pickens Stadium Stillwater, OK FSN 34–38 46,087 October 18 1:10 p.m. w Colorado KSU Stadium Manhattan, KS rivalry 49–20 51,536 October 25 1:10 p.m. w Kansas KSU Stadium Manhattan, KS rivalry 42–6 51,614 November 1 1:10 p.m. w y Baylor KSU Stadium Manhattan, KS 38–10 44,885 November 8 1:00 p.m. w y Iowa State Jack Trice Stadium Ames, IA rivalry 45–0 40,124 November 15 2:30 p.m. w y Nebraska 18 Memorial Stadium Lincoln, NE rivalry ABC 38–9 78,014 November 22 6:10 p.m. w 19 Missouri KSU Stadium Manhattan, KS TBS 24–14 49,685 December 6 7:00 p.m. w y 13 Oklahoma 1 Arrowhead Stadium Kansas City, MO Big 12 Championship Game ABC 35–7 79,451 January 2 7:15 p.m. l y y 8 Ohio State 7 Sun Devil Stadium Tempe, AZ Fiesta Bowl ABC 28–35 73,425 2003 Kansas State Wildcats Schedule and Results https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/kansas-state/2003-schedule.html College Football at Sports-Reference.com Sports Reference December 30, 2025 Rankings 2003 NCAA Division I-A football rankings AP 0 16 7 (1) 7 7 7 6 16 16 22 NR NR NR NR 19 14 13 8 14 Coaches 0 16 5 5 6 6 6 16 14 21 NR NR NR 25 18 15 13 10 13 BCS 8 15 NR NR NR NR 19 16 15 10 Game summaries Vs. California California vs. #7 Kansas State Golden Bears 7 7 0 14 Wildcats 10 17 8 7 August 23 Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri 6:45 p.m. CDT 50,823 Ron Franklin, Mike Gottfried, Adrian Karsten ESPN yes 1 12:45 KSU Darren Sproles 5-yard run (Joe Rheem kick) KSU 7–0 1 10:39 Cal Vincent Strang 34-yard pass from Reggie Robertson (Tyler Fredrickson kick) Tied 7–7 1 6:29 KSU Joe Rheem 22-yard field goal KSU 10–7 2 7:37 KSU Travis Wilson 5-yard pass from Ell Roberson (Rheem kick) KSU 17–7 2 4:25 KSU Joe Rheem 37-yard field goal KSU 20–7 2 3:54 KSU James Terry 52-yard pass from Ell Roberson (Rheem kick) KSU 27–7 2 1:58 Cal Geoff McArthur 65-yard pass from Reggie Robertson (Fredrickson kick) KSU 27–14 3 8:46 KSU Ell Roberson 11-yard run (Roberson run) KSU 35–14 4 12:34 Cal J. J. Arrington 22-yard pass from Aaron Rodgers (Fredrickson kick) KSU 35–21 4 10:14 KSU Davin Dennis 28-yard pass from Ell Roberson (Rheem kick) KSU 42–21 4 4:27 Cal J. J. Arrington 7-yard pass from Reggie Robertson (Fredrickson kick) KSU 42–28 yes 2003 California Golden Bears football team BCA Classic Troy State Troy State at #7 Kansas State Trojans 5 0 0 0 Wildcats 7 27 0 7 August 30 KSU Stadium, Manhattan, KS 6:10 p.m. CDT 41,812 Troy State Trojans football McNeese State McNeese State at #7 Kansas State Cowboys 0 7 7 0 Wildcats 24 7 7 17 September 6 KSU Stadium, Manhattan, KS 6:10 p.m. CDT 44,544 McNeese State Cowboys football UMass UMass at #7 Kansas State Minutemen 7 0 0 0 Wildcats 3 21 7 7 September 13 KSU Stadium, Manhattan, KS 1:10 p.m. CDT 46,102 2003 UMass Minutemen football team Marshall Marshall at #6 Kansas State Thundering Herd 7 9 0 11 Wildcats 7 3 3 7 September 20 KSU Stadium, Manhattan, KS 11:40 a.m. CDT 46,700 Joel Meyers, Dave Lapham, Jim Knox FSN 2003 Marshall Thundering Herd football team At Texas #16 Kansas State at #13 Texas Wildcats 0 3 9 8 Longhorns 7 10 0 7 October 4 Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium, Austin, Texas 2:30 p.m. CDT 83,643 Brent Musburger, Gary Danielson, Jack Arute ABC yes 1 4:10 Texas Tony Jeffery blocked punt return (Dusty Mangum kick) Texas 7–0 2 13:30 Texas Dusty Mangum 22-yard field goal Texas 10–0 2 3:45 KSU Joe Rheem 41-yard field goal Texas 10–3 2 1:00 Texas Sloan Thomas 51-yard pass from Chance Mock (Mangum kick) Texas 17–3 3 12:24 KSU Ell Roberson 27-yard run (Rheem kick) Texas 17–10 3 10:04 KSU Safety Texas 17–12 4 14:00 KSU Ell Roberson 1-yard run (Roberson run) KSU 20–17 4 5:45 Texas Vince Young 1-yard run (Mangum kick) Texas 24–20 yes 2003 Texas Longhorns football team College GameDay (football) At Oklahoma State #22 Kansas State at Oklahoma State Wildcats 7 7 7 13 Cowboys 7 14 14 3 October 11 Boone Pickens Stadium, Stillwater, OK 11:30 p.m. CDT 46,087 Bill Land, Gary Reasons, John Rhadigan FSN 2003 Oklahoma State Cowboys football team Colorado Colorado at Kansas State Buffaloes 7 6 0 7 Wildcats 9 6 14 20 October 18 KSU Stadium, Manhattan, KS 1:10 p.m. CDT 51,536 2003 Colorado Buffaloes football team Kansas Kansas at Kansas State Jayhawks 3 0 3 0 Wildcats 7 21 14 0 October 25 KSU Stadium, Manhattan, KS 1:10 p.m. CDT 51,614 2003 Kansas Jayhawks football team Kansas–Kansas State football rivalry Baylor Baylor at Kansas State Bears 3 7 0 0 Wildcats 0 14 10 14 November 1 KSU Stadium, Manhattan, KS 1:10 p.m. CDT 44,885 2003 Baylor Bears football team At Iowa State Kansas State at Iowa State Wildcats Cyclones 7 7 24 7 0 0 0 0 November 8 Jack Trice Stadium, Ames, Iowa CST yes 1 5:35 KSU Darren Sproles 23-yard run (Joe Rheem kick) KSU 7–0 2 14:55 KSU Thomas Hill 9-yard pass from Ell Roberson (Rheem kick) KSU 14–0 3 14:49 KSU Darren Sproles 70-yard run (Rheem kick) KSU 21–0 3 10:25 KSU James Terry 20-yard pass from Ell Roberson (Rheem kick) KSU 28–0 3 9:18 KSU Darren Sproles 32-yard run (Rheem kick) KSU 35–0 3 0:31 KSU Joe Rheem 38-yard field goal KSU 38–0 4 3:41 KSU Dylan Meier 30-yard run (Rheem kick) KSU 45–0 yes 2003 Iowa State Cyclones football team Iowa State–Kansas State football rivalry Kansas State 45, Iowa State 0 https://www.espn.com/college-football/recap?gameId=233120066 https://web.archive.org/web/20230408060634/https://www.espn.com/college-football/recap?gameId=233120066 dead April 8, 2023 ESPN November 8, 2003 September 29, 2019 At Nebraska Kansas State at #18 Nebraska Wildcats Cornhuskers 7 0 10 21 0 7 0 2 November 15 Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, Nebraska 2:36 p.m. CST 78,014 Brent Musburger (Play-by-play), Gary Danielson (Color), & Jack Arute (Sideline) ABC yes 1 1:42 KSU Darren Sproles 22-yard run (Joe Rheem kick) KSU 7–0 2 7:45 NEB Mark LeFlore 5-yard pass from Jammal Lord (David Dyches kick) Tied 7–7 3 9:30 KSU Ell Roberson 11-yard run (Rheem kick) KSU 14–7 3 1:05 KSU Rheem 27-yard field goal KSU 17–7 4 14:55 KSU James Terry 63-yard pass from Ell Roberson (Rheem kick) KSU 24–7 4 10:00 KSU James Terry 37-yard pass from Ell Roberson (Rheem kick) KSU 31–7 4 3:45 NEB Safety KSU 31–9 4 1:38 KSU Ayo Saba 6-yard run (Rheem kick) KSU 38–9 yes 2003 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team Kansas State–Nebraska football rivalry Missouri Missouri at #19 Kansas State Tigers 0 7 0 7 Wildcats 7 14 3 0 November 22 KSU Stadium, Manhattan, KS 7:00 p.m. CDT 49,685 Ron Thulin, Charles Davis, Craig Sager, Erin Andrews TBS yes 1 10:09 KSU Darren Sproles 5-yard run (Joe Rheem kick) KSU 7-0 2 14:49 KSU Darren Sproles 7-yard run (Joe Rheem kick) KSU 14-0 2 6:00 MIZ DeQuincy Howard 2-yard pass from Brad Smith (Matheny kick) KSU 14-7 2 0:39 KSU Ell Robertson 1-yard run (Joe Rheem kick) KSU 21-7 3 0:40 KSU Joe Rheem 40-yard field goal KSU 24-7 4 3:35 MIZ Zack Abron 37-yard run (Matheny kick) KSU 24-14 yes 2003 Missouri Tigers football team Darren Sproles ran for a school-record 273 yards in the win over Missouri. Sproles also broke the single-season rushing record for the second consecutive year.Sproles rushes for 273 yards, 2 TDs https://www.espn.com/college-football/recap?gameId=233262306 https://web.archive.org/web/20230408060038/https://www.espn.com/college-football/recap?gameId=233262306 dead April 8, 2023 ESPN November 23, 2003 September 29, 2019 Vs. Oklahoma (Big 12 Championship game) #13 Kansas State Wildcats vs. #1 Oklahoma Sooners Wildcats 0 21 7 7 Sooners 7 0 0 0 December 6 Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri 7:11 p.m. CST 3:17 79,451 Temperature 39 F; Wind: S 5 mph on; Weather: Clear Jon Bible Brent Musburger (Play-by-play), Gary Danielson (Color), & Jack Arute (Sideline) ABC yes 1 12:19 OU Kejuan Jones 42-yard run (Trey DiCarlo kick) OU 7–0 2 13:57 KSU Brian Casey 19-yard pass from Ell Roberson (Joe Rheem kick) Tied 7–7 2 11:34 KSU James Terry 63-yard pass from Ell Roberson (Rheem kick) KSU 14–7 2 3:18 KSU Darren Sproles 60-yard pass from Ell Roberson (Rheem kick) KSU 21–7 3 3:02 KSU Antoine Polite 60-yard pass from Ell Roberson (Rheem kick) KSU 28–7 4 10:24 KSU Ted Sims 27-yard interception return (Rheem kick) KSU 35–7 yes 2003 Big 12 Championship Game 2003 Oklahoma Sooners football team Kansas State manhandled the #1 Sooners at Arrowhead Stadium to win their first conference title since 1934.Roberson, Sproles deli ever y 1-2 punch https://www.espn.com/college-football/recap?gameId=233400201 https://web.archive.org/web/20210504023306/https://www.espn.com/college-football/recap?gameId=233400201 dead May 4, 2021 ESPN December 6, 2003 September 29, 2019 Vs. Ohio State (Fiesta Bowl) #7 Ohio State vs. #8 Kansas State Buckeyes 14 7 14 0 Wildcats 0 7 7 14 January 2 Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, AZ 7:00 p.m. CST 73,425 Ron Cherry Tim Brant, Ed Cunningham, & Sam Ryan ABC Source: yes 1 6:41 OSU John Hollins 7-yard blocked punt return (Mike Nugent kick) OSU 7–0 1 2:49 OSU Santonio Holmes 6-yard pass from Craig Krenzel (Mike Nugent kick) OSU 14–0 2 6:49 OSU Mike Jenkins 17-yard pass from Craig Krenzel (Mike Nugent kick) OSU 21–0 2 3:01 KSU Darren Sproles 6-yard run (Joe Rheem kick) OSU 21–7 3 8:59 KSU Ell Roberson 14-yard run (Joe Rheem kick) OSU 21–14 3 4:53 OSU Michael Jenkins 8-yard pass from Craig Krenzel (Mike Nugent kick) OSU 28–14 3 0:37 OSU Santonio Holmes 31-yard pass from Craig Krenzel (Mike Nugent kick) OSU 35–14 4 13:25 KSU Ayo Saba 3-yard run (Joe Rheem kick) OSU 35–21 4 2:47 KSU Ell Roberson 1-yard run (Joe Rheem kick) OSU 35–28 yes 2004 Fiesta Bowl 2003 Ohio State Buckeyes football team Roster 2003 Kansas State Wildcats f 79 JR Jon Doty OT 88 SR Thomas Hill TE 86 JR Brian Casey TE 53 SR Nick Leckey OL y 64 SR Ryan Lilja OL y  3 SR Ell Roberson QB y 44 SR Travis Wilson FB n 36 SO Ayo Saba RB 14 SR Jeff Schwinn QB 43 JR Darren Sproles RB y  5 SR James Terry WR  2 JR Antoine Polite WR 15 SO Davin Dennis WR y  7 SR Josh Buhl LB y 18 SR Bryan Hickman LB y  9 SR Randy Jordan DB 83 SO Blake Seiler DE 98 SR Andrew Shull DE y 45 SO Ted Sims LB  2 SR Rashad Washington FS y 26 JR Tyler Woolfolk DB  6 SR Jared Brite K/P 15 JR Joe Rheem K 72 SR Mike Wilson LS 52 JR Russ Vanover LS *Bill Snyder Del Miller – Co-Offensive Coordinator & quarterbacks Greg Peterson – Co-Offensive coordinator & wide receivers Michael Smith – Running backs Matt Miller – Tight ends Bob Stanley – Offensive line Bret Bielema – Co-Defensive coordinator Bob Elliot – Co-Defensive coordinator & secondary Mo Latimore – interior Defensive line Joe Bob Clements – Defensive ends Statistics Scores by quarter Kansas State 95 175 130 149 Opponents 74 81 38 51 Team KSU Opp Scoring 549 244   Points per game 36.6 16.3 First downs 319 232   Rushing 176 98   Passing 127 121   Penalty 16 13 Total offense 6,615 4,246   Avg per play 6.2 4.3   Avg per game 441.0 283.1 Fumbles-Lost 22-13 13-9 Penalties-Yards 98-726 104-846   Avg per game 48.4 56.4 KSU Opp Punts-Yards 71-2,859 112-4,113   Avg per punt 40.3 36.7 Time of possession/Game 30:24 29:36 3rd down conversions 82/205 63/229 4th down conversions 10/20 8/20 Touchdowns scored 73 31 Field goals-Attempts 12-17 8-18 PAT-Attempts 67-68 28-29 Attendance 376,878 247,868   Games/Avg per Game 8/47,110 4/61,967 Offense Rushing Name GP Att Gain Loss Net Avg TD Long Avg/G Darren Sproles 15 306 2,067 81 1,986 6.5 16 73 132.4 Ell Roberson 13 227 1135 160 975 4.3 15 33 75.0 Total 15 688 3,817 388 3,429 5.0 42 73 228.6 Opponents 15 549 2,113 486 1,627 3.0 6 45 108.5 Passing Name GP-GS Effic Att-Cmp-Int Yds TD Lng Avg/G Pct. Ell Roberson 13 143.19 294-152-12 2,545 24 63 195.8 51.7 Jeff Schwin 6 119.99 68-37-3 563 1 41 93.8 54.4 Total 15 137.50 371-194-17 3,186 25 63 212.4 52.3 Opponents 15 104.41 447-224-20 2,619 19 65 174.6 50.1 Receiving Name GP No. Yds Avg TD Long Avg/G James Terry 15 64 1,232 19.2 13 63 82.1 Antoine Polite 13 29 409 14.1 1 36 31.5 Total 15 194 3,186 16.4 25 63 212.4 Opponents 15 224 2,619 11.7 19 65 174.6 Awards and honors 2003 All-Big 12 Conference football team 2003 College Football All-America Team 2004 NFL draft 2004 NFL draft Player Position Round Pick NFL club Nick Leckey Center 6 167 Arizona Cardinals Rashad Washington Strong safety 7 236 New York Jetspro-football-reference.com 2004 NFL Draft https://www.pro-football-reference.com/draft/2004.htm 2019-09-30 2007-12-23 https://web.archive.org/web/20071223114213/http://www.pro-football-reference.com/draft/2004.htm dead References Kansas State Category:Kansas State Wildcats football seasons Category:Big 12 Conference football champion seasons Kansas State Wildcats football