Chris Klieman’s unusual rise from the FCS to Power 5 success
Kansas State athletic director Gene Taylor still has most of the emails, the ones essentially accusing him of hiring “his drinking buddy” when he named Chris Klieman the Wildcats’ head football coach on Dec. 10, 2018.
Taylor and Klieman had worked together at FCS powerhouse North Dakota State, which wins national championships at the rate most people pay taxes.
All Klieman did in his five seasons as North Dakota State’s head coach was win four FCS national titles. But that was hardly the narrative when he made the rare jump from the FCS ranks to being a Power 5 head coach.
It was more, “What the hell are you doing?” Taylor recalls with a laugh.
After all, not only did Klieman arrive in Manhattan, Kansas, with no FBS experience as a full-time assistant or head coach, but he was replacing a legend in Bill Snyder.
“It only takes one guy to believe in you and say, ‘He can get it done,’ whether you’re at North Dakota State, Kansas State or anywhere else,” Klieman said of Taylor, who had been hired a year and a half earlier as K-State’s AD. “Gene was that guy, and he was not worried about winning the press conference. So many people feel like they have to win the press conference. I guess that’s still a thing, and I don’t think I won the press conference. In fact, I know I didn’t win the press conference.”
But in his fourth season, Klieman did win the Big 12 championship, only the fourth conference title won by the Wildcats going back to 1934, when Pappy Waldorf and Kansas State won the Big 6 title.
“I know there were doubts, but I never doubted that our success at North Dakota State could translate to success at the Power 5 level,” said Klieman, whose Wildcats (10-3) will take on Alabama (10-2) in the Allstate Sugar Bowl on Dec. 31.
“Don’t get me wrong. I’ve learned a ton. It’s just been nuts for the last four years, but there was tremendous validation with the win over TCU and that what we are doing here is the right thing and that we’ve been doing it the right way.”
There were growing pains, particularly in 2020 during the pandemic. Klieman had to learn to delegate more with a larger support staff and analysts. He shifted his recruiting philosophy in terms of the way he evaluated prospects and making sure he was signing players who could match up with Oklahoma and Texas. Even his players’ diets were different as they ate at a performance-based training table as opposed to eating at the regular cafeteria with other students, as they did at North Dakota State.
“We made some adjustments,” Klieman said. “Shoot, we changed our defense. We changed our offense. But in the same respect, I’ll say what I’ve always said. Football is football, in my mind.”
And perhaps other Power 5 athletic directors will take notice. Good coaches are good coaches regardless of the level of football.
“I sure hope what we did this year opens the door for [current North Dakota State coach] Matt Entz and a lot of FCS coaches out there,” said Klieman, whose career coaching record is 102-32, including his first head job at Division III Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa, in 2005.
This hiring cycle, two FCS coaches made the jump to Power 5 — Sacramento State’s Troy Taylor to Stanford and Jackson State’s Deion Sanders to Colorado.
At some point, Entz is likely to show up on somebody’s radar. He succeeded Klieman and has won two national titles; he has a chance for a third Jan. 8 when he leads the Bison against South Dakota State in the FCS championship game.
There are other worthy FCS coaches: Holy Cross’ Bob Chesney, Florida A&M’s Willie Simmons, Princeton’s Bob Surace, Samford’s Chris Hatcher, Montana State’s Brent Vigen and Idaho’s Jason Eck, to name a few. South Dakota State’s John Stiegelmeier probably should have gotten a shot a long time ago.
Klieman, 55, is especially unusual in that he got a Power 5 head-coaching job after spending virtually his entire career in the FCS or Division III ranks (with the lone exception being the 1997 season, when he was a Kansas graduate assistant). Even Jim Tressel, one of the most notable examples of a coach making the FCS-to-FBS move, was a longtime assistant at Ohio State before going to Youngstown State as head coach and then returning to Ohio State as head coach. Tressel, now the Youngstown State president, won national championships at both schools.
Jim Harbaugh went from the University of San Diego to Stanford in 2007. And before Tressel moved from Youngstown State to Ohio State in 2001, Hal Mumme went from Division II Valdosta State to Kentucky in 1999, and Frank Beamer from Murray State to Virginia Tech in 1987. There were a few others along the way, including Sparky Woods going from Appalachian State to South Carolina in 1989, Bobby Johnson from Furman to Vanderbilt in 2002, Paul Wulff from Eastern Washington to Washington State in 2008, and Mike London from Richmond to Virginia in 2010.
But spanning the past 35 years, the group of head coaches going straight from the FCS to a Power 5 school is quite small.
Even now, Klieman isn’t sure he would have gotten a shot at Kansas State had it not been for Taylor’s firsthand knowledge of his coaching abilities. The fact that Taylor had been at the FCS level as an athletic director before moving to Iowa as deputy AD and then to K-State also helped. Some athletic directors who have never worked at a lower level might be less likely to take a chance on a coach from a lower level.
“I’m fortunate and blessed because I had a guy that knew me. He saw me do this,” Klieman said. “It’s still about relationships with kids. It’s still about believing in kids. It’s still about motivating guys. It’s all of that wherever you’re coaching, and I think Gene said, ‘I want Chris in front of these kids because I think he and his staff can get the most out of them.'”
Never was that more apparent than this season. Kansas State suffered an early-season loss to Tulane at home and dropped a pair of close conference games to TCU and Texas. Needing to win out to make the Big 12 championship game, the Wildcats won their last three regular-season games, then beat TCU 31-28 in overtime to win the Big 12 title.
“The guys played their tails off and kept rising up when people doubted them,” Klieman said. “It was a fun season, and finishing it off with the Big 12 championship was huge. I’m glad TCU still got a chance to play in the playoff because I thought they were damn good.”
Taylor jokes that the Wildcats’ reward is getting to play Alabama at full strength with quarterback Bryce Young and outside linebacker Will Anderson Jr., two of the top prospects in the 2023 NFL draft who decided to play in the Sugar Bowl.
“And going up against a pissed-off Nick Saban because they didn’t make the playoff,” Taylor said laughing. “But our players want to play against the best, and that’s the way it should be. It’s the culture Chris has created and one that’s only going to grow.”
All Klieman knows is a winning culture. He took over for Craig Bohl at North Dakota State when Bohl left for Wyoming on the heels of an unbeaten season and the Bison’s third straight FCS national title.
Taylor remembers meeting in his basement with Klieman after the quarterfinal win that season until 3 o’clock in the morning to discuss the head-coaching position. Bohl had already announced that he was leaving.
Klieman’s presentation during the meeting was thorough and detailed, and he walked Taylor through the whole thing. The Bison were losing 25 seniors the following season, and Klieman asked what the expectations would be in Year 1. Taylor said his expectation was for Klieman to get North Dakota State back into the playoffs and make as deep a run as possible.
But there was a caveat.
“That’s my expectation. Now, the expectation here by the fans is that you get in the playoffs and win the whole thing,” Taylor told Klieman during that meeting. “That might not be fair, but that’s what is expected of you from the fan base.”
Klieman never flinched.
“He goes out his first year and wins a national championship,” Taylor said. “That’s who he is.”
And the only season Klieman didn’t claim the crown at North Dakota State, in 2016, the Bison beat No. 13 Iowa on the road and lost in the FCS semifinals to eventual national champion James Madison.
“It was miserable that whole offseason,” Klieman joked. “So even stepping up a level when I got to Kansas State, I knew all about pressure and knew I could do the job.”
Although he wasn’t part of the Power 5 coaching fraternity when he arrived at Kansas State, Klieman had been to several schools to speak at clinics, including Clemson, Georgia and Notre Dame. He said Dabo Swinney was especially supportive.
“We stayed in touch, and he was a huge help, just bouncing things off him,” Klieman said. “He’d text me after we won the national championship, and I’d text him when they won.”
One of the first people Klieman saw in Las Vegas earlier this month at the National Football Foundation awards dinner was Swinney.
“He gave me the biggest hug and told me how proud he was,” Klieman said. “He knew all about the journey I’d been on and what I had gone through to get where I am. It was neat to share that moment with him. He was genuinely happy for me, and I appreciate what all he’s done for me along my path.”
It’s a path Klieman hopes more of his FCS brethren get the opportunity to follow.
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Mark Schlabach
Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza, who led the No. 1 Hoosiers to a perfect 13-0 record and their first Big Ten title since 1967, captured the 91st Heisman Trophy on Saturday night.
Mendoza beat out quarterbacks Diego Pavia (Vanderbilt) and Julian Sayin (Ohio State) and running back Jeremiyah Love (Notre Dame) to take home the trophy during a ceremony in New York.
Mendoza, who played two seasons at California before joining the Hoosiers this season, completed 71.5% of his pass attempts for 2,980 yards with 39 total touchdowns.
He was only the second Heisman Trophy finalist from Indiana. Running back Anthony Thompson was runner-up to Houston quarterback Andre Ware in one of the closest votes in 1989.
With Mendoza, Pavia and Love expected to move on to the NFL after this season, who are the top returning Heisman Trophy candidates for 2026?
In compiling the list of potential candidates, I projected that quarterbacks John Mateer (Oklahoma), Ty Simpson (Alabama) and Dante Moore (Oregon); receivers Carnell Tate (Ohio State), Zachariah Branch (Georgia) and Makai Lemon (USC); and running back Emmett Johnson (Nebraska) will turn pro (along with the aforementioned finalists from this year).
Here is a look at some of the top potential contenders (in no particular order):
2025 stats: 80 catches, 1,086 receiving yards, 12 total touchdowns
Smith’s highlight reel of acrobatic, one-handed catches continues to grow, and he arguably has been the best player in college football this season. He was the fastest Buckeyes player to reach career marks of 2,000 receiving yards (24 games), 100 catches (20) and 25 touchdown receptions (25).
2025 stats: 78.4% completion pct, 3,323 passing yards, 31 touchdowns, 6 interceptions
Sayin might have captured the Heisman Trophy this season if Ohio State’s offense hadn’t flopped in its 13-10 loss to Indiana in the Big Ten championship game. In his first season as a starter, Sayin is on pace to break the NCAA single-season pass completion record of 77.4%, set by Oregon’s Bo Nix in 2023.
2025 stats: 70.7% completion pct, 2,691 passing yards, 442 rushing yards, 31 total touchdowns
In his first full season as Georgia’s starting quarterback, Stockton helped guide the Bulldogs to a 12-1 record and SEC title. His legs and right arm were a big reason the Bulldogs averaged 31.9 points, despite enduring myriad injuries on the offensive line. Stockton was at his best when the game was on the line — he completed 86% of his passes with 11 touchdowns and one interception in the fourth quarter against ranked opponents.
2025 stats: 84 receptions, 970 receiving yards, 7 receiving touchdowns
Toney’s teammates call him “Baby Jesus,” and the true freshman delivered in a big way in his first season with the No. 10 Hurricanes. He ranks sixth in the FBS with 84 catches and had 1,328 all-purpose yards. Toney even threw for two scores. Not bad for an 18-year-old who would be a senior in high school if he hadn’t reclassified to the class of 2025.
2025 stats: 61.4% completion pct, 2,942 passing yards, 32 total touchdowns
Even after all the hand-wringing about Manning being overrated at the start of the season, the former five-star recruit ended up putting together a good campaign, throwing for 2,942 yards with 24 touchdowns. The No. 13 Longhorns need to find some offensive linemen (he was sacked 23 times) and receivers to help him in 2026.
2025 stats: 65.5% completion pct, 3,016 passing yards, 24 total touchdowns
Ole Miss officials have submitted a waiver to the NCAA on Chambliss’ behalf for another season of eligibility. He played his first three seasons at Division II Ferris State before transferring to Ole Miss this year. He was named SEC Newcomer of the Year after taking over the starting job in the third game of the season.
2025 stats: 1,560 rushing yards, 16 touchdowns
A transfer from Louisiana-Monroe, Hardy led the FBS with 130 rushing yards per game and was No. 2 with 1,560 total rushing yards. He had eight 100-yard games for the Tigers, including a whopping 300-yard effort with three touchdowns in a 49-27 victory against Mississippi State on Nov. 15.
2025 stats: 61.8% completion pct, 2,932 passing yards, 466 rushing yards, 31 total touchdowns
Reed announced this week that he plans to stay at Texas A&M next season, which is great news for the No. 7 Aggies. He was a threat with the ball in his hands, throwing for 2,932 yards with 25 touchdowns and running for 466 yards with six scores. His decision-making needs to continue to improve, so he can cut down on his 10 interceptions.
2025 stats: 63.6% completion pct, 3,117 passing yards, 20 total touchdowns
There’s a reason new Bears coach Tosh Lupoi took a late-night flight to Hawai’i to make sure Sagapolutele was staying at Cal. He was only the second true freshman in FBS history to pass for 200 yards or more in each of his first 11 starts. In the Bears’ late-season upsets of then-No. 21 SMU and No. 15 Louisville, Sagapolutele passed for a combined 653 yards with six touchdowns and no picks.
2025 stats: 1,279 rushing yards, 20 touchdowns
After transferring from Missouri, Lacy helped the No. 6 Rebels win 11 games in the regular season for the first time. He ranks No. 2 in the FBS with 20 rushing touchdowns and piled up 1,279 yards on the ground. Will he follow former coach Lane Kiffin to LSU or remain with the Rebels in 2026?
2025 stats: 66.2% completion pct, 3,431 passing yards, 29 total touchdowns
If Maiava returns to the No. 16 Trojans for another season, he’ll probably flourish in Lincoln Riley’s offense. This year, he threw for 3,431 yards with 23 touchdowns and 8 interceptions. He ranks No. 1 with a 91.2 total QBR. According to Pro Football Focus, he was second in the FBS with 26 big-time throws. (A big-time throw is defined as a high-difficulty, high-value pass.)
2025 stats: 1,035 rushing yards, 6 total touchdowns
Jackson became the fifth true freshman in OSU history to produce a 1,000-yard season, joining Robert Smith (1990), Maurice Clarett (2002), JK Dobbins (2017) and TreVeyon Henderson (2021). That’s good company. And, of course, he’d be the second Bo Jackson to collect a stiff-armed trophy.
2025 stats: 70.2% completion pct, 4,129 passing yards, 36 total touchdowns
Mestemaker is one of the best stories in college football. He didn’t start a single game in high school, then joined North Texas as a walk-on. This season, he led the FBS with 4,129 passing yards, helping him capture the Burlsworth Trophy as the top walk-on in the country. Will he join former Mean Green coach Eric Morris at Oklahoma State in 2026?
CJ Carr, QB, Notre Dame
2025 starts: 66.6% completion pct, 2,741 passing yards, 24 touchdowns
Fighting Irish coach Marcus Freeman entrusted Carr to lead his offense after a heated battle in preseason camp. The decision paid off, as Carr put together one of the best performances by a first-time starter in Notre Dame history. He threw for at least one touchdown in each of his first 12 starts, becoming the first Irish player to do that since Everett Golson in 2012-14. Carr’s 24 passing touchdowns are tied for the most in the first 12 starts by a Notre Dame player since 1966.
2025 stats: 70% completion pct, 2,850 passing yards, 595 rushing yards, 27 total touchdowns
Williams is one of the best dual-threat quarterbacks in the FBS, and his ability to run and throw was on display in the Huskies’ 38-19 victory against Rutgers on Oct. 10. He became the first player in school history to pass for at least 400 yards (400) and run for at least 100 (136) in the same game. Williams was second on the team with 595 rushing yards.
Others to watch: Sam Leavitt, QB, TBA; Cam Coleman, WR, Auburn; Brendan Sorsby, QB, Cincinnati; Josh Hoover, QB, TCU; Darian Mensah, QB, Duke; Nate Frazier, RB, Georgia; LJ Martin, RB, BYU; Bear Bachmeier, QB, BYU; LaNorris Sellers, QB, South Carolina; Bryce Underwood, QB, Michigan
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Adam Rittenberg
Maryland quarterback Malik Washington, who set the team’s freshman passing record this fall, will return to the Terrapins for the 2026 season.
Washington set Maryland freshman records for passing yards (2,963) and completions (273) this season, while connecting on 17 touchdown passes. He reached 200 passing yards in all but one game and finished as just the second Big Ten freshman since 1996 to record at least 2,500 passing yards and at least 300 rushing yards.
“Representing this team, this area, means so much to me and my family,” Washington said in a statement Saturday. “This is home and we’re going to continue keeping the best athletes from this area here with the Terps. I believe in everyone in our facility and I know we’re building something that our fans will be excited about for years to come.”
Washington, the nation’s No. 134 recruit in the 2025 class, grew up in Severn, Maryland, about 30 miles from Maryland’s campus. Despite a 4-8 record that included only one Big Ten win, Maryland announced that coach Mike Locksley, who recruited Washington, would return in 2026. Locksley will enter his eighth season as Maryland’s coach.
“Malik is a Terp through and through and I’m thrilled he’s coming back to lead this football team,” Locksley said in a statement. “He means so much to this area and this area means so much to him. What we saw from Malik this past season is only the tip of the iceberg. He has such a bright future and he’s already started putting the work in towards the 2026 season.”
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