Kansas State entered the season ranked #20 in the preseason polls, and were predicted as one of the teams that could win the Big 12 Conference.
The Wildcats then won 5-straight games to improve to 7-1, including a 31-30 win over Oklahoma, and rose to #7 in the rankings.
They started the season 4–0, often struggling, before suffering consecutive home losses to the Utah Utes and Oregon Ducks.
[6] He finished with a career-high 194 yards with two touchdowns,[6] and was named the bowl's offensive most valuable player (MVP).
[6] After making a team-high 10 tackles, including three for a loss, the Bruins' Eric Kendricks was voted the game's defensive MVP.
[6] However, the Wildcats rallied to score 15 straight points and controlled the ball for almost 13 minutes in the third quarter.
The scoring drive was extended by two penalties by UCLA, who had 15 for an Alamo Bowl record 128 yards.
[6] The Wildcats came as close as 40–35 with 1:21 remaining after Tyler Lockett caught a 29-yard touchdown pass from Jake Waters, but the comeback ended after their failed onside attempt.