Kansas State football faced a challenging situation at halftime, down 10 points to Tulane during their away game, but rallied to achieve a 34-27 victory at Yulman Stadium in New Orleans.
This win for the Wildcats was a redemption for their 17-10 defeat to Tulane two years ago in Manhattan.
In a dramatic fourth quarter, K-State forced two critical turnovers that changed the game’s outcome. One turnover set up the winning touchdown, while the other preserved the lead with just seconds remaining.
At the beginning of the fourth quarter, with Tulane threatening in the red zone, Austin Romaine sacked quarterback Darian Mensah, resulting in a 15-yard loss. Jack Fabris recovered the fumble and sprinted 60 yards for a touchdown, putting the Wildcats ahead for the first time since the opening quarter, with the score now 27-20.
In a tense moment, Tulane seemed to tie the game with a one-yard touchdown pass from Mensah to Yulkeith Brown with just 12 seconds on the clock. However, an offensive interference penalty pushed Tulane back to the K-State 16-yard line. On the following play, VJ Payne intercepted the pass in the end zone, allowing the Wildcats to run out the remaining time.
Avery Johnson had a solid performance for K-State, completing 15 of 23 passes for 181 yards and two touchdowns. DJ Giddens contributed significantly, rushing for 118 yards. The Wildcats accumulated a total of 369 yards compared to Tulane’s 491.
Darian Mensah had a standout day for Tulane, passing for 342 yards and two touchdowns, while Makhi Hughes added 131 rushing yards.
Kansas State 34, Tulane 27
K-State secured their win with a late-game interception by VJ Payne, who ended Tulane’s hopes to tie the game in the final seconds.
The Wildcats’ game-changing turnover resulted in K-State taking the lead for the first time, showcasing their defensive prowess. After the crucial fumble recovery and touchdown, K-State climbed to a 27-27 tie earlier in the quarter.
Tulane responded quickly, regaining the lead with a touchdown pass from Mensah to tight end Alex Bauman.
The Wildcats initially trailed 20-10 at halftime, unable to capitalize on their opportunities while Tulane consistently moved the ball into K-State territory. K-State struggled in the first half, with Johnson completing only 8 of 15 passes for 62 yards, while Tulane’s offense dominated with a first-half total of 291 yards.
The game was tied at 20-20 entering the final quarter, setting the stage for a thrilling finish filled with pivotal plays and dramatic moments.