SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — As Chris Klieman bounced around the midwest, going up and down the coaching ladder from a Division III DC to a national champion head coach at the FCS level before becoming Kansas State’s head coach, the Rutgers football program occasionally came onto his radar.

The Kansas State football coach wants to beat Rutgers on Thursday at the Rate Bowl. He wants the Wildcats to hoist a shiny new trophy as they party at Chase Field in downtown Phoenix. And he definitely wants EMAW nation to head into the offseason with positive vibes.

Most of Kansas State football's frontline players stuck around, and they are all in for their Rate Bowl matchup on Thursday against Rutgers.