The Kansas State football team is gearing up for their final game of the season, aiming to turn around a late-season slump with a victory over Rutgers in the Rate Bowl. With a kickoff scheduled for 4:30 p.m. Central Time at Chase Field in downtown Phoenix, the Wildcats are eager to wipe away the memories of three losses in their last four games of the regular season.

Kansas State, holding a record of 8-4, is favored by seven points against Rutgers, who finished their regular season at 7-5 after winning three out of their last four games. Both teams are seeking to end the season on a high note, hoping for second consecutive bowl game victories after last year’s successes.

As excitement builds, Kansas State coach Chris Klieman expressed gratitude that most of his frontline players remain with the team despite challenges from the transfer portal. ‘I think that’s the biggest thing is the players you’re able to retain,’ Klieman noted. ‘The core of our best players returned.’

Among the returning players, junior nose tackle Damian Ilalio emphasized the importance of the game, saying, ‘This game is the most important game of our lives because it’s the next one.’ He shared the sentiment that capping off the season with a win is crucial for the team.

The Wildcats are aiming to channel their disappointments from November into motivation for a strong performance today. ‘Going into the offseason with a loss kind of sucks for a long time,’ Ilalio added. ‘It’s really important for us to go out and take this seriously and go win this bowl game.’

For fans eager to catch the action, the game will be televised on ESPN and is available for live streaming on Fubo TV. As the Wildcats step onto the field, they are resolved to seize this final opportunity and conclude the season with pride.

Arne Green covers Kansas State University sports for the Gannett network. Reach him at agreen@gannett.com or on Twitter @arnegreen.