K-State Set for Matchup with Rutgers in Rate Bowl

The Kansas State Wildcats learned their bowl destination on Sunday afternoon. They’re ticketed for Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona to take on the Rutgers Scarlet Knights in the Rate Bowl on Thursday, December 26.

It’s the fifth time K-State has been to this bowl game, previously known as the Copper Bowl, the Insight.com Bowl, the Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl, and the Cactus Bowl. The Wildcats are 3-1 in the game all-time, with their last appearance a 35-17 win over UCLA in the 2017 Cactus Bowl.

K-State finished with an 8-4 record in 2024, going 5-4 in Big 12 Conference play, to make their fifth bowl game in the last six seasons under head coach Chris Klieman. Rutgers went 7-5, with a 4-5 mark in Big 10 Conference play, and are bowling for a second straight season under head coach Greg Schiano.

It will be the second time K-State has played Rutgers all-time, with their previous meeting also coming in a bowl game. The Scarlet Knights defeated the Wildcats 37-10 in the 2006 Texas Bowl.

Kickof is scheduled for 4:30pm Central time (3:30 Mountain time).