MANHATTAN – Kansas State officials have informed the Big 12 Conference the Wildcats will not be able to field enough players to play in a December bowl game. 

By finishing seventh in the Big 12 regular-season standings, the Wildcats were in line to compete in a bowl game.
Kansas State athletics, in conjunction with university and county medical officials, announced it’s paused all football activities following the most recent COVID-19 test results and contact tracing procedures.
" We were very excited to have the opportunity to end the season in a bowl game. With new positive cases and additional close contacts in our program, we would not have enough players to continue practices and field a team for the bowl game,” said Gene Taylor, Kansas State athletics director. "I thank our student-athletes and coaches for their tireless effort this year and for being flexible during a time when every day presented new challenges. This has been an unbelievably challenging year."

Kansas State football coach Chris Klieman was diplomatic about the abrupt ending.

"It’s a bittersweet ending to the season, but playing 10 regular-season games throughout all of this uncertainty was a miracle," Klieman said. "I thank our players, especially our seniors, for continuing to battle every day, no matter what circumstance was put before them. This season was difficult and frustrating. It is one that we will remember for the rest of our lives. I hope we will all learn from it and become better, both as coaches and players, as we head into the offseason."
The Wildcats conclude the season with a 4-6 overall record, and a 4-5 mark in Big 12 play. The Wildcats shocked No. 3 Oklahoma – K-State's first win on the road against a team ranked in the top five of the Associated Press Top 25 poll. The Wildcats also earned their 12th straight victory over in-state rival Kansas.