Kansas State @ Vanderbilt preview

Kansas State left little doubt its offense is ready for a tougher test after scoring 55 points in each of its first two games, but the going undoubtedly will be more difficult Saturday when the 18th-ranked Wildcats travel to Vanderbilt. A Kansas State offense that has shown balance by passing for 333 yards in the season opener and rushing for 315 yards and five touchdowns last week faces a Commodores defense that has surrendered only six points in two games.

“They’ve got a few things they do with their defensive schemes that are somewhat unique and harder to prepare for,” Kansas State coach Bill Snyder told reporters Tuesday. The Wildcats seek to counter that Vanderbilt defense with an impressive offense led by quarterback Jesse Ertz – who has completed 70.3 percent of his passes through two games. The Commodores also have cruised to easy victories in their first two contests, as quarterback Kyle Shurmur has completed 79.5 percent of his passes with seven touchdowns and no interceptions, but coach Derek Mason acknowledges Saturday is a far tougher challenge as a stretch of four consecutive games against ranked teams begins. “I’ll find out who our football team is when we line up on Saturday,” Mason told reporters.

TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, ESPNU. LINE: Kansas State -4

ABOUT KANSAS STATE (2-0): Five different Wildcats running backs have scored touchdowns so far in 2017 with Alex Barnes finishing with 99 yards rushing and a score in last week’s 55-7 rout of Charlotte. Kendall Adams became the third-ever Big 12 player to return a fumble and an interception for touchdowns in the same game, earning conference defensive player of the week honors. D.J. Reed earned the Big 12 special teams player of the week award after returning the opening kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown and a punt 62 yards for a score.

ABOUT VANDERBILT (2-0): Using what Mason called improved footwork, Shurmur is off to a great start and set a school record by completing 83.3 percent of his passes in last week’s 42-0 blowout of Alabama A&M. Standout running back Ralph Webb gained 54 yards on only 13 carries and scored a touchdown for the sixth consecutive contest. Vanderbilt posted its first shutout since 2012, holding Alabama A&M to 103 yards of total offense while recording three sacks and two interceptions.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Vanderbilt is three victories away from 600 in program history.

2. The Wildcats have scored 55 points in the first two games of a season for the first time since 1998, when Kansas State started 11-0.

3. The two Power 5 schools have met once, a 26-14 Vanderbilt home victory in 1984.

PREDICTION: Kansas State 24, Vanderbilt 21