MANHATTAN, Kan. — He was the last player off the court, the prize for growing popularity and accomplishment. Avery Johnson had just led No. 14 Kansas State to a convincing 31-7 victory over No. 20 Arizona in a game that had been competitive for about three quarters.

As teammates walked to the locker room, Johnson wrapped up a television interview, hugged athletic director Gene Taylor and greeted fans in the first rows behind the end zone.

This college football season is still sorting itself out. Outside of a handful of teams, rankings mean little. Key players have yet to emerge. Still, Kansas State played like a strong Big 12 prospect Friday night at Bill Snyder Family Stadium, and a long-haired sophomore from Wichita led the way.

Chris Klieman acknowledged that, too. The Kansas State coach opened his postgame press conference with four key points. The rapt crowd of 51,290 was electric, he said. Second, Kansas State, which defeated Tulane last week in steamy New Orleans, had a solid recovery plan during a short week. Third, Klieman took responsibility for a clock-management error that cost Kansas State points before halftime. “One hundred percent on me,” he said.

And finally, “Our quarterback is a pretty good player.”

WIDE OPEN!!!@KStateFB with another TD 🔥 photo.twitter.com/2daTzqa0Vn

— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) September 14, 2024

This was predicted. Johnson was so good in relief and in Kansas State’s bowl game last season that many didn’t care about losing previous quarterback Will Howard, who transferred and is doing well at Ohio State. Howard had been a four-year starter. He had led the Wildcats to the 2022 Big 12 title. And yet Johnson was intriguing.

The dual-threat QB played in eight games last season. He was MVP of the Pop-Tarts Bowl for leading Kansas State over North Carolina State, a game in which he accounted for three touchdowns, two passing, one rushing. But this was the next step. Replacing Howard. Developing into a dynamic player. Leading Kansas State through an expanded Big 12.

In the lead-up to Friday’s game, Klieman had pointed out three plays from Kansas State’s recent win over Tulane. In each, the 6-2 Johnson had used his legs not to escape but to buy time, a decision that led to bigger chances. Johnson no longer ran at the first sign of pressure. He learned the position.

“Man, it’s an evolution,” Klieman said. “And he’s evolving. … I thought he’s gotten better and better, and I think he’s getting more comfortable as a quarterback that plays every down. I’m excited.”

Though Arizona (2-1) and Kansas State (3-0) are Big 12 affiliates for the first time, Friday night’s clash fell on the nonconference schedule because the home-and-home series was established in 2016, when Arizona was still a Pac-12 member. Still, this game still felt big, if only to establish a first-month conference pecking order. And quarterbacks.

Arizona’s Noah Fifita had come in with more pub. Some saw him as the Big 12’s best quarterback, accurate and elusive, with perhaps America’s best receiver, Tetairoa McMillan, a favorite target. Johnson, however, was better on Friday night. Aside from a mental breakdown late in the first half — Johnson had run out the clock with Kansas State within range of a field goal — he avoided major mistakes and showed unusual maturity and poise for someone making his fourth college start.

“He played really good football and was very calm,” Klieman said.

After Arizona scored on its first possession, Kansas State scored 31 unanswered points. Johnson operated the zone like no other and noticed that Arizona was overly focused on running backs DJ Giddens (86 rushing yards) and Dylan Edwards (41). When Arizona made Kansas State uncomfortable — which wasn’t often — Johnson almost always found a way to escape. Klieman said he often wondered if Johnson had picked up a first down, only to realize he had by 6 or 7 yards.

“Really, really fast,” Edwards said of the quarterback’s speed. “It really creeps up on him when he drops back and just starts running. You can hear the guys on the field going, ‘Oh, snap.'”

Johnson had rushes of 19, 13, 17, 13 and 26 yards. In total, he rushed 17 times for 110 yards, setting the first 100-yard rushing game of his college career. He also completed 14 of 23 passes for 156 yards, throwing touchdown passes to tight ends Brayden Loftin and Will Swanson.

“Well, I don’t think we’re the first team to have a problem with an athletic quarterback, but this guy is something else,” said Arizona coach Brent Brennan, who noted Johnson’s explosive speed. “He’s unique, and in those moments when we’re trying to keep him in the pocket, his ability to get outside of one guy and create a big play was obviously detrimental to what we were trying to accomplish.”

The win set up Kansas State for a tough stretch. The Wildcats visit BYU next week before hosting No. 13 Oklahoma State. Three of their next four are on the road. Klieman said Friday’s win showed the country that Kansas State can be a complete team. That the Wildcats are getting better. And that they have more to offer.

Just like their young quarterback.

“I’m really starting to settle in and get more confident in our offense,” Johnson said. “The best reps are live reps. (Offensive coordinator Conor Riley) says all the time that Rome wasn’t built overnight. I really wish I could be playing my best right now, but that’s going to take a while. Coach just asks that I get 1 percent better every week, and I feel like I’m just going to keep growing as the weeks go by.”

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(Photo of Avery Johnson during Friday night’s game: Ric Tapia/Getty Images)