Exhausted Willie Wildcat goes viral after 394 push-ups in Kansas State blowout
Story by
The Topeka Capital Journal
Exhausted Willie Wildcat goes viral after 394 push-ups in Kansas State blowout
Wyatt D. Wheeler, Topeka Capital-Journal
·
2 min read
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MANHATTAN — Midway through the fourth quarter,Kansas State backup quarterback Jacob Knuth powered into the end zoneto put the finishing touches on a historic scoring night. While everyone in Bill Snyder Family Stadium was celebrating what Collin Klein's offense may bring, there was one person who was about to struggle more than the entire Nicholls defense.
After K-State took a 71-3 lead, beloved mascot Willie Wildcat was lifted onto a board to do a push-up for each point his favorite team had scored.Exhausted from the onslaught of points, those push-ups didn't necessarily have the best form.
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The video boards showed Willie bobbing his big head up and down while his arms barely moved. At multiple points,he put a knee down as he continued to tap his noseto the ground. His rear was a bit high for perfect push-up form as he struggled through.
Kansas State Wildcats players huddle up before the game against Nicholls Colonels inside Bill Snyder Family Stadium on Sept. 5, 2026.
(Evert Nelson/The Capital-Journal)
Kansas State Wildcats players take the field before the game against Nicholls Colonels inside Bill Snyder Family Stadium on Sept. 5, 2026.
(Evert Nelson/The Capital-Journal)
Kansas State Wildcats mascot Willie the Wildcat points before the game against Nicholls Colonels inside Bill Snyder Family Stadium on Sept. 5, 2026.
(Evert Nelson/The Capital-Journal)
Kansas State Wildcats head coach Collin Klein walks on to the field before before the game against Nicholls Colonels inside Bill Snyder Family Stadium on Sept. 5, 2026.
(Evert Nelson/The Capital-Journal)
Kansas State Wildcats players take the field before the game against Nicholls Colonels inside Bill Snyder Family Stadium on Sept. 5, 2026.
(Evert Nelson/The Capital-Journal)
Fans begin to fill the stands before the game against Nicholls Colonels inside Bill Snyder Family Stadium on Sept. 5, 2026.
(Evert Nelson/The Capital-Journal)
Fans pose before the game against Nicholls Colonels outside Bill Snyder Family Stadium on Sept. 5, 2026.
(Evert Nelson/The Capital-Journal)
Fans pose before the game against Nicholls Colonels outside Bill Snyder Family Stadium on Sept. 5, 2026.
(Evert Nelson/The Capital-Journal)
Fans head in before the game against Nicholls Colonels outside Bill Snyder Family Stadium on Sept. 5, 2026.
(Evert Nelson/The Capital-Journal)
Kansas State Wildcats fans fill the stands before the game against Nicholls Colonels inside Bill Snyder Family Stadium on Sept. 5, 2026.
(Evert Nelson/The Capital-Journal)
Fans fill the stands before the game against Nicholls Colonels outside Bill Snyder Family Stadium on Sept. 5, 2026.
(Evert Nelson/The Capital-Journal)
Fans fill the stands before the game against Nicholls Colonels outside Bill Snyder Family Stadium on Sept. 5, 2026.
(Evert Nelson/The Capital-Journal)
Kansas State Wildcats fans walk the concourse before the game against Nicholls Colonels inside Bill Snyder Family Stadium on Sept. 5, 2026.
(Evert Nelson/The Capital-Journal)
Kansas State Wildcats Marching Band takes the field before the game against Nicholls Colonels inside Bill Snyder Family Stadium on Sept. 5, 2026.
(Evert Nelson/The Capital-Journal)
Fans fill the stands before the game against Nicholls Colonels outside Bill Snyder Family Stadium on Sept. 5, 2026.
(Evert Nelson/The Capital-Journal)
Kansas State Wildcats fans sing the alma mater before the game against Nicholls Colonels inside Bill Snyder Family Stadium on Sept. 5, 2026.
(Evert Nelson/The Capital-Journal)
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Kansas State Wildcats players huddle up before the game against Nicholls Colonels inside Bill Snyder Family Stadium on Sept. 5, 2026.
(Evert Nelson/The Capital-Journal)
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Kansas State Wildcats players huddle up before the game against Nicholls Colonels inside Bill Snyder Family Stadium on Sept. 5, 2026.
(Evert Nelson/The Capital-Journal)
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Kansas State Wildcats players take the field before the game against Nicholls Colonels inside Bill Snyder Family Stadium on Sept. 5, 2026.
(Evert Nelson/The Capital-Journal)
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Kansas State Wildcats mascot Willie the Wildcat points before the game against Nicholls Colonels inside Bill Snyder Family Stadium on Sept. 5, 2026.
(Evert Nelson/The Capital-Journal)
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Kansas State Wildcats head coach Collin Klein walks on to the field before before the game against Nicholls Colonels inside Bill Snyder Family Stadium on Sept. 5, 2026.
(Evert Nelson/The Capital-Journal)
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Kansas State Wildcats players take the field before the game against Nicholls Colonels inside Bill Snyder Family Stadium on Sept. 5, 2026.
(Evert Nelson/The Capital-Journal)
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Fans begin to fill the stands before the game against Nicholls Colonels inside Bill Snyder Family Stadium on Sept. 5, 2026.
(Evert Nelson/The Capital-Journal)
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TOP PHOTOS: Kansas State football fans celebrate home opener
Fans pose before the game against Nicholls Colonels outside Bill Snyder Family Stadium on Sept. 5, 2026.
(Evert Nelson/The Capital-Journal)
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TOP PHOTOS: Kansas State football fans celebrate home opener
Fans pose before the game against Nicholls Colonels outside Bill Snyder Family Stadium on Sept. 5, 2026.
(Evert Nelson/The Capital-Journal)
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Fans head in before the game against Nicholls Colonels outside Bill Snyder Family Stadium on Sept. 5, 2026.
(Evert Nelson/The Capital-Journal)
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Kansas State Wildcats fans fill the stands before the game against Nicholls Colonels inside Bill Snyder Family Stadium on Sept. 5, 2026.
(Evert Nelson/The Capital-Journal)
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TOP PHOTOS: Kansas State football fans celebrate home opener
Fans fill the stands before the game against Nicholls Colonels outside Bill Snyder Family Stadium on Sept. 5, 2026.
(Evert Nelson/The Capital-Journal)
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TOP PHOTOS: Kansas State football fans celebrate home opener
Fans fill the stands before the game against Nicholls Colonels outside Bill Snyder Family Stadium on Sept. 5, 2026.
(Evert Nelson/The Capital-Journal)
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TOP PHOTOS: Kansas State football fans celebrate home opener
Kansas State Wildcats fans walk the concourse before the game against Nicholls Colonels inside Bill Snyder Family Stadium on Sept. 5, 2026.
(Evert Nelson/The Capital-Journal)
14/16
Kansas State football returns for 2026-27 season vs Nicholls State
Kansas State Wildcats Marching Band takes the field before the game against Nicholls Colonels inside Bill Snyder Family Stadium on Sept. 5, 2026.
(Evert Nelson/The Capital-Journal)
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TOP PHOTOS: Kansas State football fans celebrate home opener
Fans fill the stands before the game against Nicholls Colonels outside Bill Snyder Family Stadium on Sept. 5, 2026.
(Evert Nelson/The Capital-Journal)
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TOP PHOTOS: Kansas State football fans celebrate home opener
Kansas State Wildcats fans sing the alma mater before the game against Nicholls Colonels inside Bill Snyder Family Stadium on Sept. 5, 2026.
(Evert Nelson/The Capital-Journal)
Once he was done? He got up, pumped the crowd up and led the "K-S-U" chant before surprising everyone by dropping into the splits, leading to the crowd's final eruption asKansas Statewon the game 71-3 over Nicholls.
Video captured by the Capital-Journal has been seen over 405,000 times on X and 225,000 times on TikTok.
As is tradition, Willie Wildcat does one push-up for every point the Wildcats have after each score. That put Willie on the hook for 394 push-ups during Kansas State's offensive explosion, hence the struggle on a hot Manhattan night.
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Willie can at least take a sigh of relief in knowing that 70-plus-point outbursts may not happen again. The only other times K-State hit the 70 mark in its history were in 1998 and 2000.
But if the Wildcats keep scoring at this rate? Willie Wildcat will look more jacked than ever once the season ends.
Wyatt D. Wheeler covers Kansas State athletics for the USA TODAY Network and Topeka Capital-Journal. You can follow him on X at@WyattWheeler_, contact him at 417-371-6987 or email him at wwheeler@usatodayco.com
