Kansas and Kansas State are in-state Big 12 rivals, and their game is known as the Sunflower Showdown. This page tracks how sportsbooks price every meeting: the opening and closing lines, how far prices differ between books and the result. We update it before and after each game.

Next meeting: Kansas at Kansas State, Saturday, October 17

Kickoff is at 12:00 p.m. ET. The prices below are an OddsBay snapshot from October 14, 2026, and they will move before kickoff. Compare live prices on the OddsBay price finder.

  • Spread: Kansas State −4.5 (consensus across books)
  • Total: 55.5
  • Moneyline: Kansas State −200 (about 67%), Kansas +160 (about 38%)
  • Sportsbooks tracked: 47

How the line has moved

When OddsBay first recorded prices from several books, on Oct 10, the line was Kansas State −8 with a total of 55.5. It is now Kansas State −4.5 with a total of 55.5. This line has moved toward the underdog: Kansas State opened around 8-point favorites and is now about 4.5, a move of three and a half points toward Kansas.

Line chart of the Kansas State spread from −8 when first recorded to −4.5 on October 14, 2026
Kansas State spread since OddsBay first recorded the game, median across sportsbooks, through October 14, 2026.

Our guides to line movement and the closing line explain what a move like this can and cannot tell you.

How the teams have played this season

From the games OddsBay recorded this season, measured against each game’s closing line:

  • Kansas: 1–3 straight up, 1–3 against the closing spread; 3 overs and 1 under; 29.3 points scored and 25.8 allowed per game.
  • Kansas State: 2–2 straight up, 1–3 against the closing spread; 2 overs and 2 unders; 26.8 points scored and 23.3 allowed per game.

These records cover only the games OddsBay recorded, a handful per team, and the market already knows them, so use them as context rather than a reason to bet. Both teams are 1–3 against the spread in their recorded games.

Line shopping for this game

As of the snapshot, OddsBay tracked these moneyline prices:

  • Kansas moneyline: from +150 at the worst book to +180 at the best. A winning $100 bet pays $30 more at the best price.
  • Kansas State moneyline: from −238 at the worst book to −185 at the best. A winning $100 bet pays $12 more at the best price.
  • The spread: books were split between 32 books at −4.5, 6 books at −5, 1 book at −5.5.
Chart of moneyline prices across 43 sportsbooks: Kansas from +150 to +180; Kansas State from −238 to −185
Worst and best moneyline prices for Kansas at Kansas State in an OddsBay snapshot on October 14, 2026.

Our line shopping guide shows how to compare books, and the vig guide explains why their prices differ.

What to check before kickoff

  1. Quarterbacks and injuries. College injury news is less formal than the NFL’s, so check team reports close to kickoff.
  2. Weather. Wind and rain affect totals most.
  3. Margins. College games are often decided by more than a touchdown; see our college football key numbers guide.
  4. Rivalry narratives. Records are already in the price; our rivalry games guide explains why.
  5. Prices across books. Compare on the odds comparison, then compare your price with the close.

Kansas vs Kansas State: the OddsBay record

OddsBay began tracking college football in September 2026, so this is the first meeting between these teams on record. After the game we add the closing line, the result and a chart of how the line moved.

More college football matchup guides

Alabama vs Tennessee, Auburn vs Georgia, Florida State vs Miami, North Carolina vs Duke, Penn State vs Michigan, Georgia vs Alabama, Auburn vs Tennessee, Iowa State vs BYU, BYU vs TCU, Miami vs Clemson, Ole Miss vs Florida, Iowa vs Michigan, Ohio State vs Iowa, Iowa vs Washington, Texas A&M vs LSU, Texas vs Oklahoma, Oregon vs USC, USC vs Penn State, Texas vs Tennessee, Washington vs USC

Betting responsibly

Rivalry games attract emotional bets. Decide your stake in advance (our guide to bankroll management shows how) and treat betting as entertainment. If gambling stops being fun, help is available: in the United States, the National Problem Gambling Helpline is available 24/7 by calling or texting 1-800-MY-RESET.

Key takeaways

  • Kansas and Kansas State play the Sunflower Showdown.
  • As of October 14, Kansas State was favored by 4.5 with a total of 55.5.
  • The line has moved from Kansas State −8 to Kansas State −4.5 since OddsBay first recorded it.

Frequently asked questions

When do Kansas and Kansas State play?

Saturday, October 17, 2026, at 12:00 p.m. ET, in Manhattan, Kansas.

Who is favored in Kansas vs Kansas State?

Kansas State, by about 4.5 points as of October 14, 2026. Lines move before kickoff, so check current prices.