ATLANTA (Sept. 29, 2020) - Officials from the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Foundation and Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl today announced that Kansas State head football coach Chris Klieman has been selected as The Dodd Trophy Coach of the Week.

The Dodd Trophy Coach of the Week award honors a football coach who led his team to a significant victory during the previous week, while also embodying the award's three pillars of scholarship, leadership and integrity.

Kansas State entered Saturday's game against No. 3 Oklahoma as a four-touchdown underdog but overcame a 21-point second-half deficit to beat the Sooners 38-35 in one of the biggest upsets of the season. Kansas State trailed by 21 points twice, including a 35-14 deficit with 2:46 left in the third quarter, tying for the largest comeback in school history.

Wildcats quarterback Skylar Thompson passed for 334 yards and ran for three touchdowns, while the Kansas State defense forced four turnovers, including three interceptions, to pull off the victory on the road in Norman.

Saturday's win was the first ever by Kansas State on the road against a top-three team in the Associated Press. It also represents the first time in Kansas State history that the Wildcats have won two straight matchups with a top-five opponent, after a 48-41 win over No. 5 Oklahoma last season in Manhattan.

"What a historic comeback win by coach Klieman and his Wildcat players," said Jim Terry, chairman of the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Foundation. "Coach Dodd would have respected coach Klieman's ability to overcome what looked to be insurmountable odds trailing by three touchdowns late in the third and barely being able to fill out a roster that was depleted by COVID-19."

Klieman was named the 35th head football coach at Kansas State in December 2018. In year one at the helm of the Kansas State program, the Wildcats managed to win eight games, finishing in a tie for third in the Big 12 after being picked ninth in the preseason. The eight wins by Klieman were the most in school history by a first-year coach and also ranked second nationally among first-year Power Five head coaches in 2019, trailing only Ohio State's Ryan Day.

In his first year, he also lead the Wildcats to a victory over No. 5 Oklahoma at home for the first time since 1996, won the program's first game inside an SEC stadium at Mississippi state and secured a bowl bid with the AutoZone Liberty Bowl.

Off the football field, the Wildcats placed a school-record 32 players on the Academic All-Big 12 team last year under Klieman, including a league-record 26 first-team members. Headlining the list was Adam Holtorf, who was the Big 12 Scholar Athlete of the Year, a First Team Academic All-American and candidate for the Campbell Trophy. The Wildcats also boasted an impressive Academic Progress Rate (APR) score of 978 last year as well.

"Coach Klieman is already making his mark in Manhattan by achieving multiple milestones both on and off the field," said Gary Stokan, CEO and president of Peach Bowl, Inc. "The impact he's already made on the football program in less than two seasons is nothing short of impressive. We look forward to seeing what additional landmarks he's able to achieve in both the classroom and on the football field during this unique season."

The Dodd Trophy presented by the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl – along with the Dodd Trophy Coach of the Week Award – celebrates the head coach of a FBS team who enjoys success on the gridiron, while also stressing the importance of scholarship, leadership and integrity.

A panel consisting of all previous winners, national media, a member of the Dodd family and a College Football Hall of Fame member will identify the final list of potential recipients at the conclusion of the 2020 season. The winner of the 2020 Dodd Trophy will be announced in Atlanta during the week of this year's Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl.