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Kansas State leading tackler Austin Romaine out for season after opting for hand surgery

Kansas State leading tackler Austin Romaine out for season after opting for hand surgery | iNFOnews.ca
Kansas State linebacker Austin Romaine (45) is tackled by Texas Tech offensive lineman Jacob Ponton (70) after intercepting a pass during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025, in Manhattan, Kan. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — Kansas State will be without leading tackler Austin Romaine for the remainder of the season after the All-Big 12 linebacker hurt his hand a couple of weeks ago and finally opted for surgery rather than to continue playing through the pain.

Wildcats coach Chris Klieman announced Monday that “we decided to shelve him for the rest of the year.”

The 6-foot-2, 240-pound Romaine has made 66 stops this season, despite playing with his left hand heavily wrapped in recent weeks. He made 11 stops and intercepted a pass in a loss to Texas Tech a couple of weeks ago.

Romaine’s injury is another massive blow to the Wildcats, who were ranked in the preseason Top 25 but have struggled to live up to expectations. They are just 4-5 overall and 3-3 in the Big 12 heading into Saturday’s trip to Oklahoma State, which means they need to win at least two of their last three games to become eligible for a bowl game.

They finish at No. 15 Utah on Nov. 22 and against Colorado at home the following week.

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