Sep 18, 2014 06:30 PM EDT By Russell Westerholm, UniversityHerald Reporter

The Auburn Tigers (5) seem as though they have picked up where they left off last season, with an unrelenting rush attack, which the Kansas State Wildcats (22) hope to slow down Thursday night.

Auburn is averaging 330 yards on the ground per game, while quarterback Nick Marshall has thrown just 25 times for 151 yards in two games, though he also has 142 rushing yards. This was the case last season, when Auburn ran its way to the National Championship game.

CLICK HERE to listen to a live radio broadcast of the game via TuneIn. Kickoff scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m. in Manhattan, Kan.

Running backs Cameron Artis-Payne and Corey Grant are leading the charge on the ground, literally, rushing for 293 and 176 yards, respectively, in Auburn's first two games. Coming off a bye week, Auburn is starting what is arguably one of the toughest schedules in college football, with matchups looming against LSU, South Carolina, Ole Miss, Texas A&M, Georgia and the customary Iron Bowl against Alabama.

"We are going to work on improving ourselves and try to get a head start," coach Gus Malzahn said before Thursday night's game against Kansas State, according to ESPN. "We are playing a very good team on the road with one of the better coaches that has ever walked the planet. We will have to have a good plan and have to be prepared."

Kansas State is also coming off a bye week and will play one of their toughest games of the season in just the third week of the season. Slowing Auburn's offense will not be easy, though doing so no doubt starts with the running game.

"Take your pick," coach Bill Snyder told the Kansas State football's official website. "They're a physical offensive line, they have speed in the backfield at the running back position and the quarterback position. They run the ball well, and they're deceptive in the way they run the ball. The wide receivers are big, fast, physical; I don't think I left out a position. In other words, they're very, very talented."

See Now: Covert Team Inside Newsweek Revealed as Key Players in False Human Trafficking Lawsuit