RUTGERS v. KANSAS STATE TEXAS BOWL

Rutgers running back Ray RIce breaks free for a touchdown against Kansas State in the 2006 Texas Bowl.

(Andy Mills | The Star-Ledger)

PISCATAWAY -- If Chris Ash is still coaching Rutgers against Kansas State when the schools play the first game in their recently agreed upon home-and-home-series, there might be a statue of him outside the stadium.

Rutgers announced Thursday a two-game series against Kansas State to be played in 2030 and 2031, with the second game scheduled for High Point Solutions Stadium.

By that time, Ash will be starting his 15th season at the helm, which is two seasons longer than any of his predecessors consecutively held the position.

John Bateman (1960-72) is the longest-tenured coach, followed by George Sanford (1913-23), Frank Burns (1973-83) and Greg Schiano (2001-2011). Harvey Harman spent 14 seasons as Rutgers coach (1938-41 and 1946-55).

The timing of the series is odd considering that Rutgers still has multiple openings on its 2019 non-conference schedule.

The furthest dates in the future that Rutgers previously had arranged are a home-and-home with Virginia Tech in 2023-24 and four straight annual matchups with Temple from 2020-23.

Rutgers and Kansas State have met once before, when the Scarlet Knights punctuated their landmark 2006 season by delivering a 37-10 blowout in the Texas Bowl.

It was the first bowl victory in school history, after losses in the 1978 Garden State Bowl and 2005 Insight Bowl. Then-Kansas State coach Ron Prince later wound up working for Rutgers as offensive coordinator in 2013.

The 2017 non-conference schedule is made up of Washington, Eastern Michigan and Morgan State, while Texas State, Kansas and Buffalo are on the slate in 2018.

Kansas State coach Bill Snyder, 76, already is the oldest FBS coach in the nation.

Sndyer was Kansas State's coach from 1989-2005 before a brief retirement. He returned in 2009 and has run up his career victory total to 195.

LISTEN: Episode 4 of NJ.com's Rutgers Football podcast

Rebuilding Rutgers: From The Ashes takes you inside the new football regime. This episode is about Jim Harbaugh invading N.J. and Chris Ash fighting back.

Ryan Dunleavy may be reached at rdunleavy@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @rydunleavy. Find NJ.com Rutgers Football on Facebook.