Kansas State

Kansas State football players huddle before an NCAA college football game against Stephen F. Austin Saturday, Aug. 30, 2014, in Manhattan, Kan. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

-- It's not the largest stadium in the Big 12, but Kansas State's home crowd can get rowdy.

More importantly, No. 5 Auburn's first road test Sept. 18 is against a dangerous and nationally-ranked Kansas State team capable of springing an upset, especially at home on a Thursday night.

"All I've heard is that Manhattan is the toughest place to play in the Big 12, so we know we've really got to be focused," Auburn offensive coordinator

Rhett Lashlee

said. "We've been fortunate not to have any false start penalties in the first two games. Your attention to detail and your awareness really has to be raised when you're on the road in a hostile environment."

The seating capacity at Bill Snyder Family Stadium is 50,000, but crowds usually surpass capacity. Attendance has eclipsed 53,000 five times and seven of the top 10 crowds in school history have occurred over the last two seasons.

"This will likely be our greatest attended game ever,"

. "We actually have not sold standing room-only tickets, because we know our student section will be as full as it has ever been that night. Student attendance is highest on weekdays."

Kansas State fans cheer during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Stephen F. Austin Saturday, Aug. 30, 2014, in Manhattan, Kan. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

The smallest SEC crowd Auburn played in front of last season (Arkansas, 66,385) far surpasses the attendance at Kansas State games, but K-State picks up recognition from players in the Big 12 as one of the toughest places to play in the conference.

A loud crowd "definitely affects" the offense, Lashlee said. "But, fortunately for us, (quarterback)

Nick

(

Marshall

) has played. A lot of our guys have played. We don't really have a young team, and it's like going into any hostile SEC environment."

No. 19 Kansas State has recorded 14 consecutive sellouts, and a 15th is assured when Auburn arrives in Manhattan.

, a full three months before kickoff.

"I think it will really be a good measuring stick of where we're at, because now we're going on the road to a place where they've sold out because you're the one they want to knock off," Lashlee said. "Boy, they've got a good football team. It's not the situation we were in last year. So, how mature are our guys? How are we going to handle it?"

Snyder, who returned from retirement in 2009, carries a 180-90-1 record in 22-plus seasons coaching Kansas State, which is 130-31-1 at home since 1990.