I’ve always thought he had the ability to get his players to play over their heads.
Basically, he wins with players who’s talent is limited. That’s why he gets paid all that money.
His trademark is using Junior College players. These are guys who either weren’t good enough to sign with a Division I team (but have improved after 2 years of Juco)....or were deemed way too risky, as far as meeting academic standards go, and have to do some remedial courses before going to a full scale university.
So, Snyder finds a way to get players from a pipeline that some other coaches overlook.
Another thing he has mastered is using punching bags to get his win count up. Usually he schedules his 3 out of conference games right at the front of the season...and usually these are very obscure (sometimes not even division I) schools. It serves as a good practice, for the in-conference games...and he can usually count on a quick three wins, which is a good start if the primary goal is bowl eligibility. Now other schools usually play at least 2 pushover games...but if they really want a crack at the national championship, they schedule at least one out of conference game against a tough opponent (like Alabama opening its season against Michigan last year). This really isn’t Snyder’s goal. At one point, he had I think an 11 season streak of bowl appearances, and the fans loved it.
Another reality of the Big 12 north is that the competition just isn’t that good. The conference is all scrambled now, but he used to be able to count on games against KU, Missouri, Colorado, and Iowa State...who haven’t been consistently goo for a very long time. Add to that Nebraska, which faltered during the last few years of its membership, and Snyder could usually count on 4 wins from the north. He could go 1 and 3 in the south (tough teams like Texas, Texas A&M, Oklahoma, Oklahoma St.) and still be bowl eligible. And some years his southern opponents included Baylor, which until recently has been terrible.
And that’s his formula. Early wins against easy opponents - which usually gets him in the top 20. Do well in the north, and survive the south with at least one win. And you get to go to a bowl game.
Its made him a legend in Kansas.
Now I do agree with your initial statement. Usualyy K-State ranks around 50 in recruiting class, but ends its seasons in the top 25. So he is doing more with less. But, at some point, one would think there would be some expectation to improve on recruiting...but K-State fans don’t seem to really care too much - as long as they beat KU and go to a bowl game.