Josh Pate Identifies Two Underrated College Football, Big 12 Teams Heading Into 2024 Season

The 2024 season for the Big 12 comes with a huge makeover. Gone are the stalwarts of Texas and Oklahoma, and in come Pac-12 defectors Colorado, Utah, Arizona, and Arizona State.

So whose conference is it now?

In the first Big 12 media preseason poll released on Tuesday, the leading favorite is Utah. The Utes come into their new conference after winning two of the last three Pac-12 titles. Last season, they finished 8-5 and fifth in the conference.

Besides the Utes, most of the Big 12 talk is typically reserved for Deion Sanders and Colorado, who ranked No. 11 in the preseason poll.

Late Kick's Josh Pate feels this is terribly egregious, as there are two teams within the conference that aren't getting the rightful recognition they deserve.

“Kansas is the most underrated state in college football," Pate said. "Do you realize what Kansas State has been doing... for a long time? But do you realize what Kansas is doing now? Both have coaches that we power rate inside the Top 15 in America.

"Kansas is supposed to suck in football. Kansas State is supposed to look at posters of Bill Snyder and talk about what once was. They're not supposed to be this good."

While everyone was probably looking at where Colorado ranked, Kansas State ranked at No. 2, while Kansas ranked at No. 4 in the Big 12 preseason rankings.

Chris Klieman has been an excellent replacement for longtime head coach Bill Snyder at Kansas State. Since taking over in Manhattan, he's 39-24, winning eight or more games in every season but one. He also led the Wildcats to their first Big 12 title since 2012 two seasons ago.

Across the state, Lance Leipold has constructed a massive rebuild at Kansas. Before he arrived in 2021, the Jayhawks had not recorded a winning season since the Mark Mangino days back in 2008. Leipold even bested that by one game last season, leading the Jayhawks to a 9-4 record and a bowl victory.

Kansas State's over/under win total is set at 9.5, while Kansas is at 8.5.

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