The Athletic: Kansas State could ‘thrive’ in new-look Big 12 Conference

One team might be poised to benefit from the new-look Big 12 Conference more than any other team in any revamped conference in the country — the Kansas State Wildcats.

The Athletic’s Stewart Mandel singled Kansas State out as a team that might be able to break through and get a shot at playing for a national title after decades of frustration with the new, 12-team College Football Playoff field and the new, 16-team Big 12 that includes eight new teams in the last two years and no more Texas and Oklahoma after their exits to the SEC.

From The Athletic: “K-State could thrive in the new world. It would have made the 12-team CFP four times since 2011. It has sneaky-good NIL support. The biggest challenge will be revenue-sharing. Only three public Power 5 schools made less in 2022.”

Kansas State finished 9-4 in 2023 and closed the year with a 28-19 win over No. 19 North Carolina State in the Pop-Tarts Bowl. Kansas State opens the season on Aug. 31 at home against Tennessee-Martin.