With departures, who’s the new Big 12 power broker? Why not the Kansas State Wildcats?
In 2024, Big 12 football begins its third major era. The first, and most successful, era started when the conference was formed and lasted about 15 years. The league posted three national champion teams and several more playing for titles. Five of the seven Heisman Trophy winners came from the Big 12 during this period.
The next phase started after the first major shuffling. Out went Nebraska, Colorado, Missouri and Texas A&M. In came West Virginia and TCU. Gone were divisions. Enter full round-robin play. No national champions came from this era, but the Big 12 maintained its national relevance with bell cows Oklahoma and Texas.
The third era has arrived with eight newcomers over the past two years plus the departure of the Sooners and Longhorns to the SEC. How will this time be defined, and can a power-program vacuum be filled?
Why not with Kansas State?
Some numbers point directly to the Wildcats. In the history of the Big 12, Oklahoma and Texas leave as the all-time winningest football programs. K-State was third and now takes over the top spot.
“I didn’t know that,” Kansas State linebacker Austin Moore said. “Obviously the past doesn’t mean anything for the future. But that’s pretty cool.”
Since the league’s kickoff season in 1996, K-State is 139-98 in Big 12 games and 222-125 overall. A close second is Oklahoma State at 132-105 and 220-129.
Who doesn’t like to be No. 1? And although Kansas State advanced to the head of the class because of the moves of others, the Wildcats are plenty worthy of a lofty status. There have been only six non-bowl or sub-.500 seasons in the league’s 28-year history.
K-State’s model of consistency is why Wildcats coach Chris Klieman believes the winning at highest level can continue.
“When I arrived at K-State I wanted to build sustained success and not have a one-off team,” said Klieman, starting his sixth year in Manhattan. “It’s a credit to the guys in the locker room that they wipe the slate clean and feel like they have to prove it all over again.”
Kansas State is the second choice in the Big 12 preseason football poll, one first-place vote behind Utah. Oklahoma State is third.
Although the Wildcats didn’t have a player selected for the preseason All-Big 12 team, there is plenty of excitement surrounding quarterback Avery Johnson, plus a loaded backfield and what should be a solid defense. Talk of a place in the first 12-team College Football Playoff isn’t unfounded.
But it is strange to assign expectation to the Wildcats, who have a well-earned reputation for punching above their weight class. This is a program that hasn’t been picked to win the Big 12 or the old North Division since 2004 and has won three league titles since 2003. K-State has long been a whole-is-greater-than-the-sum-of-the-parts team.
Now? There’s a new reality for Kansas State. What’s not known and difficult to project is how the 16-team league with eight newcomers over the past two years will take shape.
The teams are confronted with another new reality that is poised to have a major impact on all of college sports. Schools will soon be dealing with a revenue-sharing system with its athletes. The model, which still needs to be approved by a federal judge, would direct about 22% of the average power-league school’s annual revenue to athletes. That tab has been estimated at around $21 million annually.
When asked if the new conference could produce long stretches of dominance, like Oklahoma winning six straight Big 12 championships starting in 2015, Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy said the money may not allow it.
“I would guess that most schools in the league will distribute money somewhat equally,” Gundy said. “That will determine the type of players you have in your organization. Recruiting is still recruiting, but it won’t be as much recruiting as much as it will be to distribute the money to the players you need.”
How NFL-like does that sound?
The Sooners and Longhorns held a decided athletic revenue advantage in the Big 12. The league looks more financially balanced now.
“It’s going to be hard to have a real run on dominance,” Klieman said.
But delivering a consistent winner? In the Big 12, Kansas State has as good a shot as any program. It’s already there.
This story was originally published July 9, 2024 at 7:04 PM.