Ranking the Big 12 - #7 (article by Chris Flanagan)

[HornSports Staff]

 
submitted Today, 04:29 PM in Texas Longhorns Football By Chris Flanagan
 
In anticipation of the 2015 football season, Horn Sports will rank all ten teams in the Big 12 based on the anticipated finish of each school.

10. Kansas Jayhawks
9. Texas Tech Red Raiders
8. Iowa State Cyclones

#7 Kansas State Wildcats

Location: Manhattan, Kansas

Stadium: Bill Snyder Family Stadium (capacity 50,000)

2015 Recruiting Class rankings:
54th nationally, 8th Big 12 (247Sports)
45th nationally, 8th Big 12 (Rivals)

Returning starters: 14 (7 offense and 7 defense)

Preview
The Kansas State Wildcats are a tough opponent for any team, especially so for the Longhorns. However, Bill Snyder teams are disciplined yet predictable.

KSU is quarterback-centric, so the best years to take advantage of the Wildcats is after a QB departs. This fall, the Wildcats are replacing Jake Waters with Joe Hubener Jr, a former walk-on with 17 career passes in 8 appearances over his first three seasons. Not to mention Waters' favorite target, speedster Tyler Lockett, is gone too.

The positives entering fall camp are an offensive line returning 4 starters, and having Bill Snyder on the sideline. 2014's defense also returns, mostly intact, and several key players are primed to take starring roles this season.

Even with Snyder and a disciplined defense, the QB starter is uncertain, leading me to believe Kansas State will not finish in the top half of the Big 12.

Prediction: 7-5 (4-5 Big 12)

 

[Matt Cotcher]

Too bad the KSU and OkStU games aren't swapped. Texas would be much better off playing the Wildcats in September before they figure things out. Snyder's teams typically improve throughout the season, and UT gets 'em two months into it.