The Big 12 Conference is already showing its strength in numbers — in this case with teams placed in the national rankings ahead of the 2024 season.
Kansas State added a fifth team from the Big 12 to The Athletic's preseason national Top 25 rankings, debuting at No. 15 on June 4.
Kansas State joined fellow Big 12 teams in No. 8 Utah, No. 11 Oklahoma State, No. 13 Arizona and No. 20 Kansas.
Kansas State is led by fifth-year head coach Chris Klieman and two young stars in the backfield in sophomore quarterback Avery Johnson and sophomore running back Dylan Edwards, who transferred to Kansas State from Colorado in the offseason.
The Wildcats open the season on Aug. 31 at home against Tennessee-Martin and play Big 12 newcomer Arizona in their conference opener on Sept. 13 at Bill Snyder Family Stadium in Manhattan.