Preseason Poll Snub Could Serve As A Positive Omen For Kansas State Wildcats
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Kansas State football fans were probably upset about being left out of both preseason college football polls.
Here's why they shouldn't be upset: this isn't that big of a deal because the games still have to be determined on the field. In fact, fans could actually embrace it, especially if things play out the same way as they did the last time it happened.
You only go back to 2022 for when the Wildcats were last left out of both polls. And what happened? K-State won the Big 12 championship.
The Wildcats finished the regular season with a 9-3 record under former coach Chris Klieman before knocking off the Texas A & M Aggies in the conference championship game. The season ended with a 45-20 loss to the Alabama Crimson Tide in the Sugar Bowl.
K-State knew it was going to have to defy the media odds before the polls were even announced. They were picked to finish eighth in the conference by the league media preseason poll.
The Wildcats have bigger things to focus on other than what is said by outsiders. The only thing on their minds should be making sure the transition is smooth under first-year coach Collin Klein. After two seasons as the Texas A & M offensive coordinator, he gets the opportunity to serve as the leading man at alma mater.
Klein starred for the Wildcats in the early 2010s, earning a spot among the Heisman finalists. The award went to Aggies quarterback Johnny Manziel but Klein remains one of the best players in K-State history.
Now, he gets to play a role in possibly helping another quarterback leave a lasting legacy in Manhattan. Senior Avery Johnson is entering his third season as the full-time starter, and possibly the last of his career. He may become eligible for a fifth year under new NCAA rules but he's only focused on the now.
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Kansas State's Collin Klein slowly settling in as a head coach
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Shandel Richardson is the publisher of KStateRoundtable. He can be reached at shandelrich@gmail.com
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