K-State Picked To Finish Sixth In The Big 12 By Media
By Dave Thoman
Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
In a repeat of the 2012 media poll, Kansas State was once again picked to finish sixth in the Big 12 this season (they sure learned their lesson from last year, huh!). No one should be surprised. There’s a great unknown at quarterback, leading receiver Chris Harper was drafted by Seattle while Arthur Brown was drafted by Baltimore and a host of other seniors were picked up by NFL teamsto work out this summer – not to mention Big 12 MVP Collin Klein’s departure. Still, the O-line is back, there are two excellent QB candidates to step up and take the reigns, the best return duo in the nation resides in Manhattan, and folks should finally be coming around to believing the kitchen cupboard ain’t bare on defense. Meh, who cares – the media underestimates this team every year and Snyder thrives on the challenge. Here’s how the media voted everyone this year:
- Oklahoma State (15) 365
- Okahoma (8) 355
- TCU (9) 347
- Texas (8) 337
- Baylor (2) 282
- K-State (1) 240
- Texas Tech 161
- West Virginia 126
- Iowa State 96
- Kansas 56
As you can see, this appears to be a wide-open field with six teams (including K-State) garnering at least one first place vote. Even when there were 12 in the league, this is the most teams to receive a first place vote in conference history (I couldn’t find whether six is the highest ever or if it tied another year, but that’s quite the statement either way). Oklahoma State leading the pack should come as no surprise, but everything I’ve read indicates that the Sooners are prepared for a down year after significant departures on both sides of the ball – it’s interesting that they’re placed second. Honestly, the top six teams could conceivably play a round-robin tournament with everyone going 2-3/3-2. There’s not a lot of separation here, and getting into the national championship game should not be an expectation for the Big 12 this year because no one will survive unscathed. Okie State, TCU, and Texas have all improved from last year. Baylor should pick up where it left off in 2012, when the Bears upended K-State and destroyed UCLA in the Holiday Bowl. Expect Texas Tech to make a little noise as well, just a bit behind the top six.
This poll reinforces everyone’s notion that while the SEC may have the most elite talent, there is no deeper league than the Big 12. Each team in the top six should be ranked in the top 25, although the Big 12 may struggle to keep a team in the top 10. That’s the sort of year 2013 looks like it’s shaping up to be. Every week will be a battle, and the most exciting football in the nation is going to be played on the American Great Plains.