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The Big 12’s 2014 football schedule has been released, and although it features a couple back-to-back weeks that anyone would have trouble traversing, overall it appears well-balanced and amiable to the Wildcats reentering the conference championship picture next season.
K-State is still searching for a nonconference opponent to begin the year. After opening on August 30 against Stephen F. Austin State University in Manhattan, there are two opening weeks separating a meeting with Auburn. Because SFA is an FCS program, the athletic department will seek an FBS opponent to fill one of those weeks as only one victory over an FCS school is allowed to count towards bowl eligibility. There are still smaller conference schools out there that will take a check for playing in Manhattan, but options are narrowing. Bill Snyder will likely shoot for the 6th of September, giving the team an extra week to prepare for an Auburn team currently ranked 9th in the nation.
The Wildcats have another week off after Auburn (although their 12th game could go here) before opening Big 12 play against Texas Tech at home. Following are match ups against Iowa State, Oklahoma, Texas, Oklahoma State, and TCU. The middle of that schedule is brutal (OU, UT, OSU), but the team is rewarded with a bye following its trip to Fort Worth.
K-State concludes the season against West Virginia, KU, and finally Baylor in a stretch of games that each hold a bit of rivalry for one reason or another. If Baylor is as powerful next year, giving K-State a bye, West Virginia, and a
bye
game against KU will allow an excellent opportunity to prepare for the Bears and finish out the regular season. I haven’t had the chance to examine anyone else’s schedule, but from what I see, it looks like the Big 12 did a great job in mixing up K-State’s slate.