MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — Kansas State is favored to play for a Big 12 title for the second time in three years even without star power. The Wildcats are picked to finish second in the new-look league. Kansas State will be led by dynamic dual-threat quarterback Avery Johnson, who may have the best chance of turning some heads nationally. Kansas State opens Aug. 31 against UT-Martin before a tough trip to Tulane. The Wildcats also play Big 12 newcomer Arizona in a non-league game before a tough stretch against BYU, Oklahoma State and Colorado.
LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Kansas quarterback Jalon Daniels is expected to be healthy and ready when the Jayhawks open the season against Lindenwood on Aug. 29. That is good news for a program that hoped he would lead it to big things last season, only to watch as back trouble limited the dual-threat quarterback to just three games. The Jayhawks return plenty of stars from a team that won nine games, including the Guaranteed Rate Bowl. Among them is Devin Neal, who is in sight of June Henley's school career rushing mark. The key to the season could be Oct. 26, when the Jayhawks play rival Kansas State, which is picked to finish second in the Big 12.
UNDATED (AP) — Oklahoma State has a golden opportunity to establish itself as a dominant force in the new-look Big 12. The Cowboys return most of the talent from a 10-4 team that beat Oklahoma, reached the Big 12 title game and beat Texas A&M in the Texas Bowl. Included is running back Ollie Gordon II. He finished seventh in the Heisman race last year. Now that Oklahoma and Texas are in the Southeastern Conference, Oklahoma State is poised to take another step. The Cowboys have 11 starters back on offense and 10 on defense.
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Central Florida didn’t expect its transition to the Big 12 to be easy. The Knights won six games in their inaugural season in the conference, appeared in a bowl game for an eighth consecutive season and were a lot more competitive than a 3-6 league record might suggest. While that may not sound too bad, it wasn’t nearly good enough for coach Gus Malzahn and his players. The Knights have a new quarterback in Arkansas transfer KJ Jefferson, and Malzahn thinks the experience his team gained a year ago will be beneficial as it tries to close the gap with the Big 12's top teams.
TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) — Arizona made a rapid rise under coach Jedd Fisch, going from a school-record 20-game losing streak to 10 wins and a bowl victory in three years. Fisch is now at Washington and it’s Brent Brennan’s turn to keep the momentum going as the program shifts to the Big 12. The former San Jose State coach has the type of roster to continue the upward trajectory, with a quarterback who could end up being in the Heisman Trophy conversation and one of the nation’s best receivers. The defense has made vast improvements.
BOULDER, Colo. (AP) — The Colorado Buffaloes begin Year 2 under coach Deion Sanders when they host FCS power North Dakota State. This season promises to be as entertaining as ever for Sanders and company, with celebrities galore sure to show up at Folsom Field along with pro scouts. After all, quarterback Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter are not only Heisman hopefuls but possible top NFL picks. The Buffaloes once again retooled their roster after a 4-8 season that began with a 3-0 start.