Kansas State checks in at No. 18 in Preseason AP Top 25
Kansas State will start the 2024 season as the country’s 18th best team, according to the Preseason AP Top 25 dropped on Monday. This marks the second straight season that K-State will be in the Preseason Top 25. In both 2022 and 2023, K-State finished the season inside the final AP Top 25 poll.
The Wildcats enter the 2024 season with high expectations again. Chris Klieman’s sixth season in Manhattan started with being one vote shy of tying Utah for the preseason favorite in the Big 12’s media poll.
K-State returns a bevy of starters on the defensive side of the ball, including All-Big 12 linebacker Austin Moore. He is joined by experienced defensive backs Jacob Parrish, Keenan Garber, VJ Payne and Marques Sigle.
Offensively, K-State brings back DJ Giddens for his second season as the lead back. In year one with the role, Giddens ran for over 1,200 yards and will likely be top five in that category at K-State when the season ends. Avery Johnson will assume the role of starting quarterback, after a prolific prep career and being a four-star recruit, Johnson appeared in most games in 2023. He was the catalyst in wins over Texas Tech and NC State.
In addition to K-State, the Big 12 placed five teams in the AP Top 25. Utah is the highest at No. 11. Oklahoma State checked in one spot ahead of K-State at No. 17, with Arizona and Kansas behind them.
Preseason AP Top 25
- Georgia (46)
- Ohio State (15)
- Oregon (1)
- Texas
- Alabama
- Ole Miss
- Notre Dame
- Penn State
- Michigan
- Florida State
- Missouri
- Utah
- LSU
- Clemson
- Tennessee
- Oklahoma
- Oklahoma State
- K-State
- Miami
- Texas A&M
- Arizona
- Kansas
- USC
- NC State
- Iowa
