Kansas State was one of six Big 12 football teams ranked in the 2012 USA Today Coaches Poll released today as the Cats checked in at No. 21 in the preseason survey. The ranking marked the first time since 2004 that a K-State team has been ranked in the preseason coaches poll — the Cats checked in at No. 13 that season. K-State’s inclusion in this year’s preseason poll marks the ninth time since the formation of the Big 12 in 1996 that the Wildcats have been ranked in the survey’s top 25. Other Big 12 programs joining the Cats in the preseason poll were Oklahoma (fourth), West Virginia (11th), Texas (15th), TCU (17th) and Oklahoma State (19th).