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The Kansas State Wildcats clock in 19th in the preseason football USA Today Coaches’ Poll, released today. K-State received 339 points from the poll’s 65 voters.
The Wildcats ended the 2016 season ranked 27th with a 9-4 record and a victory over Texas A&M in the Texas Bowl.
K-State is the third-highest ranked Big 12 team in the preseason poll, with Oklahoma (8th) and Oklahoma State (11th) ranked ahead. West Virginia is right behind K-State, ranked 20th, but only ranked about 1⁄3 of a spot behind K-State on the average ballot.
Coaches’ Poll voters must be really excited about Tom Herman, as Texas is ranked 23rd despite having a 5-7 record a year ago.
TCU is the only Big 12 school outside the top 25 receiving votes, coming in at an effective ranking of 28th.
The Alabama Crimson Tide take the top spot in the poll, with 49 first-place votes. Other teams receiving first-place votes include Ohio State (2nd) with 5, Florida State (4th) with 4, and Clemson (5th) with 7.
None of the former Big 12 schools currently crack the top 25, with Colorado, Texas A&M, and Nebraska all falling in the “others receiving votes” category, and Missouri entirely absent.