With the Big 12's schedule all but complete, it's time to take another look at a Big 12 team's upcoming slate this fall.
Next up: Let's take a look at the Wildcats of Manhattan.
Nonconference (with 2010 records):
Sept. 3: Eastern Kentucky (6-5)
Sept. 17: Kent State (5-7)
Sept. 24: at Miami (7-6)
Home Big 12 games:
Oct. 1: Baylor (7-6)
Oct. 8: Missouri (10-3)
Oct. 29: Oklahoma (12-2)
Nov. 12: Texas A&M (9-4)
Dec. 3: Iowa State (5-7)
Away Big 12 games:
Oct. 15: Texas Tech (8-5)
Oct. 22: Kansas(3-9)
Nov. 5: Oklahoma State (11-2)
Nov. 19: at Texas (5-7)
Gut-check game: Baylor. The conference opener should give us a decent feel of what to expect from the Wildcats. The Bears knocked off K-State to reach bowl eligibility last year, but K-State can lend some serious credibility to its status as a bowl team if it beats Baylor in Manhattan to get to 1-0 in conference play.
Voodoo re-do: at Texas. The Wildcats are on one side of the most head-spinning series in Big 12 history. K-State is 6-2 against Texas in Big 12 play, and delivered the worst beating of anyone to the Longhorns last year, racing to a 39-0 lead after three quarters in Manhattan. We'll see if K-State's odd reign over the Longhorns continues with a late-season clash in Austin.
Snoozer: Eastern Kentucky. The FCS Colonels hung tough with Louisville last year, losing 23-13, but were blown out by teams like Southeast Missouri State and Chattanooga. K-State should be able to handle this one.
Noncon challenge: Miami. The Hurricanes had more talent than a 7-6 team a year ago, but the Wildcats will get an up-close look at the beginning stages of the Al Golden Era in Coral Gables. Linebacker Arthur Brown will be going up against his former teammates, too.
Chance to impress: Missouri. The Tigers have had a lot of success against Kansas State of late, beating the Wildcats by at least 17 in every game since 2006. But if James Franklin doesn't become the quarterback Missouri hopes he will, the Wildcats will have a chance to expose him. K-State beat Missouri every year from 1993-2005, and getting back to that kind of dominance would be a good step in turning around the program.
Analysis: Kansas State is one of the Big 12 teams that gets the benefit of a five-game home schedule in Big 12 play, but it's a very balanced schedule on the road and in Manhattan for the Wildcats. Additionally, it's a nice balance of timing, as well. The final five games of the season rotate home-away each week, and the conference slate begins with two home games, giving the Wildcats a chance to start strong in conference. Those two teams to start the conference season, Baylor and Missouri, could win in Manhattan, and a trip to Lubbock the following week could easily land K-State at a frustrating 0-3 to begin conference play, too.
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