Kansas State enters the 2026 Big 12 season with a familiar name leading the program. Former Wildcats standout Collin Klein is now in charge, and one of the biggest storylines in the conference is whether he can help restore Kansas State to the level fans expect from a program with a strong recent identity.
The early outlook places the Wildcats in the middle tier of the Big 12, which suggests there is both pressure and opportunity in Manhattan. Kansas State appears to have enough on offense to stay competitive, but its ceiling may depend on whether the defense can make meaningful progress and provide more balance across the roster.
That combination makes the Wildcats a potential surprise team in the league. If the offense produces as expected and the defense closes the gap, Kansas State could outperform preseason projections and push higher up the conference standings than many expect.
Much of the attention will stay on Klein as he begins this new chapter as head coach after following Chris Klieman. For Kansas State, the 2026 season looks like a test of how quickly a respected former player can translate program familiarity into wins in a deep and unpredictable Big 12.
