Missouri opens the 2026 college football season with a spot in the Associated Press preseason top 25, while Kansas and K-State were left out entirely.
The Tigers checked in at No. 25 in the first AP rankings of the year, a sign that voters expect Eli Drinkwitz to keep Missouri on track for a seventh straight bowl trip and build on last season’s 8-5 finish. Missouri is also the only team from the region included in the poll.
The SEC showed its usual strength in the preseason list, with nine teams ranked. Along with Missouri, the conference placed Georgia at No.
3, Texas at No. 5, Texas A&M at No.
8, Mississippi at No. 9, Oklahoma at No.
10, LSU at No. 11, Alabama at No. 13 and Tennessee at No.
Kansas and Kansas State didn’t draw a single vote in the AP rankings, leaving both programs outside the national conversation as the season nears.
For Kansas, the omission fits a program trying to recover from back-to-back losing seasons in Lawrence while replacing former quarterback Jalon Daniels.
K-State had at least picked up some preseason attention under new head coach Collin Klein, earning votes in the USA Today preseason rankings, but that wasn’t enough to crack the AP top 25. The Wildcats are aiming to put together a strong season behind veteran quarterback Avery Johnson after passing on a bowl invitation at 6-6 last year.
The Big 12 placed four teams in the national rankings: Texas Tech at No. 12, BYU at No.
14, Utah at No. 21 and Houston at No. 23.
Ohio State opened the poll at No. 1, followed by Oregon, Georgia, Notre Dame and Texas.
In Other News...
Chris Klieman Revealed Why Collin Klein Made Sense For Kansas State
Collin Kleins return to Manhattan as Kansas States offensive coordinator did not happen by accident, and Chris Klieman made clear there was a natural fit behind it. The two had built a longstanding relationship, and Klieman said the timing lined up once he had decided to step down, opening the door for a conversation that had real momentum behind it. From his perspective, Klein brought the kind of familiarity and credibility that made the move make sense for the program.
Klieman also framed the transition as one built on support rather than overreach, which matters in a spot as important as offensive coordinator. He said he intends to be available as an advisory presence for Klein, serving as a sounding board and offering administrative help as needed. For Kansas State, the interesting part now is how that partnership settles in and how much of the Wildcats next offensive identity will be shaped by a familiar hand back in the building. [Read more 🡒]
Kansas State Is Already Chasing The Next Big In-State Core
Kansas States recruiting momentum is already rolling into the next cycle, with Collin Klein and the Wildcats staff turning attention toward the 2028 class even after landing a strong 2027 group that already sits at 27 commitments. The early emphasis is familiar for this program: build from home first, identify the best in-state talent, and keep the pipeline steady before the 2026 season even arrives.
The quarterback board is part of that early groundwork, with Titus Huard and Cannon Zubeck among the names drawing attention as Kansas State shapes what it hopes will become the next key in-state core. For a staff trying to stay ahead of the curve, the challenge is less about finding interest and more about holding it long enough to turn an early list of targets into another class that fits the Wildcats long-term plan. [Read more 🡒]
Avery Johnson And Collin Klein Could Change Kansas State's Ceiling
Collin Kleins return to Kansas State has added a familiar face to the middle of a transition, and maybe the one relationship that matters most in the building right now is the one he already had with Avery Johnson. Klein recruited Johnson before leaving for two seasons as offensive coordinator at Texas A&M, and now the first-year Wildcats coach is back in Manhattan trying to steer the program after Chris Kliemans resignation. For a team picked to finish eighth in the Big 12, the pairing at least gives Kansas State a clear place to start.
What makes the setup interesting is how much of the Wildcats ceiling may depend on whether that connection translates from trust to production. Johnson has already worked with Klein in the past, and Klein knows what he saw in him during the recruiting process, which gives this staff a chance to build around a quarterback-coach relationship that does not need much introduction. The prediction outside the program may be modest, but Kansas State is counting on familiarity to help it climb above it. [Read more 🡒]