Just a few days ago, the Big 12 announced that it wouldn't do its annual preseason media poll, projecting which teams had a chance at the conference title and which teams people could rightfully sleep on in the coming season.
However, seemingly 48 hours after announcing there would be no media poll, the Big 12 announced that coaches had taken part in a poll conducted by On3, choosing which teams would meet in the conference championship game.
Despite a possible dozen or so returning players making up the starting lineup for the Kansas Jayhawks, the conference's coaches seemingly didn't even look in their direction for a chance at the title. Even worse? They picked the Kansas State Wildcats to win it all.
Big 12 coaches project conference championship game
- Kansas State Wildcats (8 total votes: 6 first place, 2 second place)
- Iowa State Cyclones (7 total votes: 7 second place)
- Arizona State Sun Devils (6 total votes: 4 first place, 2 second place)
- Texas Tech Red Raiders (5 total votes: 3 first place, 2 second place)
- TCU Horned Frogs (3 total votes: 2 first place, 1 second place)
- Baylor Bears (2 total votes: 1 first place, 1 second place)
- Utah Utes (1 total vote: 1 second place)
Out of the 16 teams that are currently in the Big 12, only six received votes from the coaches. Don't worry, coaches were not allowed to vote for their own teams, so Leipold didn't have the chance to back his Jayhawks.
For Kansas to fall short of even a singular runner-up vote? It's quite simply disrespectful, at best. However, the season is yet to come. To be exact, it's over a month away. Then there are 12 regular-season games, nine of them being against conference opponents. The Jayhawks can prove everyone wrong.
The Big 12 Championship is scheduled for Dec. 6, 2025. It will be played at the home of the Dallas Cowboys, AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX.