Last week’s upset loss at Houston may not have eliminated Kansas State football from the College Football Playoff picture, but it certainly made for a much steeper climb.
What’s more, it had some media experts dropping the No. 21-ranked Wildcats (7-2, 4-2 Big 12) down the Big 12-affiliated bowl pecking order.
That said if K-State wins out to end the regular season, beating Arizona and Cincinnati at home and Iowa State on the road, advancing to the Big 12 championship game is not out of the question. But to get to Arlington on Dec. 7, the Wildcats also would need Colorado (6-2, 4-1) to lose at least once.
A victory at Iowa State (7-1, 4-1) would give the Wildcats the head-to-head advantage against both the Cyclones and Colorado, though they lost to first-place Brigham Young (8-0, 5-0). K-State was ranked No. 19 in the first CFP selection committee poll on Tuesday.
Two weeks ago, K-State was virtually a unanimous pick to end up at the Alamo Bowl on Dec. 28 in San Antonio, Texas, according to various media outlets’ predictions. That possibility still remains, though so does a drop to the Pop-Tarts Bowl in Orlando, also on Dec. 28, or to the Texas Bowl in Houston on Dec. 31.
While the Wildcats try to take advantage of a bye week to get back on track, here is where multiple media outlets have them going in December.
Related:Chris Klieman refuses to use weather as excuse for Kansas State football’s loss to Houston
Related:Kansas State football report card: Grading the Wildcats’ performance in upset loss
CBS Sports, ESPN, Bleacher Report: Kansas State football vs. Washington State in Alamo Bowl
CBS Sports’ Jerry Palm, Mark Schlabach of ESPN and Bleacher Report’s David Kenyon not only agree that K-State is headed to San Antonio and the Alamo Bowl, but that the Wildcats will face Washington State.
It would be the first-ever meeting between the Wildcats and Cougars, one of the two teams remaining in the Pac-12 after a mass exodus to the Big 12 and Big Ten. All former Pac-12 teams will honor their previous bowl tie-ins through next season.
USA Today: Pop-Tarts Bowl vs. Clemson
USA Today’s Erick Smith, who two weeks ago had K-State pegged for the CFP, now has the Wildcats returning to Orlando, where last year they beat North Carolina State, 28-19, in Avery Johnson’s starting debut at quarterback.
ESPN: Pop-Tarts Bowl vs. Pittsburgh
ESPN’s Kyle Bonagura did not agree with colleague Schlabach, instead sending K-State back to Orlando, only this time to face Pittsburgh.
Sports Illustrated: Pop-Tarts Bowl vs. Syracuse
SI’s Patrick Andres also anticipates a return trip to Florida for the Wildcats, only he has time lining up against Syracuse.
Action Network: Texas Bowl vs. Arkansas
K-State is no stranger to the Texas Bowl, either, and Brett McMurphy thinks the Wildcats will be in Houston on New Year’s Eve to take on Arkansas.
Arne Green is based in Salina and covers Kansas State University sports for the Gannett network. He can be reached at agreen@gannett.com or on X (formerly Twitter) at @arnegreen.
