Kansas State is officially in the AP Top 25 again, kicking off the 2025 season at No. 17. For some programs, that’s business as usual. For K-State, it’s a sign of something bigger: consistency. This is the third straight year the Wildcats have opened the season ranked, and that’s not just about hype — it’s about respect.
You can feel it. The program’s no longer that “maybe they’ll surprise us” team. They’re a team everyone knows will show up, play disciplined football, and win more often than not. That kind of reputation doesn’t come easy in the Big 12, especially when you’ve got to face the likes of Arizona State, Iowa State, and Texas Tech — all of which are also ranked.
The schedule starts with a bang: a ranked-vs.-ranked showdown with Iowa State in Dublin on August 23. It’s the kind of game that could send K-State shooting up the rankings or knock them right back out. That’s the reality of early-season football — one big win or loss can change everything.
But here’s the thing: for the first time in a long time, it doesn’t feel like K-State is just fighting to prove they belong. They already do. Now it’s about proving they can stay there. If they can run the table early, handle the middle of the schedule, and show up in the big moments, there’s no reason this team can’t flirt with the Top 10.
The last time the Wildcats stayed ranked from start to finish was 2014. It’s been a long climb back to that kind of season. This might be the year they get there.
