Oklahoma football: How does the Big 12 stack up behind OU in 2018?

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NORMAN, OK – OCTOBER 15: Defensive back Brogan Barry #18 of the Kansas State Wildcats takes the field before the game against the Oklahoma Sooners October 15, 2016 at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Oklahoma. Oklahoma defeated Kansas State 38-17. (Photo by Brett Deering/Getty Images) *** local caption *** Brogan Barry; /

No. 6 Kansas State Wildcats (6-6, 5-4)

One fundamental truth about Big 12 football is: As long as Bill Snyder is at Kansas State, you can never count out the Wildcats, regardless of the circumstances. K-State won eight games a year ago, but the Cats closed out the season with wins in five of their last six games.

The heart and soul of the K-State offense rests up front with all five offensive line starters returning in 2018. The offense should be the strength of the team, with two highly interchangeable quarterbacks who both have experience as starters and a solid run game that averaged close to 200 yards a game last season.

Where the Wildcats will probably ground this season is on defense. The defensive unit was hit hard with departures, which means there will be plenty of inexperience and uncertainty heading into the new season.

Kansas State will face a top-25 team in Mississippi State in the nonconference portion of the schedule and they have to go on the road for five Big 12 games, including at Oklahoma, TCU and West Virginia.

It could be a difficult year for Bill Snyder’s team, but somehow the dean of Big 12 football coaches also manages to get his team on the right side of the fence at season’s end.

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