Kansas State football: Where could the Wildcats go if Big 12 dissolves?

What will the future hold for the Kansas State football team as the Big 12 faces turmoil?

The future is uncertain for the Big 12 as two more schools have announced that they are looking to leave the conference. Texas and Oklahoma are primed to leave the Big 12.

With the loss of the Sooners and the Longhorns, the Big 12 would have just eight remaining programs.

The big question is how will the departure of the two teams from the Big 12 affect the Kansas State football program, along with the remainder of the conference? The Big 12 has been declining over the past few years and it will interest many to see how the Big 12 conference will change as it moves forward.

K-State has been involved in the Big 12 dating back to the very beginning since of the conference, back when it started up in 1928 and was known as the Big 6. Many people can’t even imagine the Big 12 without Kansas State, so with the decline of Big 12 schools and the growing possibility of  K-State leaving, or the Big 12 conference disbanding, where could the Kansas State football program go after the Big 12?

Kansas State football: Where could Wildcats go after Big 12?

The next option for K-State if they ever leave the Big 12 conference, is joining with a new conference.

It’s a long shot, but I believe the best choice for them after the Big 12 is the Southeastern Conference or SEC. The SEC and K-State could make a strong alliance, the SEC is a prestigious conference and it’s quickly growing. Back in 2012, Texas A&M and Mizzou both made the jump from the Big 12 to the SEC.

Now, Texas and Oklahoma are headed over there for greener pastures.

But the biggest question here is would the SEC want the Kansas State Wildcats? Many Kansas State fans may not like the answer to that particular question. If K-State could make it over there, they would give the SEC a very popular football program that makes  regular appearances in the bowl games.

Kansas State last made it to a bowl game back in 2019, the Navy Bowl. That season, the Kansas State football program generated  a revenue of $89,919,822 in the, according to USA Today. The money and the fans are there, and that could give them a great bargaining chip if the Wildcats and SEC ever sat down to negotiate.

But given the SEC’s reputation for football, K-State could have a difficult time getting in. The Wildcats may have more a realistic option in the AAC.

Kansas State football: Could the Big 12 survive realignment?

While some people are speculating where K-State football could go next, there is also the possibility of Kansas State helping hold the Big 12 together.

In a joint statement released Monday evening by Kansas State Richard Myers and Athletics Director Gene Taylor, the two leaders for the Kansas State Wildcats did not give any indication about any current plans for the institution to leave the Big 12.

"“We have terrific leadership at the conference, university and state board of regent levels, and our fans should know that every effort is being made to put Kansas State and the Big 12 Conference in the best position moving forward.”"

The Big 12 conference will be something to pay attention to in the upcoming years and K-State will be right in the middle of it. K-State football, along with other programs in the Big 12, could very well continue to evolve as the conference continues to go into the new decade.