We are 63 days away from K-State kicking off the 2024 college football season, and this is one of the most anticipated seasons in recent memory, as K-State is one of a few favorites to contend for a Big 12 championship this fall. I looked at the schedule and can make a case for K-State winning against every opponent they face. I can also make a case for a loss against quite a few of the opposition.

I thought I would start my 2024 football season preview series by ranking K-State’s six home games from least to most compelling. Here we go.

6. UT Martin, August 31^st

The University of Tennessee at Martin is a member of the Big South Conference in the FCS division. They had a good season in 2023, going 5-1 in their conference and tying for first place. That said, K-State should (hopefully) easily take care of business against the Skyhawks.

5. Cincinnati, November 23rd

The Bearcats finished last in the Big 12 in 2023 with a 1-8 conference record. It is the second to last game of the regular season. If K-State is in a battle to win the conference this late in the season, this game will have a bit of juice, but it doesn’t right now.

4. Arizona State, November 16th

K-State and Arizona State haven’t played each other since the Holiday Bowl in 2002. It’s difficult to say if Arizona State might make some noise in this version of the Big 12. They were 3-9 in the Pac 12 in 2023 and lost their final game to Arizona, 59-23.

3. Arizona, September 13th

This matchup is a non-conference game scheduled before Arizona joined the Big 12, so it will not count in the Big 12 standings. It will be K-State’s first big test of 2024, and it will be played on a Friday evening and broadcast nationally on Fox. The winner of this game might be considered the early favorite to win the Big 12, so it is a great opportunity for the Wildcats to make a good impression in a nationally televised game.

2. Oklahoma State, September 28th

After the Arizona game, K-State travels to BYU and a week later returns home to play the Cowboys, who are always a contender in the Big 12. This is a huge early-season game that will have major implications for who might end up playing in Arlington at the end of the season.

1. Kansas, October 26th

Is Kansas a contender or a pretender? We will likely know the answer to that question by the time this game kicks off. Kansas hasn’t won the Sunflower Showdown since 2008, but they think they have the roster and coaching staff to beat K-State this year. I’ll still believe it when I see it, but I have this game circled on my calendar as the home game of the year.

I analyze the home schedule as a best-case 6-0 and worst-case 3-3 record. It’s not a bad home slate, with three teams expected to contend to win the league. Going undefeated at home would go a long way to ensuring the Wildcats play in Arlington at the end of the season. How does the road schedule look? I’ll break it down next week.