Happy New Year!

Overall, 2024 was a successful calendar year for K-State Sports. The football team finished 9-4 and won the Rate Bowl, the men’s basketball team made the NIT, the women’s basketball team made it to the second round of the NCAA tournament, and the baseball team made the NCAA super regional round.

Hopefully, all of these programs will take a step forward in 2025. Can they do it? I am optimistic about some and not so optimistic about others. Here is what I would like to see each program accomplish in 2025, along with my realistic expectations for each program.

K-State Baseball

What I’d like to see: A return to the NCAA baseball tournament.

What I expect to see: K-State lost some key players off of the 2024 team, with five players from the roster selected in the major league baseball draft. The BatCats have some key transfers coming in to help in 2025, but there are a lot of questions about the team. They have a lot of offensive production and pitching to replace. I expect they will be a contender to win the Big 12 and, should they do that, will be selected to compete again in the NCAA post-season tournament.

K-State Women’s Basketball

What I’d like to see: A Final Four appearance.

What I expect to see: The K-State women should win the Big 12 post-season tournament and receive the league’s auto-bid to the NCAA tournament. They’re currently 13-1 on the season with their only loss to a ranked Duke squad. This is the best K-State women’s basketball team in quite some time and, barring something unforeseen or catastrophic, they should be a shoo-in for the NCAA tournament. Unfortunately, they always seem to disappoint once they get to the tournament, so it would be nice to see them make a run at the Final Four in 2025. Can they do it? I’ll believe it when I see it. However, I would be disappointed with anything less than a Sweet 16 appearance.

K-State Men’s Basketball

What I’d like to see: An NCAA tournament appearance.

What I expect to see: Despite playing well in a victory over a ranked Cincinnati team on Monday night, the Wildcats have been dismal much of the season. Is the victory against the Bearcats a sign that the Wildcats are turning things around? Unfortunately, I don’t get that feeling. I’m still expecting this team to miss out on the NCAA tournament again. They might not make the NIT this year, either. If they don’t, I think Jerome Tang will get one more year in Manhattan to prove he can get it done.

K-State Football

What I’d like to see: A Big 12 championship and an appearance in the College Football Playoff.

What I expect to see: A trip to the Big 12 championship game and an appearance in the College Football Playoff. It won’t be easy with Arizona State quarterback Sam Leavitt returning and Iowa State’s Rocco Becht returning. I’m assuming the Sun Devils and the Cyclones will be heavy favorites to win the Big 12 in 2025. The Wildcats should also be in the mix with the weapons they are returning on offense, led by quarterback Avery Johnson. Win the first game of the season in Ireland against Iowa State, and that could springboard K-State to another Big 12 championship game appearance. I also expect the Big 12 could get two teams in the playoff in 2025 after Arizona State’s impressive performance against Texas. That, of course, remains to be seen.

Even if these predictions don’t come true, it should be another exciting year for K-State sports in 2025!