Kansas State football receives votes in preseason coaches poll

The Kansas State football team missed out on a preseason ranking in the USA Today coaches poll, released Thursday morning, but the Wildcats received votes in the poll.

With 35 votes from various college football coaches, K-State was the seventh team in line for a top-25 ranking.

The Wildcats, coming off an 8-5 season that featured a victory in the Cactus Bowl, checked in one spot behind Texas A&M and one spot ahead of Florida Atlantic. K-State football players reported for the start of preseason camp on Thursday. They can begin working toward more votes when they begin practice on Friday.

A familiar team topped the preseason top 25 — Alabama. Clemson, Ohio State, Georgia and Oklahoma rounded out the top five.

The other Big 12 teams in the poll were TCU at No. 16, West Virginia at No. 20, Texas at No. 21 and Oklahoma State at No. 25. Like K-State, Iowa State received votes.

Also of note: K-State’s second game against Mississippi State will likely include at least one ranked team. The Bulldogs, who visit Bill Snyder Family Stadium on Sept. 8, are ranked No. 18.

USA Today/Amway coaches poll

1. Alabama (13-1) Points: 1,621 (61 first-place votes)

2. Clemson (12-2) 1,547 (3)

3. Ohio State (12-2) 1,458 (1)

4. Georgia (13-2) 1,452

5. Oklahoma (12-2) 1,288

6. Washington (10-3) 1,245

7. Wisconsin (13-1) 1,243

8. Miami (Fla.) (10-3) 1,091

9. Penn State (11-2) 1,050

10. Auburn (10-4) 1,004

11. Notre Dame (10-3) 892

12. Michigan State (10-3) 870

13. Stanford (9-5) 768

14. Michigan (8-5) 752

15. Southern California (11-3) 691

16. TCU (11-3) 530

17. Virginia Tech (9-4) 524

18. Mississippi State (9-4) 407

19. Florida State (7-6) 328

20. West Virginia (7-6) 310

21. Texas (7-6) 265

22. Boise State (11-3) 261

23. Central Florida (13-0) 259

24. LSU (9-4) 254

25. Oklahoma State (10-3) 168

Other receiving votes: South Carolina (9-4) 138; Florida (4-7) 135; Oregon (7-6) 105; Utah (7-6) 81; Northwestern (10-3) 67; Texas A&M (7-6) 67; Kansas State (8-5) 35; Florida Atlantic (11-3) 27; Boston College (7-6) 23; Memphis (10-3) 23; North Carolina State (9-4) 22; Arkansas State (7-5) 19; Troy (11-2) 19; Appalachian State (9-4) 16; San Diego State (10-3) 15; Iowa (8-5) 8; Iowa State (8-5) 8; Kentucky (7-6) 8; Washington State (9-4) 7; South Florida (10-2) 6; Duke (7-6) 5; Fresno State (10-4) 4; Louisville (8-5) 3; Arizona (7-6) 2; Houston (7-5) 2; Army (10-3) 1; Northern Illinois (8-5) 1.