Kansas State Given Best Big 12 Odds to Make College Football Playoff

Kansas State has quietly emerged as the Big 12’s most likely team to reach the College Football Playoff, at least according to Circa Sportsbook.

The Wildcats were recently given +400 odds, the best line in the conference for any playoff bid.

That figure places K-State ahead of up-and-coming frontrunners like Texas Tech, Utah, and Arizona State, each of which is sitting below the Wildcats but with sub +500 odds. For context, +400 translates to a 20  percent implied chance, far above any other league contender.

The odds reflect both reputation and practical paths forward. With strong returning production and a soft non-conference schedule, the Wildcats have momentum on their side. FanDuel and DraftKings also list K-State as co-favorites to win the Big 12 title, reinforcing its place on the shortlist.

That confidence in Kansas State isn’t just about favorable scheduling or sportsbook optimism. It starts at the top with head coach Chris Klieman, who has built a culture rooted in physicality, discipline, and week-to-week consistency. Since arriving in Manhattan, Klieman has made K-State one of the most stable programs in the Big 12, and now he’s got a cast capable of turning potential into something bigger.

Quarterback Avery Johnson enters the year as one of the most dynamic young playmakers in the country, while running back Dylan Edwards brings explosive speed and versatility to the offense. That pairing, along with a proven coaching infrastructure, gives the Wildcats both the firepower and the foundation to justify every bit of that +400 mark.

Still, history reminds us that such futures come with risk. In 2024, Arizona State won the conference as a massive long shot, and the league’s width means any slip-up could be fatal. With a nine-game round-robin Big 12 schedule and just one non-conference Power Four test required under league rules, there’s little room for error.

Momentum, odds, resumes—they all point to Manhattan. Circa’s +400 line doesn’t make Kansas State a lock, but it does make them the Big 12’s current standard-bearer in the race toward the College Football Playoff.