Since 2011, the Big 12 team with the most conference victories isn't Oklahoma. It isn't Baylor, either.

Actually, that honor goes to Kansas State, which has piled up 27 league wins, one more than the Sooners and Bears. Yet, during the same span, the Wildcats haven't been picked to finish better than third in the Big 12.

That trend continued this season, as the media tabbed Kansas State to place seventh in the league. This preseason placement isn't unfair. The Wildcats after all have to replace several key players from last season's team, including quarterback Jake Waters, All-American wideout Tyler Lockett and a host of other key performers like center B.J. Finney, defensive end Ryan Mueller and leading tackler Jonathan Truman.

Then again, as the Kansas City Star's Kellis Robinett points out, Bill Snyder always seems to defy preseason expectations. In 2011, the Wildcats were picked eighth and finished second. In 2012, they were picked sixth and won the conference. And in 2013, they were picked sixth and finished fifth.

"Coach (Snyder) loves to be an underdog," offensive tackle Cody Whitehair told Robinett. "Anytime you go in as an underdog you have got nothing to lose. You have got no pride to lose. Why not just go out and play, play the game you love and have fun. That is what we bank a lot of our seasons on, and I think that is why we have been successful."

Kansas State does have some major retooling to work through this preseason. The Wildcats have a four-way quarterback competition to replace Waters. The Wildcats are also untested at receiver and in places along the front seven.

Then again, Snyder and the Wildcats should never be written off. History has proven that.

"Strange things happens," Snyder said. "You look back at the preseason voters and more miss than get it right. It is guesswork. I think anybody can get anybody on any given day. I have seen it happen too many times. Everybody has a chance."