But an underrated player has floated in a recent ESPN list: veteran safety Gunner Maldonado. The former Arizona star is one of Kansas State's major transfer acquisitions and is anticipated to aid a backfield that lost its two stars to the NFL Draft.

In the wacky, wide-open world of the new Big 12 Conference, both Iowa State and Kansas State have aspirations of winning the league and earning that automatic bid to the College Football Playoff. ISU played for the conference title last year, while KSU has been a consistent presence among Big 12 contenders for many years.