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.

After a long and busy season for college athletics, the football season arrives with a host of tantalizing angles.

Somehow, my friends, we did it again. We managed to survive the cold, dreary weeks without any college football to watch on Saturdays.