Kansas State, Iowa State fined $500K by Big 12 for…
Kansas State and Iowa State determined bowling is best left to Pete Weber, youngsters birthday events and leisure beer leagues.
OK, that’s not the same sport.
But the Kansas State and Iowa State school soccer applications opted not to settle for invites to bowl video games and thus had been fined $500,000 apiece by the Big 12.
Defensive end Alexander McPherson #98 of the Colorado Buffaloes tackles Qua Moss #6 of the Kansas State Wildcats in the second half at Bill Snyder Family Football Stadium on November 29, 2025. Getty Images
The commonality between the 2 applications is that each just misplaced its head coach.
Iowa State (8-4) misplaced Matt Campbell to Penn State and changed him with former Washington State coach Jimmy Rogers.
Kansas State misplaced Chris Klieman to retirement and employed Texas A&M offensive coordinator Collin Klein, an alumnus and former quarterback.
“While the Conference acknowledges the difficult timing around coaching changes, the Big 12 is responsible for fulfilling its contractual obligations to its bowl partners,” the convention said in a assertion.
Iowa State said its determination was made by the gamers.
“The administrative staff and coaches respect and support the players’ decision,” Cyclones athletic director Jamie Pollard said in a assertion. “Our student-athletes have had an incredible season and we are grateful for their leadership as we worked through this process with them today.”
Kansas State athletic director Gene Taylor — who ripped the NCAA’s pay-for-play model after Klieman retired — said he made the choice to withdraw after talking with the soccer group’s management council.
The opening video games of the 2025 College Football Playoff:
Round 1
No. 9 Alabama at No. 8 Oklahoma on Dec. 19 at 8 p.m. ET
No. 10 Miami at No. 7 Texas A&M on Dec. 20 at 12 p.m. ET
No. 11 Tulane at No 6 Ole Miss on Dec. 20 at 3:30 p.m. ET
No. 12 James Madison at No. 5 Oregon on Dec. 20 at 7:30 p.m. ET
Quarterfinals
No. 10 Miami/No. 7 Texas A&M vs No. 2 Ohio State at Dec. 31 at 7:30 p.m. ET
No. 12 James Madison/No. 5 Oregon vs No. 4 Texas Tech on Jan. 1 at 12 p.m. ET
No. 9 Alabama/No. 8 Oklahoma vs No. 1 Indiana on Jan. 1 at 4 p.m. ET
No. 11 Tulane/No. 6 Ole Miss vs No. 3 Georgia on Jan. 1 at 8 p.m. ET
“This decision was not taken lightly, but with our coaching staff transition and several uncertainties regarding player availability, I felt it was not in our best interest to try to field a team that was not representative of Kansas State University,” Taylor said in a assertion. “We applaud this group for fighting back from a 2-4 record to lead us to bowl eligibility yet again, and we are happy that our seniors were able to go out on top with a victory inside Bill Snyder Family Stadium.”
Fellow Big 12 group, Baylor, also selected not to take part in a bowl sport.
“We have declined the opportunity to play in a Bowl, as we’ve already progressed deeply into the offseason timeline of preparation for the 2026 season,” the college said in a assertion.
That trio is joined by Notre Dame in sitting out a bowl.
Iowa State huge receiver Karon Brookins (81) is tackled by Oklahoma State cornerback Cam Smith (3). William Purnell-Imagn Images
The Fighting Irish don’t have a convention to issue a tremendous, though that would possibly truly be one of the explanations that they had been ignored of the College Football Playoff. After the snub, Notre Dame (10-2) determined as a group not to be part of a second-tier bowl.
The College Football Playoff rankings are a “farce and total waste of time,” athletic director Pete Bevacqua told ESPN.
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