The Big 12 is fining Iowa State and Kansas State $500,000 each for turning down bowl invitations. The two schools made their decisions following coaching changes last week.
The Cyclones finished at 8-4 while the Wildcats ended at 6-6. Iowa State coach Matt Campbell left last week for the same role at Penn State, while Kansas State coach Chris Klieman retired. The schools have named replacements in Jimmy Rogers at Iowa State and Collin Klein at Kansas State but will not pursue postseason opportunities.
“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 league said in a statement Sunday.
Bowl replacements were determined based on the 5-7 teams with the highest academic progress rates. In the Big 12, that included UCF and Baylor, programs that were not fined later Sunday when they declined invitations. As substitute bowl teams who were not technically eligible, they were not subject to the fine.
“We have declined the opportunity to play in a bowl,” Baylor’s athletic department said in a statement, “as we’ve already progressed deeply into the offseason timeline of preparation for the 2026 season.”
Iowa State players met Sunday with administrators and elected not to play.
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“The administrative staff and coaches respect and support the players’ decision,” Cyclones athletic director Jamie Pollard said in a statement. “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 said he made the decision after speaking with the team’s leadership council and Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark.
“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 statement. “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.”
Iowa State has appeared in bowl games in seven of the past eight seasons under Campbell. Kansas State will not participate in the postseason for the first time since 2020.
