LAST TIME OUT

It certainly wasn't a Bill Snyder-like performance for the Wildcats Saturday afternoon. Kansas State was the team making the costly mistakes, allowing Missouri (6-4, 2-4 Big 12) to leave Manhattan, Kan., with a convincing 38-12 win.

After a consistent run through two-thirds of the conference season, Saturday's loss may turn out to be the low point in what's been an impressive turnaround campaign for Snyder's Wildcats.

With the game tied at 3 in the second quarter, Kansas State receiver Brandon Banks lost control of the football as he attempted to stretch across the goal-line. The result — a touchback and possession for Missouri — was devastating. The Tigers scored a touchdown about two minutes later on senior Danario Alexander's 54-yard reception.

It was a big day for Alexander, who had 10 catches, 200 receiving yards and three touchdowns. By himself, Alexander was responsible for more points than Kansas State's entire offense could manage.

The Wildcats (6-5, 4-3) totaled 351 offensive yards and held the football for 38:19, but they never found the end zone. Kicker Josh Cherry made four field goals. Kansas State had three turnovers and failed to convert a fourth down and goal inside the 5-yard line with about two minutes left.

LEGENDARY LEADERSHIP

Kansas State is one win away from earning its first Big 12 North title since 2003, due in large part to the leadership of its legendary coach.

Bill Snyder, who spent 17 seasons with the Wildcats before retiring in 2005, has again orchestrated a remarkable revival at a program that seemed destined for long-term futility.

Kansas State hasn't had a winning conference record in five seasons. Its only bowl appearance during that stretch came in 2006.

The Wildcats can sure wipe away the disappointment with a positive outcome in Lincoln Saturday. The winner of the Nebraska-KSU match-up earns the North crown. A K-State win would also make the Wildcats bowl eligible.

Kansas State is 0-4 on the road, though. And three of the Wildcats' five losses this year are against teams that Nebraska has already defeated (Louisiana-Lafayette, Oklahoma and Missouri).

TAKING CARE OF THE BALL

Kansas State had posted the conference's best turnover margin until Saturday's uncharacteristically poor showing.

The Wildcats lost two fumbles and threw an interception, their first multi-turnover game since Oct. 10 at Texas Tech.

The performance dropped their turnover margin to plus-8, which is now second among Big 12 teams behind Texas (plus-11).

But the statistic will certainly play a role in Saturday's game against Nebraska (7-3, 4-2).

The Huskers are 0-3 when they don't force a turnover. And conversely, they've turned the ball over 15 times during conference play. Only two teams, Texas A&M and Colorado, have more.

BANKS IS A KEY

The slender and elusive Banks will certainly be pinpointed by the Nebraska coaching staff as it game plans to slow down the Wildcats.

He's just 5-foot-7 and 150 pounds, but the senior receiver is one of the conference's most dynamic playmakers when he's holding the football with space to create.

Banks averages 177.6 all-purpose yards this year, the most of any Big 12 player. His 51 receptions almost double the team's second-highest total — senior Attrail Snipes has 27. He's carried the ball 10 times too, gaining 92 yards.

And Banks is especially dangerous in the return game. Banks has returned four kickoffs for touchdowns this season. The 29.9 yards he averages per return ranks ninth nationally.

Against Nebraska last season, Banks returned a kickoff 98 yards for a fourth-quarter touchdown.

NEW 'CAT IN TOWN

It's safe to say that Kansas State probably would have spent the year scrambling to find creative ways for offensive success if not for the emergence of junior running back Daniel Thomas.

The 6-foot-2, 227-pound Thomas has taken some pressure off senior Grant Gregory, a journeyman quarterback who's starting for the first time at this level.

Thomas played at Northwest Mississippi Community College last year, though he's had little trouble adjusting to the Big 12. He leads the conference with an average of 106 rushing yards per game. He had 185 rushing yards against Kansas Nov. 7, one of five 100-yard games for Thomas this year.

Thomas, who was added to the Doak Walker Award candidate list last week, is one of nine Wildcat backs to eclipse 1,000 rushing yards in a season.

His success has played a large role in Kansas State's ball-control offense.

The Wildcats are last in the conference in passing yards per game (170.9), but they lead the league in time of possession (34:16).

— Jon Nyatawa

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