Kansas State will play for a berth in the 2009 Dr. Pepper Big 12 Championship game on Saturday as the Wildcats close out the regular season with a nationally-televised game at No. 25 Nebraska. The stakes will be high on Saturday as the winner of Saturday’s game at Memorial Stadium will represent the north division in Arlington and Cowboys Stadium on December 5.

The game, which kicks at 6:45 p.m., will be televised nationally by ESPN as Brad Nessler (play-by-play), Todd Blackledge (analyst) and Erin Andrews (sideline) will have the call. A live audio broadcast is also available across the K-State Sports Network, online at www.k-statesports.com and on SIRIUS satellite radio channel 125. Wyatt Thompson will call the action with Stan Weber serving as the color analyst and Matt Walters providing sideline updates.

Though Nebraska holds a 76-15-2 advantage in the all-time series, K-State has had some success under head coach Bill Snyder. Since 1998, the Wildcats are 5-3 against the Huskers under Snyder, which includes a 38-9 win in 2003 and a tough 27-25 loss in Snyder’s last two trips to Lincoln.

A QUICK LOOK AT THE WILDCATS

K-State will look to bounce back from its first home loss of the season to Missouri last week as the Wildcats need a win on Saturday to earn a trip to the Big 12 Championship game and qualify for a bowl game.

The Wildcats have been one of the more productive running teams in the Big 12 Conference this season behind All-Big 12 candidate Daniel Thomas. Thomas, the Big 12’s leading rusher, already has surpassed the 1,000-yard rushing mark on the season and continues to climb the K-State record books. Quarterback Grant Gregory also continues to provide leadership in the huddle, while Brandon Banks has put together an All-America-caliber season with an NCAA-leading four kick returns for touchdowns.

The Wildcat defense has been much improved from a year ago and ranks in the top half of the Big 12 in both rushing defense (105.8 ypg) and total defense (346.5) while also ranking second in turnover margin (+8). Jeffrey Fitzgerald has been a force up front defensively with his 6.0 sacks and 8.5 tackles for loss, while Emmanuel Lamur leads the squad in tackles with 61. Tysyn Hartman continues to put up All-Big 12-like numbers as he has collected 53 tackles, six pass breakups and four interceptions on the season, while K-State has a total of six players with 40 or more tackles on the season.

A LOOK AT NEBRASKA

K-State heads into Lincoln on Saturday to face one of the top defensive units in college football in the Nebraska Cornhuskers. Currently at 7-3 overall and 4-2 in Big 12 play, Nebraska is riding a three-game winning streak heading into Saturday’s game with the Wildcats. The Husker defense is ranked third nationally in both scoring defense and pass efficiency defense while checking in at No. 11 in rushing defense and No. 3 in total defense. All-America candidate Ndamukong Suh has been a force up front as he has collected 56 tackles, 13.0 for loss, with 5.0 sacks, eight pass breakups and 19 quarterback hurries. Teammate Jared Crick has been equally impressive with 60 tackles, 14.0 for loss, 9.0 sacks and 13 hurries. Offensively, running back Roy Helu, Jr. has led the squad with 962 rushing yards and nine touchdowns, while Niles Paul leads the receivers with 29 catches for 567 yards and three scores.

FEAST OR FAMINE

K-State enters Saturday’s game with Nebraska at 6-5 overall and its postseason aspirations ride on this one final game. It's as simple as this: a Kansas State win over Nebraska would give the Wildcats at least a share of the Big 12 North title, send them to the Big 12 Championship game in Arlington, Texas, due to the fact that K-State would hold the tie-breaker over the Huskers, and also make them bowl eligible. K-State finishes the regular season Saturday, while the Cornhuskers have a Thanksgiving weekend date at Colorado. No matter the outcome of that game, with a K-State win over Nebraska, the worst case scenario for the Cats would be a tie for the title and a win in the head-to-head matchup. A Wildcat loss to the Cornhuskers would leave the Wildcats at 6-6 with no division title and no bowl game.

LUCKY No. 7

K-State needs one more victory to qualify for its first bowl game since the 2006 season. Bowl berths have been a common trend for Bill Snyder-coached teams as Kansas State appeared in 11 straight bowl games from 1993-2003 under the legendary head coach. Since 1993, K-State is 11-3-1 under Snyder when needing a win to become bowl eligible.

AGAINST THE NORTH

K-State will look for its fifth win in six tries (fourth this season) against a north division opponent on Saturday. The Wildcats, looking to snap a four-game skid to Nebraska, are 44-25 (.638) vs. division opponents since 1996, which is second to only Nebraska among Big 12 North schools.

Two of the Big 12’s BEST MEET FOR NORTH TITLE

When Kansas State and Nebraska meet on Saturday, it will pit two of the Big 12 Conference’s most successful programs in football. Kansas State, along with Nebraska, are two of five Big 12 programs that have reached the 60-win mark during 14-year history of the league.

K-State became the fourth program in Big 12 history to reach 60 wins and currently ranks fourth in league history with 66 wins. Texas leads the group with 86 conference wins, while Oklahoma is second with 79 and Nebraska third with 72. Since 1996, K-State is 66-45 in Big 12 play.

SNYDER AMONG BEST ACTIVE COACHES

The author of the greatest turnaround in college football history, Bill Snyder has begun his second tour of duty guiding Kansas State and his work ranks among the best in college football when compared to other active coaches.

Snyder, who currently ranks 14th all-time in wins among active FBS coaches, is one of just two active BCS coaches who have served at the same school for at least 17 years and have never held the same position at another school (Joe Paterno of Penn State). Also, Snyder holds the 12th-best winning percentage among active FBS coaches with at least 100 wins.

What might be even more amazing is that Snyder has tallied the sixth-most victories among active coaches since 1990. Snyder has guided Kansas State to 141 victories since the 1990 season, only to be out-done by the likes of Mack Brown, Bobby Bowden, Frank Beamer, Joe Paterno and Steve Spurrier.

SNYDER PUTTING TOGETHER STRONG BID FOR BIG 12 COACH OF THE YEAR

Most media outlets and other preseason prognosticators didn’t think too highly of Kansas State’s chances in the Big 12 North this season as most predicted the Wildcats to finish fifth of even sixth in the division. But, one of the winningest coaches in NCAA history knew that by getting a little better each day in every aspect of the program and playing a style that best fits the personnel in the program, the Wildcats could put themselves in a solid position come November.

And that’s exactly what he and his coaching staff have done. Heading into the final regular season game this weekend, Snyder and the Wildcats are playing for a berth in the Big 12 Championship game and are looking to advance to the title game for the first time in six seasons and also become bowl eligible for the first time since 2006.

CLOSING STRONG

K-State heads into the third week of November with a 6-5 overall record and a 4-3 mark in Big 12 play. The Wildcats have a chance to defy the preseason prognosticators and take home at least a share of their fifth division title since 1998 on Saturday. To do so, the Wildcats will need to continue to have a November to remember and under head coach Bill Snyder, the Cats have a track record of successful stretch runs. Since 1991 under Snyder, K-State is 41-12 in the month of November, which includes a stretch of 13 straight seasons of winning records in the month (1991-2003) and six seasons with an undefeated final month.

FORCING THE ISSUE

K-State has seen its national ranking in turnover margin improve from 61st to 19th over the last five weeks of the season. After collecting just 11 total takeaways in its first six games, K-State has forced its last five Big 12 opponents into 13 turnovers. On the season, the Cats have collected 24 takeaways and surrendered 16 (+8) for the second-best turnover margin in the Big 12 and the 19th-best nationally.

WHAT A DIFFERENCE A YEAR MAKES

Kansas State has put an emphasis on defensive improvement in 2009 and after 11 games this season, the Cats are well on their way to being one of the most improved units in all of college football. After averaging nearly 218 yards rushing allowed and 261 yards passing a year ago, K-State has held its opponents to 346.5 total yards a game, 240.7 through the air and 105.8 on the ground. The numbers through 11 games compared to last year are more impressive as the Cats have surrendered nearly 120 less total yards a game. The numbers would be even more impressive when you look at 10 of the Cats’ 11 games (less the Texas Tech game). When you discount the performance against the Red Raider offense, K-State has surrendered just 307.3 total yards a game this season (97.9 per game on the ground and 209.4 through the air). Also, Tech recorded 12 of the 38 total plays of 20 or more yards K-State has surrendered this season.

GETTING DEFENSIVE

Through 11 games this season, K-State’s defense has done a masterful job of holding its opponent and getting its offense back on the field. The Cats have forced their opponents into 31 three-and-outs, including five against Texas A&M and four each against Louisiana, Tennessee Tech, Iowa State and Colorado, but what is more impressive is that K-State has held opponents to six plays or less (without scoring) on 79 drives this season. Also, the Wildcats have allowed 38 plays of 20 or more yards this season after surrendering a whopping 75 all of last season (59 through the first 11 games).

GROUND GAINS ON DEFENSE

K-State’s rush defense has yielded just 105.8 yards on the ground this season and held both Texas A&M (-13 yards) and Tennessee Tech (-19) to negative rushing yards, the fewest surrendered since the 2002 Baylor game (-37). Also, the two negative rushing performances were the fourth (-19) and eighth (-13) lowest totals allowed in a game this season in the nation. In Big 12 Conference games, the Wildcats have yielded just 114 yards a game on the ground.

GROUND GAINS ON OFFENSE

Kansas State’s controlled running game this season has been led by running backs Daniel Thomas and Keithen Valentine as the duo has combined for 1,522 yards (5.4 yards a carry and 138.4 yards per game) in 11 games. Valentine has quietly averaged 6.6 yards a carry, while Thomas has been the workhorse for the Wildcat offensive attack with five 100-yard games and over 1,000 yards for the season. As a team, K-State has rushed for 200 or more yards in five games for the first time since 2005.

GRINDING IT OUT

Kansas State has shown the ability to grind it out offensively through 11 games as the Wildcats have collected 203 first downs and averaged 183.5 rushing yards a game. Of K-State’s 42 scoring drives this season, 25 have covered 50 or more yards and 12 have consisted of 10 or more plays. Because of the consistent rushing attack and the ability to sustain drives, K-State has possessed the ball for an average of 34:17 per game this season, a figure that currently leads the nation.