Iowa St.-Kansas St. Preview

Before returning to the Kansas State sidelines, Bill Snyder said he simply wanted to stabilize the program after a string of subpar seasons. He's doing more than just that in his third year since returning. The 16th-ranked Wildcats can clinch a share of their first Big 12 title since 2003 on Saturday when they face Iowa State at Bill Snyder Family Stadium. When Snyder stepped down following the 2005 season, he had led Kansas State to 136 victories in 17 years, nearly matching the program's total from the previous 54. Ron Prince took over for Snyder but managed a 17-20 record in three seasons. The Wildcats went 13-12 over Snyder's first two seasons after he was persuaded to return by former athletic director Bob Krause, but the team has made a big leap in 2011. Kansas State (9-2, 6-2) is one game behind first-place Oklahoma State, which plays its regular-season finale against an Oklahoma team that's also 6-2 in the conference. Since suffering back-to-back losses, Kansas State has earned a pair of gritty victories to give itself an opportunity for its first Big 12 championship since beating then-No. 1 Oklahoma in the conference title game eight years ago. That was also the last time the Wildcats had at least 10 wins. "It would be a very positive thing for our players and our program," Snyder said. Kansas State need four overtimes to beat Texas A&M 53-50 on Nov. 12. It then held off Texas 17-13 the next week despite gaining 121 yards, its lowest output since totaling 86 during a loss to Nebraska in 1996. "Bottom line is we made some plays," said quarterback Collin Klein, who threw for a touchdown and rushed for another. Klein will next try to help his team by breaking some records. With 25 rushing TDs, he needs three to break the single-season mark for quarterbacks set by Navy's Ricky Dobbs in 2009, as well as the overall Big 12 record established by Texas running back Ricky Williams during his Heisman Trophy-winning season of 1998. Klein will try to achieve those milestones against a Cyclones team that's allowed 200 or more rushing yards five times. Iowa State, though, has also knocked off a pair of ranked foes while becoming bowl eligible for the second time in six years. After freshman Jared Barnett took over at quarterback for junior Steele Jantz, the Cyclones (6-5, 3-5) beat then-No. 19 Texas Tech 41-7 on Oct. 29, then stunned then-No. 2 Oklahoma State 37-31 in double overtime Nov. 18. Iowa State couldn't pull off another upset last week at then-No. 12 Oklahoma, falling 26-6 as its three-game win streak ended. The Cyclones were outgained 509-245 and matched a season high with four turnovers. Barnett was held to 125 passing yards after throwing for 376 and three touchdowns against the Cowboys. He's averaged 200.0 yards through the air and 77.6 on the ground in his five starts. "We entered November, we were playing for something - and the actions of our players have reflected that," coach Paul Rhoads said. "There's been no diminish to our work, our attitude is fantastic right now. Our kids, from Sunday through Saturday are really working and enjoying the game of football." Rhoads' squad will face its seventh ranked opponent in nine games with the trip to Manhattan, where Iowa State has lost two straight. The Cyclones have dropped three in a row overall in the series, though those defeats have come by a combined 16 points. The last two matchups took place at Kansas City's Arrowhead Stadium. After holding on for a 24-23 victory at Arrowhead on Oct. 3, 2009, the Wildcats rallied with 10 points in the final 6:47 to win 27-20 last Sept. 18. Iowa State leads the series 49-41-4 but has dropped 17 of 21 matchups. Snyder is 15-4 against the Cyclones.