Now that each team is down to two or three games remaining, it's a little more manageable to look at what remains and figure out how things may play out.  Nothing about this is guaranteed to be right, and if you see something that I've missed, make a comment explaining the mistake.  I'm going to break this down by the record it will take to win the North, then by what each team must have happen to win it at that record.  First, the current standings:

K-State: 4-2 (Missouri, @Nebraska)

Nebraska: 3-2 (@KU, K-State, @Colorado)

Colorado: 2-3 (@Iowa State, @Oklahoma State, Nebraska)

Iowa State: 2-4 (Colorado, @Missouri)

KU: 1-4 (Nebraska, @Texas, Missouri)

Missouri: 1-4 (@K-State, Iowa State, KU)

Winning Record: 6-2 (Teams still in the running: K-State, Nebraska)

K-State: Go 2-0

If K-State gets to 6-2, then it wins the division.  By winning both remaining games to get to 6-2, by necessity Nebraska must lose a game and thus cannot get to 6-2.

Nebraska: Go 3-0

If Nebraska goes 3-0, then the same as above is true.  It will win the division because K-State cannot also get to 6-2.

Every other school already has at least three losses.

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by Charlie Riedel - AP

That, KU fans, is how your force a fumble. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

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K-State defeated KU Saturday, 17-10, to return the Governor's Cup to Manhattan.  We'll get more into that in a moment, but first, an aside.

To all the KU fans who laughed at Bill Snyder's return, said there was no way he could turn things around because KU and Mizzou were sooo good now, who said after the Colorado and Oklahoma games that K-State wouldn't win another game this year, and to all the fans of all teams who said that K-State was stuck in a spiral of mediocrity from which it was unlikely ever to recover:

Go fuck yourselves.  The Legend is back.

Now, before we get into what I liked, what I didn't like and all the other stuff we usually do in this post, I want to look at a few numbers.  Here is a comparison of each of K-State's opponent's season averages and what they did against K-State (excepting Texas Tech, because we know they seriously exceeded all season averages in that game):

KU

--Averages: 431 yards per game, 303 passing ypg, 128 rushing ypg, 31 ppg

--Against K-State: 301 total yards, 241 passing yards, 60 rushing yards, 10 points

OU

--Averages: 413 ypg, 274 passing ypg, 139 rushing ypg, 30 ppg

--Against K-State: 458 total yards, 294 passing, 164 rushing, 42 points

Colorado

--Averages: 303 ypg, 217 passing ypg, 86 rushing ypg, 23 ppg

--Against K-State: 244 total yards, 184 passing, 60 rushing, 6 points

Texas A&M

--Averages: 478 ypg, 293 passing ypg, 185 rushing ypg, 36 ppg

--Against K-State: 301 yards, 314 passing, -13 rushing, 14 points

Iowa State

--Averages: 367 ypg, 181 passing ypg, 186 rushing ypg, 21 ppg

--Against K-State: 371 total yards, 164 passing, 204 rushing, 23 points

As you can see, with the exception of the Texas Tech and Oklahoma games, K-State's defense has held its opponents at or below their season averages in yards and points, sometimes significantly so.  Let's all stand up and give a big ovation to Vic Koenning and Chris Cosh.  This defense was 117th in the nation last season.  It currently ranks 43rd.  Before the season, we figured that if the defense could improve to even somewhere in the 80s in total defense, it would be a remarkable turnaround.  With two games left, it's possible this defense finishes in the top 40, and almost assured that it finishes in the top 50.  Simply incredible.

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This Big 12 North stretch run really is about to get interesting.

K-State did what everyone expected it to do in losing to Oklahoma on Saturday night.  However, it was how the loss came about that was noteworthy.  As was noted by the other half of the Unholy Alliance last week -- before I chimed in with an utterly redundant comment -- K-State could show quite a bit even in an expected loss against OU.  At this point, there are appear to be three teams other than KSU who can claim some form of hope to winning the division.  Let's look at how they've fared against the best teams the South has to offer. 

• KU: The week before being host to K-State, the Sooners pantsed KU in Lawrence, 35-13, in a game that wasn't really that close.  Oklahoma led, 21-6, at halftime, and KU's only touchdown came in garbage time with the game well in hand.
• Missouri: Like K-State against OU, they fell behind early, 21-0.  Unlike K-State, and at home I may add, they rolled over and died, losing 41-7 and producing fewer than 200 total yards offense.
• Nebraska: Went quietly into the night against Texas Tech in Lincoln.  Didn't lose nearly as badly as K-State did to Tech, which is a sign of how good Nebraska's defense is, and is why I still consider Nebraska a threat in the North, despite the fact that its offense can't do anything right.

Anyway, let's move on to a quick review of the game.

What I liked...

...a team that doesn't give up.  Had this been 2008, or 2007 or 2006, for that matter, I have little doubt we would have given up 600+ yards of offense and lost 63-14.  While the team couldn't get over the hump after getting back in the game, the mere fact that it was even in the game after that first quarter is a credit to the coaches and players.

...the unleashing of Daniel Thomas.  Over at Crimson and Cream Machine, a reader called it "gimmicky" and refused to respect what we did on offense.  If he considers that offense gimmicky, then he clearly considers the Michael Bishop-Jonathan Beasley-Ell Roberson years a complete fluke, because the Wildcat formation is basically the offense we ran with those QBs.  Daniel Thomas is what all those guys were, except not as polished of a thrower.  I guess if you consider a jump pass a gimmick, then Urban Meyer is gimmicky, and he only has two national titles.  I guess if you consider running play action off an option fake, you consider Nebraska from 1960-2003 gimmicky.  While I liked these plays because they worked, I really like them because now KU, Mizzou and Nebraska have to prepare for them.  They have to spend practice time working on them.  Their safeties have to hesitate when DT takes the shotgun snap, they have to hesitate even if he looks like he's taking off on a draw, and they have to hesitate when it looks like he's running the option.  I also get the feeling we haven't seen everything we may see in the playbook yet.

...more disciplined play.  The only turnover for K-State in the game was the late interception, and you really can't hold that one against Grant Gregory.  If we keep protecting the football and controlling the clock, we're in good position the next few weeks.

...speaking of Grant Gregory, an efficient outing against a tough defense.  Gregory went 19 of 30 for 174 yards, and ran for more than 5 yards per play even after losses were subtracted.

...an offensive line that may be coming together.  While OU did record two sacks, that's less than I feared we may give up.  Further, they paved the way to 149 rushing yards, including a 5.1 yards per carry average.

...Brandon Banks to da house.  I fear we've probably seen the last of teams kicking it deep to him, but if they kick it short, then we're going to have shorter fields each drive.  Only Nebraska's kicker can probably dare to kick it deep and count on a touchback against us.

What I didn't like...

...two PATs blocked.  I was watching this one at a bar, so I wasn't paying close enough attention to tell if these were Josh Cherry's fault or whether OU got penetration against our line.  Either way, we can't go wasting points.  I thought Snyder was going to explode after the second one.

...an inability to stop OU's passing game.  While 294 yards is certainly better than what we gave up at Texas Tech, it's still far too much.  As Pan mentioned on the phone today, we are getting killed by the short-to-intermediate passing game.  Our linebackers and safeties need to step up soon, or combinations like Kerry Meier/Dez Briscoe and Blaine Gabbert/Danario Alexander are going to torch us.

Hit the jump for much, much more.

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By now, y'all are probably really getting sick of the K-State fan coming over here and talking about your recruits, but I had to share this one with you.  Nebraska OL commit Andrew Rodriguez, from my hometown of Aurora, Nebraska, was chosen to play in the Army All-America Bowl in San Antonio.  I strongly suggest you watch the first video on that link, where A-Rod puts on his All-America jersey and addresses the Aurora High School crowd.  He's a great kid, he's come a long way, and he hasn't forgotten the people that helped him get there.  I hope for the best for this guy at Nebraska.

While Oklahoma is not having a typical Oklahoma season, they're still a formidable opponent, especially in Norman.  Here today is ccmachine from the SB Nation blog Crimson and Cream Machine, to answer a few questions about the Sooners for us.

Oklahoma hasn't had a season like this since 2005.  What's the mood among the faithful right now?

ccmachine: I think that most level headed OU fans are understanding towards the situation at OU right now. We quickly watched this team move from championship contender to a program that’s rebuilding and there’s some frustration that goes with injuries. The thing is though, you can’t blame injuries on coaching or poor play on the field. It is what it is and we have to deal with it.
 
In 2005 OU lost three of their first five games but then went on to win 6 of their last seven games with that lone loss being at Texas Tech in controversial fashion. The experience that those youngsters gained that season propelled the Sooners on to three consecutive Big 12 championships from 2006-09. Here’s to hoping that history repeats itself!

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via cdn0.sbnation.com

Another weekend, another crazy batch of results in the Big 12.  Our answers to the most pressing questions of the day are below.

This question was posed by Rock Chalk Talk's Denverjhawk in Rock M Nation's Live Thread on Saturday: Could a Big 12 North all-star team compete with and/or beat Texas?

TB: Yes, they could compete with UT, but sadly, I can't say with certainty they would win.  I really miss 1996-2003.

Panjandrum: Honestly?  Yes.  It's not a silly question, per se, but to think that one team in this conference is THAT much better than an entire division is silly.  Texas is not a complete team themselves; they struggle running the football, and that will come back to bite them.

I get why someone would ask this question, but truthfully, the answer is simple.  The North all-star team would probably roll UT.

BracketCat: To properly answer this question, I need to see what such a team actually would look like. Here's my best stab at a two-deep:

WR X: Jared Perry (MU) / Scotty McKnight (CU)
LT: Nick Stringer (KSU) / Tanner Hawkinson (KU)
LG: Alex Alvarez (ISU) / Keith Williams (NU)
C: Jeremiah Hatch (KU) / Wade Weibert (KSU)
RG: Ricky Henry (NU) / Kurtis Gregory (MU)
RT: Dan Hoch (MU) / Ryan Miller (CU)
TE: Riar Geer (CU) / Jeron Mastrud (KSU)
QB: Todd Reesing (KU) / Blaine Gabbert (MU) (if healthy)
RB: Alexander Robinson (ISU) / Daniel Thomas (KSU)
WR H: Kerry Meier (KU) / Danario Alexander (MU)
WR Z: Dezmon Briscoe (KU) / Brandon Banks (KSU)

LDE: Jeffrey Fitzgerald (KSU) / Barry Turner (NU)
DT: Ndamukong Suh (NU) / Curtis Cunningham (CU)
NT: Jared Crick (NU) / Daniel Calvin (KSU)
RDE: Jake Laptad (KU) / Aldon Smith (MU)
SLB: Sean Fisher (NU) / John Houlik (KSU)
MLB: Jesse Smith (ISU) / Will Ebner (MU)
WLB: Sean Weatherspoon (MU) / Phillip Dillard (NU)
LCB: Cha'pelle Brown (CU) / Joshua Moore (KSU)
FS: David Sims (ISU) / Tysyn Hartman (KSU)
SS: Darrell Stuckey (KU) / Emmanuel Lamur (KSU)
RCB: Chris Harris (KU) / Carl Gettis (MU)

PK: Alex Henery (NU) / Jacob Branstetter (KU)
P: Matt DiLallo (CU) / Mike Brandtner (ISU)
PR: Daymond Patterson (KU)
KR: Brandon Banks (KSU) / Kendial Lawrence (MU)

Head Coach: Bill Snyder (KSU)
Associate Head Coach: Paul Rhoads (ISU)
Offensive Co-Coordinators: Ed Warinner (KU) / David Yost (MU)
Defensive Co-Coordinators: Vic Koenning (KSU) / Carl Pelini (NU)

Two things stand out to me when looking at this list:

1) It quickly becomes clear why Kansas and Kansas State basically will be playing for the Big 12 North title next week.

2) This team could give Texas trouble. It might not win, but Reesing throwing to his and Missouri's receivers would be a major threat. The big weakness is the offensive line. I'm not sure there are enough standouts to hold off the likes of Sergio Kindle.

But ohmygod, that defense. Fitz, Laptad and Suh teeing off on McCoy, while Jesse Smith and 'Spoon prowl the middle, and half a dozen NFL prospects man the defensive backfield? Yeah, that could make a statement. And Banks at returner would be the X-factor offsetting Jordan Shipley's contributions for the Horns.

Hell, Bill Snyder could win a national title with this roster.

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If you're a true Wildcat fan, you read the headline of this post and did a double take.  "What's that?  Why would anyone count us out?!  We lead the Big 12 North, by a full game -- actually, more like 1.5, because we own the tiebreaker over second-place Iowa State -- at the halfway point of the conference season!"  Take a deep breath after that ultra-long run-on sentence you just yelled and read on.

Here's the reason for the caveat.  First, I take everything I see this season advisedly.  A team with losses to Louisiana and UCLA can't take anything for granted.  It's conceivable that we go winless from here on out and fade to afterthought status.

On the other hand, we do lead the division race with only four games to play.  What's more, the teams considered our strongest challengers are 1-2, 1-2 and 0-3 respectively.  That's not intended to discount ISU, but they're being written off even more strongly than we are.  I'm telling you, nearly everyone has weighed in with an opinion on this, and they all have come to the conclusion that either Nebraska, KU or Missouri are still going to take this thing.  While not guaranteeing anything, those who write this K-State team off do so at their own risk.

Click the jump to see how K-State can shock the world and take the division.

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