MANHATTAN, Kan. – Kansas State continues its three-game homestand this afternoon, when the Wildcats welcome Big 12 North Division rival Nebraska to a sold-out KSU Stadium. Today is also Harley Day at Kansas State, and just prior to kickoff, 100 Harley-Davidson motorcycles will make a thunderous one-lap trek around the black top of Wagner Field. One of the most unique traditions in all of college athletics, Harley Day has become perhaps the most anticipated happening of the year at K-State.
The Matchup
Coming off three hard-fought conference losses that averaged just over eight points per game, including a 31-21 setback vs. No. 2-ranked Oklahoma last week, today's game is crucial for Kansas State (2-4, 0-3 Big 12). With just two victories under its belt this season, K-State must win no fewer than four of its final six games in to extend its current 11-year bowl streak.
Still, recent history at least has been on the Wildcats' side. Since the start of the Big 12 Conference in 1996, K-State has won over 90 percent of its games down the home stretch, going a stunning 36-4 over the final five games of the regular season. Four times during that eight-year span the Wildcats went a perfect 5-0 (1997, 1998, 2002 and 2003), with Kansas State posting 4-1 marks during the other four campaigns (1996, 1999, 2000 and 2001).
And though it's never the route of choice, Kansas State has been 2-4 after six games before and still managed to play in the postseason. During the 2001 campaign, K-State opened with four losses in its first six games, before head coach Bill Snyder guided the Wildcats to perhaps the most impressive mid-season turnaround in school history. That year, the Wildcats reeled off victories in four of their final five games to finish the regular season with a 6-5 record and earn a bid to play Insight.com Bowl.
This season, the Wildcats showcased one of the nation's most powerful running games to open the year. But with opponents stacked at the line of scrimmage to stop All-American running back Darren Sproles, Kansas State has successfully shifted gears and turned to the air in the last three games. The result has been a resurrected passing attack that ranks No. 2 in the Big 12 since the start of league play. During its three non-conference games, Kansas State completed just 29-of-52 passes for 369 yards and three touchdowns. Since then, the Wildcats have connected on 69-of-119 attempts for 798 yards and six TDs.
During the three-game stretch, sophomore quarterback Dylan Meier has truly come of age. Since the start of conference play, Meier ranks second in the Big 12 in passing (245.7 ypg) and fourth in touchdown passes (6) despite playing in only 10 quarters. And Meier, who ranks third in the Big 12 on this week's NCAA passing efficiency chart, has been using all his options. In the last three games, the sophomore has connected with nine different receivers, with four hauling in nine or more passes. He has also tossed 62 passes without an interception since having a desperation Hail Mary heave picked off on K-State's final drive at Texas A&M on Oct. 2.
On the receiving front, the Wildcats have employed a group effort in 2004. In just six games, no less than six Wildcats have already rung up double-figures in receptions for the year. Sophomore Yamon Figurs is leading the way with 21 catches, including 15 since the start of Big 12 action. He ranks third in receiving yards in Big 12 games with 78.7 per game and is tied with teammate Jermaine Moreira in receptions per game (5.0) in conference play four the fourth most. Senior Tony Madison, who leads the team with a 16.5 yard per-catch average, is also among the Big 12's top 10 in receiving yards during conference play, averaging 60.3 per contest, while senior tight end Brian Casey, who is third on the team in receptions for the season with 15, and senior receiver Davin Dennis, who has hauled in 11 passes this year, have also been in the mix.
Nebraska (4-2, 2-1 Big 12), sporting a brand new West Coast offense under head coach Bill Callahan, is currently tied with Missouri atop the Big 12's North Division. The Huskers will be out to record back-to-back victories for just the second time this season after rebounding nicely from their 70-10 loss at Texas Tech to post a 59-27 victory over Baylor. Led by quarterback Joe Dailey, who last week passed for a school-record 342 yards, Nebraska is averaging over 400 yards of total offense per game. But don't think the Huskers are simply airing it out. NU also rushes for just under 200 yards per contest and possess one of the most balanced offensive attacks in the Big 12.
On defense, Nebraska's Blackshirts rank No. 2 in the nation against the run and have been led by senior linebacker Barrett Ruud. He leads the Big 12 in total tackles with 64 and has recently became the Huskers' all-time leading tackler.
The Series
Nebraska may lead the all-time series with Kansas State by a wide 74-14-2 margin; however the matchup has taken on a decidedly purple hue in recent years.
K-State enters Saturday's meeting riding a two-game winning streak over the Huskers, marking the first time since the 1958 and 1959 seasons that the Wildcats have taken back-to-back games from Nebraska. In fact, K-State has won three of the last four and four of the last six games between the two teams, including three straight at KSU Stadium.
A victory over Nebraska today would give K-State its first-ever three-game winning streak against the Huskers and mark the first time in the series that the Cats have won four in a row at home. Nebraska has not won in the Little Apple since 1996. Of course, the Huskers hold the granddaddy of all streaks in the series, winning 29 straight between 1969 and 1997.
Today's game is also unique in that for the first time since the Lyndon Johnson administration, both Kansas State and Nebraska will square off as unranked foes as neither the Wildcats nor Huskers are ranked in either major poll this week.
Not since Kansas State's 12-0 victory in 1968 have both teams entered the annual rivalry without a national ranking. Since the 1968 game, Nebraska has been the lone team ranked 26 times, while K-State has carried the banner once (2002). The two teams have both been ranked in the top 25 eight times since 1968, including seven straight games from 1994 to 2000.
The Coaches
Kansas State head coach Bill Snyder, the architect of what many believe to be the greatest turnaround in the history of college football, is in his 16th season at the helm of the Wildcat football program. During his tenure in Manhattan, Snyder has guided K-State to an impressive 129-59-1 record. He is the second winningest coach in the country since the start of the 1993 season, guiding the Wildcats to 110 wins and posting a winning percentage of nearly 80 percent.
Snyder has also guided Kansas State to 11 consecutive bowl games - a feat accomplished by only six other programs in the country - and 11-win seasons in six of the last seven years.
Nebraska head coach Bill Callahan is in his first season at Nebraska. Prior to his arrival in Lincoln, he served as head coach of the Oakland Raiders and guided the franchise to an appearance in the 2002 Super Bowl.
