Font ResizeThe Wildcats go to Nebraska for their final regular season game needing a win to extend their season. They are 6-5 overall and 4-3 in the Big 12, but one of those wins doesn`t count toward bowl eligibility because the Wildcats played two teams this season from the Championship Subdivision. Only one win over a lower-level team can be counted toward a bowl.
It`s an unusual situation because a Kansas State win will not only mean the Wildcats get to play in a bowl game, it will also make them Big 12 North Division champions, giving them not just one, but two more games in which to play.
They would face the South Division winner --- likely Texas --- in Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Dec. 5 for the conference title.
A loss Saturday at Nebraska would probably end the Wildcats season. However, there is a scenario in which Kansas State could lose this weekend and still advance to a bowl game.
There are 34 bowls this season, meaning those games need 68 bowl eligible teams to fill all the available spots. There are two weeks left in the regular season for most teams around the country and there 61 bowl eligible teams so far.
It is not clear what system would be used to determine who would fill remaining bowl spots if not enough teams became bowl eligible, but one scenario would be allowing a team such as Kansas State to advance, despite having more than one win against a team from a lower division. The NCAA has never been faced with the situation before.
All things considered
If Colorado goes to Oklahoma State and loses on Thursday as expected, it could play a part in bringing an end to the Dan Hawkins era in Boulder while also helping to pay for it.
Now for the explanation.
It looks like the Big 12 will have only one team playing in a Bowl Championship Series game this season, but it`s still possible the conference could have two.
If Texas wins out and claims the conference title, it will likely play for the national title. If that happens, Oklahoma State could play in the Fiesta Bowl if it finishes the season with wins over Colorado and Oklahoma to be 10-2.
With that record, the Cowboys would likely rise into the top 14 in the final BCS rankings, which would make them eligible for a BCS game. Nine wins and a top-14 ranking in the BCS is required.
In years in which the conference gets two BCS teams, it generally means at least an additional $300,000 to the Colorado athletic department. CU might need that money this year if it decides to make a coaching change.
On the tube
Colorado`s game Thursday at Oklahoma State will be televised on ESPN. Here is a look at the rest of conference`s television lineup on Saturday:
Oklahoma at Texas Tech, FSN, 10:30 a.m.; Kansas State at Nebraska, ESPN, 5:45 p.m.; Kansas at Texas, ABC, 6 p.m.
Between the hashes
Missouri wide receiver Danario Alexander, Oklahoma State defensive back Perrish Cox and Kansas State place-kicker Josh Cherry were named Big 12 players of the week. ...
Senior Iowa State linebacker Jesse Smith is the only player in the conference to record 100 or more tackles so far this season. He has 117 stops. ...
There has been a lot of talk about Nebraska defensive lineman Ndamukong Suh deserving votes for the Heisman this season. He`s a very good player, but I`m not sure if people realize there are seven players in the conference with more tackles for loss than him, including one of his teammates.
Who`s hot? -- Colorado wide receiver Markques Simas has back-to-back 100-yard receiving days, the first two of his career the past two weeks. Simas could tie the CU record for consecutive 100-yard games this week against Oklahoma State.
Who`s not? -- The Kansas defense has allowed its last two opponents to run for more than 200 yards and hasn`t produced a turnover in either of those games.
Heisman watch
A Daily Camera staff member has been voting in the Heisman Trophy selection process every year since the mid-1970s. I`ve been voting the past five seasons and this is how I see things coming down the stretch. This might be the most difficult decision I`ve faced as a voter.
Mark Ingram, RB, Alabama -- He had another solid day in the SEC against Mississippi State but now faces Chattanooga. I`m not sure that is a good thing at this time of year when it comes to winning this particular award. I`m not entirely sold on Ingram.
Colt McCoy, QB, Texas -- He has worked his way back into my top three by cutting down on turnovers. It`s hard to ignore his winning ways. He will become the winningest college quarterback of all time by the end of this season and maybe this week.
Tim Tebow, QB, Florida -- He`s not doing anything spectacular. He`s just the best player on the best team in the country and he keeps leading his team to wins each week.
Toby Gerhart, RB, Stanford -- Is he the best college football player in the nation? Probably not, but he sure looks like he belongs in the conversation. He rolled over USC and has four 100-yard games and nine touchdowns in the last month.
Case Keenum, QB, Houston -- His numbers are awesome and he is vital to the success of his team, but he drops from first to fifth on my list after a second loss in a very mediocre Conference USA.
Others in the mix -- Dion Lewis, RB, Pittsburgh; C.J. Spiller, RB, Clemson; Ryan Mathews, RB, Fresno State; Kellen Moore, QB, Boise State; Jordan Shipley, WR, Texas.
