Kansas State, No. 1 Oklahoma square off today

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- This was the matchup many predicted before the season for the Big 12 title game.

Oklahoma against Kansas State. Two preseason Top 10 teams with high-powered offenses and aggressive defenses playing a game that would have an impact on the national title race.

Yet the road Oklahoma and Kansas State took to the championship game couldn't be more different. The Sooners (12-0, 8-0) have been the top-ranked team since the preseason polls, running through the schedule undefeated and unchallenged.

The 13th-ranked Wildcats (10-3, 6-2) fell out of national title contention with a three-game skid in the middle of the year.

"Earlier in the season we got caught up in some of the expectations and we hadn't done anything to prove that we deserved those," Kansas State coach Bill Snyder said Friday. "We kind of slipped and maybe took some things for granted. But I think as it often happens when you face adversity, you learn from it and grow from it."

Unlike the usual conference title matchup between a national championship contender and an also-ran, it's Kansas State that has the more tangible prize on the line.

The Wildcats can make a BCS bowl for the first time with a win, while the Sooners have such an overwhelming lead in the Bowl Championship Series standings that even a loss wouldn't keep them out of the Sugar Bowl for the national championship.

"I don't much care what the BCS experts think or say," Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops said. "What matters most is winning the Big 12 championship. That's very important to this team. ... The rest doesn't matter at this point."

Oklahoma is playing for history as much as anything else. Wins in the final two games would put the Sooners up there with any of the great teams from the past.

They have outscored opponents by 35.1 points per game despite playing the 14th toughest schedule in the nation. They lead the country in scoring offense and total defense and have a roster filled with All-American candidates.

Jason White leads the nation in passing efficiency and has thrown a remarkable 40 touchdown passes compared to just six interceptions. White leads an offense that has scored at least 50 points seven times.

Oklahoma's eight touchdowns on defense or special teams are half the opponents total on offense this season.

Yet none of that matters if the Sooners don't finish the season with a pair of championships.

"I think it's the biggest game for this team this year," White said. "It is one of our major goals to win the Big 12 championship. Without a win this Saturday it is going to seem these past 12 wins were nonexistent."

What has made the Sooners so successful this season is they haven't gotten bogged down by the big picture and the lofty expectations others have of them.

They've played hard each week no matter the quality of opponent and haven't had the letdowns that derailed their last two seasons. The Sooners have overwhelmed their opponents so much they have barely been tested, winning 10 of their 12 games by more than 20 points.

"Everybody is already talking about how OU is No. 1 and they already have them in the national title game. We're the clear-cut underdog," Kansas State tight end Brian Casey said.

"I know that I am not intimidated and I don't think the rest of the players are intimidated. As we watch film, you can tell some teams have been intimidated and that is why Oklahoma has gotten on top of them."

Few thought Kansas State would be in this position after a midseason swoon that began with a loss at home to unranked Marshall, with quarterback Ell Roberson sidelined with an injury. Defeats to at Texas and Oklahoma State followed, leaving the Wildcats at 0-2 in the Big 12.

Kansas State hasn't loss since, winning six straight games by an average of more than 30 points to move into position for its first conference title since winning the Big Six in 1934.

Roberson and Darren Sproles lead one of the nation's most balanced offenses. The Wildcats are one of seven teams to average more than 200 yards per game rushing and passing.

Sproles leads the nation with 1,713 yards rushing, while Roberson has thrown for 2,024 yards and run for 881 despite missing two full games and part of a third with an injured left wrist.

"They are definitely as good as anyone or better," Stoops said. "Ell Roberson has the ability to make big plays or pitch it to Sproles. That makes them very difficult to defend."