Snyder to coach final game against Missouri

DALLAS -- Farewell, Bill Snyder.

Snyder, who took Kansas State from the depths of college football to 11 straight bowl games before last season, coaches his final game for the Wildcats (4-6, 1-6 Big 12) today against Missouri at the stadium that will be renamed Bill Snyder Family Stadium.

After 17 seasons at Kansas State, the architect of the "Miracle in Manhattan" isn't sure how difficult it will be to leave coaching behind. He announced his retirement Tuesday.

"I've never retired before so it's going to be a unique experience," the 66-year-old Snyder said. "I don't know how I'll deal with it. I really don't know. I'm going to find out. ... I'm retiring to my family."

While the final game for K-State will be about sentimentality, Missouri (6-4, 4-3) still has a chance to win the Big 12 North, if the Tigers ruin Snyder's final game and they get a lot of help the weekend after Thanksgiving.

In the only other Big 12 games Saturday, Oklahoma (6-3, 5-1) goes for its fifth straight victory when the Sooners play at No. 21 Texas Tech (8-2, 5-2); and Oklahoma State (4-5, 1-5) has to win at Baylor (4-6, 1-6) to keep its slim bowl hopes alive.

Big 12 South champion No. 2 Texas (10-0, 7-0) and Texas A&M (5-5, 3-4) have the weekend off before playing their annual grudge match the day after Thanksgiving in College Station. Also that Friday, bowl-bound Nebraska (6-4, 3-4) plays at Colorado (7-3, 5-2), with the Buffaloes able to clinch the Big 12 North title if they win.

After being off this weekend, Iowa State (7-3, 4-3) plays Nov. 26 at Kansas (5-5, 2-5) when the Jayhawks will have to win to get into a bowl game.

Kansas State has gone 8-14, including a Fiesta Bowl loss, since winning the Big 12 championship game in 2003, which was its third appearance in the title game. The Wildcats got off to a 4-1 start this year, but fell out of bowl contention by losing their last five games.

Bowl-bound Missouri has to win to remain in contention for the Big 12 North title. The Tigers have lost all nine games against K-State since the two teams joined the Big 12.

"We know they'll be prepared to play, and we'll have to see what we can go over there and do," Tigers coach Gary Pinkel said. "We want to finish the regular season on a high note."

If the Tigers win, they would then be rooting for Nebraska over Colorado and Iowa State over Kansas the next weekend.

Oklahoma has won five straight games over Texas Tech, which is coming off a surprising 24-17 loss to Oklahoma State. The Red Raiders had "just" 338 yards against the Cowboys, their lowest offensive output in 37 games, since 236 yards in a 60-15 loss in 2002 against the Sooners, who this season are third in the Big 12 in total defense (315.3 yards per game).

The Sooners are bowl eligible for the seventh straight season under Bob Stoops. Their three losses this year are against teams (Texas, UCLA and TCU) that have a combined 27-2 record.

By shocking Texas Tech to win its first Big 12 game under coach Mike Gundy, Oklahoma State kept alive its bowl hopes. To get the needed six victories, the Cowboys will have to beat Baylor and then Oklahoma on the road.

Oklahoma State has won all nine games over Baylor in Big 12 play.

Baylor will finish with its 10th straight losing season, and the 11th year in a row without a bowl after losing at Missouri a week ago. Their remaining goal is a modest one: to win two Big 12 games in the same season for the first time.