Illustration © 2009 Bruce Plante (planteink com) T he myriad possibilities and scenarios that existed just a couple of weeks ago have given way to one game that will decide the Big 12 North. The Cornhuskers will host the Wildcats in a game that harkens back to a sometimes-bitter rivalry that developed between these two programs during the late 1990s and early 2000s. Much like then, a trip to the Big 12 Championship Game is on the line.

Bill Snyder’s turnaround of his new/former team in Manhattan has many observers already proclaiming him the conference’s Coach of the Year. While it’s certainly not an overstatement to point out that the Big 12 North has a long way to go to reach the South’s level of competition, that Snyder has coached his team into this position — and the opportunity for the school’s first Championship Game appearance since 2003 — is simply remarkable.

The Wildcats’ not-so-secret weapon anymore is RB Daniel Thomas. Whether taking handoffs from QB Grant Gregory or receiving the snap directly when K-State runs its Wildcat formation, Thomas always commands attention. He leads the Big 12 with 106 yards rushing per game and 11 touchdowns on the ground.

Thomas’ success on the ground, however, has often come at the expense of Kansas State’s passing game, which ranks at the bottom of the league with an average of 170.9 yards per game, despite the presence of a big-play wide receiver in Brandon Banks and a quality tight end in Jared Mastrud. The Wildcats will need some success through the air if they’re to keep Nebraska off-balance. Unfortunately, that simply didn’t happen in last Saturday’s 38-12 loss to Missouri.

Keeping the Blackshirts out of sorts won’t be an easy task, either. The defense has been a source of strength and consistency for these Cornhuskers, and it has responded repeatedly when challenged. Nebraska’s scoring defense allows opponents an average of only 10.1 points per game, which is tops in the conference and third overall in the country. As for yardage surrendered, only Texas and Oklahoma give up fewer yards.

After struggling to get the offense on track at times this season, Nebraska’s trio of QB Zac Lee, WR Niles Paul and RB Roy Helu Jr. took it out for a spin against Kansas with a well-balanced attack of 196 yards passing and 214 yards rushing. Helu Jr. was especially productive, galloping for 156 yards on 28 carries and scoring three touchdowns, including one in which Lee fumbled into the end zone and the alert running back covered it up for the score. Records: Kansas State 6-5 (4-3 Big 12 North); Nebraska 7-3 (4-2 Big 12 North). Coaches: Kansas State’s Bill Snyder (142-73-1); Nebraska’s Bo Pelini (17-7). Series: Nebraska leads 76-15-2. Kickoff: 6:45 p.m. CT Saturday. TV: ESPN.

Keys for Kansas State: Defense. The Wildcats D needs to show that it too deserves some respect, especially with the pasting by Missouri still fresh. . . . Hold onto that ball in Lincoln. Nebraska lost eight turnovers in a defeat by Iowa State, but picked up five in a win over Oklahoma.

Keys for Nebraska: Have a big play in mind. Missouri scorched the ’Cats with TD strikes of 54 yards and 80 yards to Danario Alexander. . . . Get a little background. This will be the first time that Bo Pelini has faced Bill Snyder, and the Nebraska players and coaches could probably use a refresher on this slumbering rivalry.

THE REST OF THE MATCHUPS

Colorado at Oklahoma State Records: Colorado 3-7 (2-4 Big 12 North); Oklahoma State 8-2 (5-1 Big 12 South). Coaches: Colorado’s Dan Hawkins (69-42); Oklahoma State’s Mike Gundy (34-25). Series: Colorado leads 26-18-1. Kickoff: 6:30 p.m. CT Thursday. TV: ESPN.

Key for Colorado: Play for pride. Now that its bowl hopes are gone, how Colorado responds this week will tell a lot about its future direction.

Key for Oklahoma State: Don’t look down the road. The Pokes actually have an outside chance at an at-large BCS berth, but it’s simply conjecture unless they finish strong.

Oklahoma at Texas Tech

Records: Oklahoma 6-4 (4-2 Big 12 South); Texas Tech 6-4 (3-3 Big 12 South). Coaches: Oklahoma’s Bob Stoops (115-27); Texas Tech’s Mike Leach (82-43). Series: Oklahoma leads 12-4. Kickoff: 11:30 a.m. CT Saturday. TV: FSN.

Key for Oklahoma: Landry’s resilience. A week after throwing five interceptions in an upset loss to Nebraska, QB Landry Jones responded with five TD passes and a career-high 392 yards passing against Texas A&M.

Key for Texas Tech: No air brakes. Oklahoma’s pass defense is the best in the Big 12, allowing just 178.4 yards per game, while the Red Raiders boast a 391.1-yard average throwing the ball.

Iowa State at Missouri

Records: Iowa State 6-5 (3-4 Big 12 North); Missouri 6-4 (2-4 Big 12 North). Coaches: Iowa State’s Paul Rhoads (6-5); Missouri’s Gary Pinkel (138-82). Series: Missouri leads 58-34-9. Kickoff: 1 p.m. CT Saturday. TV: None.

Key for Iowa State: November could pay off in December. The Cyclones have a great opportunity here to improve their bowl positioning in their final regular-season game, and to win their first game in Columbia since 2001 as well.

Key for Missouri: Break 10. Iowa State held Baylor, Nebraska and Colorado each to 10 points or fewer — and walked away with W’s.

Baylor at Texas A&M

Records: Baylor 4-6 (1-5 Big 12 South); Texas A&M 5-5 (2-4 Big 12 South). Coaches: Baylor’s Art Briles (41-42); Texas A&M’s Mike Sherman (9-13). Series: Texas A&M leads 65-31-9. Kickoff: 2:30 p.m. CT Saturday. TV: None.

Key for Baylor: Repeat performance. The Bears were able to surprise a struggling Aggies team 41-21 last year in Waco. After last week’s debacle, Texas A&M may be focusing on its own problems once again.

Key for Texas A&M: Put the wheels back on. The Aggies gained just 59 yards rushing and 167 yards passing while giving up 640 yards to Oklahoma this past Saturday.

Kansas at Texas

Records: Kansas 5-5 (1-5 Big 12 North); Texas 10-0 (5-0 Big 12 South). Coaches: Kansas’ Mark Mangino (50-46); Texas’ Mack Brown (210-100-1). Series: Texas leads 7-2. Kickoff: 7 p.m. CT Saturday. TV: ABC.

Key for Kansas: The playmakers. Wide receivers, Dezmon Briscoe and Kerry Meier are the Jayhawks’ best vertical threats and must touch the ball, along with freshman RB Toben Opurum, who’s proven himself to be the more physical running threat for Kansas.

Key for Texas: Clean sweep of the North . . . again. Texas’ last lost to a North Division team came on Sept. 29, 2007, to Kansas State in Austin. And they’ve never lost to the Jayhawks in the Big 12 era.