On the third Saturday of November, on the plains of Kansas, an important football game - more important to the home team than the visitors - is being played.

Such an unlikely script would have been dismissed out of hand had one been offered. But this is real, and the focus is not on perennial national power Colorado, its 8-2 record and No. 9 ranking notwithstanding.No, the main interest - it can no longer be called a curiosity - is Kansas State. The seventh-ranked Wildcats - losers only to top-ranked Nebraska - are trying to win 10 games for the first time in 85 years.

On the campus in Manhattan, some are suggesting the Wildcats are playing the game of their lives. And to prove a point and have a shot at its first New Year's Day game, Kansas State needs to win.

"It's a huge game," said wide receiver Kevin Lockett, whose 13 touchdown catches rank him second in the nation. "We could finish 10-1, but people are still saying we haven't beaten a powerhouse like Nebraska or Colorado."

A victory over the Buffs (4-2 in the Big Eight) and another in the Cotton Bowl - where Kansas State would wind up - would give the Wildcats a precedent-setting 11 this season.

Nebraska is idle in preparation for its traditional meeting with Oklahoma, leaving No. 2 Ohio State and No. 3 Florida in need of victories to assure that they remain in the race for the national title.

Neither the Buckeyes (10-0), playing host to Indiana (2-7) in preparation for their annual showdown with Michigan, nor the Gators (9-0), who play Vanderbilt (2-7) before meeting Florida State, should have any trouble staying unblemished.

Elsewhere, it will be No. 4 Tennessee (8-1) at Kentucky (4-6), No. 5 Northwestern (9-1) at Purdue (3-5-1), Maryland (6-4) at No. 6 Florida State (8-1), No. 8 Notre Dame (8-2) at Air Force (7-3), Texas Christian (6-3) at No. 10 Texas (7-1-1), UCLA (6-4) at No. 11 Southern Cal (8-1-1), No. 12 Michigan (8-2) at No. 19 Penn State (6-3), No. 20 Virginia Tech (8-2) at No. 13 Virginia (8-3), No. 14 Arkansas (8-2) at LSU (5-4-1), and No. 15 Kansas (8-2) at Oklahoma State (3-7).

Also, it will be Oregon State (1-9) at No. 16 Oregon (8-2), No. 17 Alabama (8-2) at No. 21 Auburn (7-3), Middle Tennessee (7-3) at No. 18 Texas A&M (6-2), Washington State (3-7) at No. 22 Washington (6-3-1), Boston College (3-7) at No. 23 Syracuse (7-2), No. 24 Clemson (7-3) at South Carolina (4-5-1), and West Virginia (4-5) at No. 25 Miami (6-3).

By winning, Kansas State, 5-1 in the Big Eight, could get a share of the conference title should Oklahoma upset Nebraska. But with the bowl alliance, such a designation amounts to little more than a footnote.

Since being blown out by 24 points at Nebraska on Oct. 21, the Wildcats have dumped No. 15 Kansas, then-No. 25 Oklahoma and Iowa State by a combined score of 139-24.

Kansas State scored on seven of its first nine possessions last week at Iowa State. In that rout, Matt Miller threw three touchdown passes to set a conference record of 22.

"Our offense and other aspects of our game have been good the last three weeks," said Bill Snyder, the most successful coach in Kansas State history. "I think we're playing consistent football.

Kansas State is not the only underdog story to capture the imagination of college football fans this season. One equally as unbelievable - the saga of Northwestern - continues at Purdue.

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There, another group of Wildcats, led by running back Darnell Autry, tries to become the first 10-game winner ever at Northwestern. Like their namesake, the are favored to do just that.

From a financial perspective, Notre Dame is probably playing its biggest game ever. With a victory over Air Force, the Irish would become part of the Fiesta-Orange-Sugar bowl alliance.

Such an appearance would be worth $8 million. A loss to the Falcons probably would leave the Irish no place to go save the Independence or Liberty bowls.

Tennessee, led by Peyton Manning, is an overwhelming favorite against Kentucky. An upset would be even more shocking considering the Vols' perfect November record in the SEC since 1984.

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