ST. LOUIS -- Given a clear path to the national championship game, Kansas State blew it.
Texas A&M spoiled the second-ranked Wildcats' bid for a perfect season and a sure invitation to the Fiesta Bowl, winning 36-33 in double overtime Saturday in the Big 12 title game."It's a sick feeling," said quarterback Michael Bishop, whose late fumble led to the score that forced overtime. "It's a terrible situation."
Sirr Parker caught a 32-yard touchdown pass as the No. 10 Aggies, who trailed by 15 points entering the fourth quarter, exploited a suspect secondary and rallied for the upset.
"I just really think this is great," A&M coach R.C. Slocum said.
Parker was one of the smallest players on the field at 5-foot-7.
"But I was 6 feet tall on that play," Parker said. "I didn't know if I was in or not. I looked up, I saw the ref and went and celebrated with the Corps."
Kansas State began the day in third place in the Bowl Championship Series standings, and needed either Tennessee or UCLA to lose. The Wildcats got what they wanted earlier in the afternoon when UCLA lost 49-45 to Miami, but failed to capitalize.
The win by the Aggies guaranteed them a spot in either the Orange or Sugar Bowl. Kansas State must wait until Sunday to find out its fate.
"This may be, in their young lives, the most difficult thing they've had to handle," coach Bill Snyder said. "The pain that comes from this is obvious."
Tennessee, the last undefeated team left at the top of the BCS rankings, played later against Mississippi State in the SEC championship game.
Texas A&M (11-2) tied it with 1:05 left in the fourth quarter when Parker caught a 9-yard scoring pass from Branndon Stewart and then grabbed a 2-point conversion pass. Stewart, who regained the starting job when Randy McCown broke his collarbone, was 15-for-31 for 324 yards.
"I can't recall ever being this excited about a football game," Stewart said. "I couldn't wait to play all week.
"I honestly didn't ever feel i would get the opportunity to play at A&M ever again."