Print edition: 
MANHATTAN — Kansas State, a football team that prides itself on focusing on the next game instead of the big picture, will need to stick to its methodical ways on Saturday more than it has at any point.
Though the Wildcats' game against Iowa State will not go down as the biggest on the schedule, it could end up being the most important because of what's at stake.
Combined with an Oklahoma State loss to Oklahoma, a K-State win will have the Cats a three-way tie atop the final Big 12 standings and the program's first conference championship since 2003. It could also lead to a BCS bowl invitation and give K-State its first 10-win season in eight years.
" (We have) a chance to set ourselves apart and maybe even get into one of those BCS games or get into a prestigious bowl game wherever it is," senior defensive end Jordan Voelker said. "That's a change from last year. We made it to the Pinstripe Bowl and that was a good bowl, but we all have bigger sights and we are planning on doing bigger things than we have since we've been here."
A loss would have K-State awaiting its non-BCS bowl fate Sunday night, likely heading to the Cotton Bowl or Alamo Bowl.
K-State hasn't been to the Cotton Bowl since the 2000 season and the Alamo since 1998, but they are viewed as consolation prizes. Earning an at-large berth into a BCS bowl, which K-State would be eligible for at 10-2, is the grand prize.
So is sharing a conference title. Even split three ways.
"That's a main goal of ours every year — to win the Big 12," Voelker said. "If that's a goal that we can accomplish, than that's a big reason why we need to get this win."
K-State coach Bill Snyder was asked earlier this week if he would address any of those implications with his team leading up to Saturday's kickoff. He shook his head.
"They understand the implications of this ballgame," Snyder said. "I think they deem those things important to them, collectively. They are working toward the most favorable end that is available to them."
How do they do that while focusing on Iowa State instead of daydreaming about bowl games? The way freshman center B.J. Finney sees it, as long as they continue to approach game day the way they have since early September, they will be fine.
That shouldn't be hard practicing under Snyder.
"To have a coach that really takes it game by game, day by day," Finney said, "helps you get in that mindset of coming to work every day and not overlooking anybody and keep preparing for them like you do everybody else."
Though players admit they have privately discussed what bowl games they prefer, and how nice it would be receive league championship trophies along with Oklahoma and Oklahoma State, Snyder hopes none of that will be on their minds Saturday morning.
"We've got a trophy shop down here. I can go buy a trophy," Snyder said. "I think to achieve all that you can achieve and all that goes along with it, I think is significant and important to your program.... What it represents is important."
So far, K-State has managed to isolate nearly every game on its schedule. When people began taking the Wildcats seriously following an early-season win at Miami, they followed it up with a victory over Baylor. As they climbed up the national polls, they won their next three over Missouri, Texas Tech and Kansas.
Looking back, Snyder thinks his players were overconfident leading up to a lopsided loss against Oklahoma, but they learned from that game and an OSU loss and have bounced back by beating Texas A&M and Texas.
K-State players weren't thinking about bowl games or trophies then. They are trying to do the same now.
"We have to go out and get a 10th win in order to go where everybody is saying we might go," Finney said. "We've got to take care of business this week before we can actually think about where we are headed for a bowl game."
