MANHATTAN, Kan. – Texas' struggles against Kansas State continued on Saturday night.
Fans cheered, "We own Texas," as the clock expired on the Longhorns' fifth straight loss to the Wildcats.
With the 42-24 win, Kansas State also secured the Big 12 championship.
The loss was painful for the Longhorns.
"The third quarter was still tight," Texas coach Mack Brown said. "We moved the ball and did some good things in the fourth quarter, but we had two turnovers and a missed field goal, and you cannot do those things.
"They played really well, and we were matched with them in the third quarter," Brown added. "We had to keep matching them, and we did not do that."
Kansas State quarterback Collin Klein passed for one touchdown and ran for two. John Hubert scored three touchdowns on short runs for Kansas State.
After a slow start, Klein was 8 of 14 for 184 yards passing and added 108 yards rushing on 23 carries.
In front of Kansas State's sixth sellout in seven home games, Texas (8-4, 5-4) led the Wildcats 10-7 at halftime, but Kansas State scored 28 unanswered and pulled away late.
It was the second Big 12 title for Kansas State coach Bill Snyder.
"Bill is unbelievable," Brown said. "I have said many times that I think what he has done here is the best in the country, from start to finish."
Texas, which may be headed for the Cotton Bowl, lost its lead on Kansas State's first possession of the second half. Klein hit a 29-yard pass and Hubert broke free for 28 yards as Kansas State went 75 yards in seven plays, with Hubert scoring from the 2.
Just as Klein was preparing to trot onto the field for the biggest home game in Kansas State history, Snyder put his arm around his senior quarterback and whispered something in his ear.
"He just told me how much he appreciated me, and that he loved me," Klein said. "It was a great moment. And I know he said that to every single one of us, and I wouldn't have it any other way. And that's pretty special."
Everything about this night was special for the Wildcats and their fans, who celebrated their third conference title in 117 years.
The Wildcats (12-1, 8-1) had never played for a conference championship in their last game at home, and had never had a player end the regular season in such close contention for the Heisman Trophy as Klein.
With his main competitors, Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel nor Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te'o, off, Klein had the stage all to himself.
He had one last chance to burnish his credentials for what would be Kansas State's first Heisman, and he made it count.
"Tonight's all about our team and what we were able to accomplish tonight," he said. "And Texas didn't give it to us easily. Tonight's about K-State family. That's the most important thing."
Allen Chapman intercepted Case McCoy's pass and ran it back 35 yards, setting up Klein's 9-yard TD run for a 42-17 lead with 1:53 left.
Klein also had a pass to a wide-open Tyler Lockett that went for a 55-yard scoring play earlier in the quarter.
"Basically, they just out executed us," Texas safety Adrian Phillips said. "They did what they were supposed to do and we did not come out to do our job after halftime."
McCoy threw a 14-yard TD pass to Jaxon Shipley in the second quarter and a 9-yard scoring pass to Malcom Brown less than 1 minute left in the game. Brown also scored on a 2-yard run in the second quarter.
McCoy was 26 of 34 for 314 yards, with two interceptions. He was sacked four times by a swarming Kansas State defense.
"What it comes down to is turnovers," McCoy said, "and obviously we turned the ball over three times, and they capitalized, put up points on all of them."
Oklahoma beat TCU earlier Saturday and immediately donned caps and T-shirts declaring themselves Big 12 champs. But Kansas State's 24-19 win at Oklahoma on Sept. 22 gives them the tiebreaker and sends them to the Fiesta Bowl.
"I think (the title) means an awful lot to all of us," Snyder said. "A great deal to the young people in our program. They were excited about it. Obviously I speak for everybody in our football family. I think it's significant and important for each and every one of us. I'm pleased for a lot of different people, the people that genuinely support this program."
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