LINCOLN, Neb. | This was all or nothing for Kansas State because a Wildcats loss meant no division championship and no bowl game. And the loss happened, 17-3, to surging Nebraska, which will meet Texas in the Big 12 title game.</p><p>But for Kansas State, this season wasn&rsquo;t for nothing. Although the Wildcats&rsquo; 6-6 record meant a mere one-game improvement over last season, the feeling is vastly different &mdash; upbeat because of a program rejuvenated by Bill Snyder.</p><p>&ldquo;Definitely,&rdquo; senior linebacker John Houlik said. &ldquo;We wish we could have finished it right, but I feel like a foundation has been laid here.&rdquo;</p><p>After a three-year absence, Snyder restored a sense of pride to a program that was left in disarray by the previous regime and its contract settlement aftermath.</p><p>The repair job brought Kansas State, projected as fifth in the Big 12 North, to the final week of the regular season with an opportunity to finish with a division title. As it stands, the Wildcats, 4-4 in conference play, will do no worse than second place.</p><p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;m not unhappy,&rdquo; Snyder said. &ldquo;I think in the grand scheme of things, when we reflect back on this season, there will be many things that I&rsquo;m pleased with.&rdquo;</p><p>Perhaps what will make Snyder most happy is the calming effect he&rsquo;s had on the program and university. He was asked afterward if he believed he smoothed the waters, a reference to his description of the situation upon accepting the job a year ago.</p><p>&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t know,&rdquo; Snyder said. &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t get any negative letters. I guess I like to think the waters are a little smoother now.&rdquo;</p><p>But no doubt about it, this one hurts. The Wildcats believed if they turned in a largely mistake-free game that they could spring the upset. The Cornhuskers haven&rsquo;t exactly been overwhelming opponents on offense.</p><p>The defense, however, is another story. Kansas State needed to take advantage of every opportunity to have a chance, and it didn&rsquo;t have the luxury of coming away empty on two straight trips to the red zone in the third quarter.</p><p>The first whiff did the most damage. The Wildcats answered a Nebraska touchdown with an impressive drive that reached the 13. K-State had the perfect call against defensive pressure, with Grant Gregory hitting Keithen Valentine out of the backfield.</p><p>Valentine was churning to the end zone when Nebraska strong safety Larry Asante got his helmet on the ball and popped it loose. The Huskers recovered at the 5.</p><p>&ldquo;I feel so bad I can&rsquo;t describe it,&rdquo; Valentine said. &ldquo;They called my number and I wasn&rsquo;t ready.&rdquo;</p><p>Kansas State held, got the ball back and again put itself in scoring position. This time Josh Cherry missed a 32-yard field-goal attempt, keeping the margin at two touchdowns.</p><p>&ldquo;We had ample opportunities,&rdquo; Snyder said.</p><p>But not after those possessions. The Nebraska margin remained at 14 points the rest of the way.</p><p>The Cornhuskers&rsquo; 10-3 lead at halftime grew in a flash just after halftime. On the second play of the third quarter, K-State safety Tysyn Hartman was helped off the field because of a leg injury.</p><p>Nebraska took advantage of his absence, and on third and 1 quarterback Zac Lee completed a 47-yard strike over top to Niles Paul. With Kansas State reeling, the Huskers struck on the next snap. Roy Helu Jr. took it down the right sideline for a 15-yard touchdown.</p><p>Hartman had come up huge earlier when he collected his team-leading fifth interception in the end zone to snuff out a second-quarter drive. The play happened right after end Jeffrey Fitzgerald dropped Lee for a 14-yard sack.