LINCOLN, Neb. -- Kansas State coach Bill Snyder knows what's been holding back his team this year.

	Kansas State's Jarrod Cooper is one of the big-hitters that Nebraska must cope with Saturday.

Even though the Wildcats are still unbeaten and lead the Big 12 North Division, Snyder admits they have lacked consistency. He hopes it is corrected by Saturday, when No. 5 Kansas State (9-0, 6-0) visits No. 7 Nebraska.

"It all comes back to inconsistency," Snyder said. "We have to be as good as we are capable of being. There has been no point in time where we have played well in all three areas of the game. I don't think anyone wants to be behind at Nebraska."

Kansas State struggled through a few games so far.

The Wildcats gave up two touchdowns in the fourth quarter last week in a 20-14 win over Colorado, and had to come from 21-point deficits to beat Oklahoma State and Iowa State. But at No. 5 in the Bowl Championship Series ratings, they are still a contender for a national title.

The Wildcats beat Nebraska 40-30 last year and are confident they can do it again, even though they haven't won in Lincoln since 1968.

"It gets you fired up. Nebraska gets a lot of respect, we get hardly any," K-State free safety Lamar Chapman said.

The Huskers (8-1, 5-1) are not particularly happy with the situation, either. Nebraska is one behind K-State at sixth in the BCS ratings. After beating the Wildcats in 29 straight games, Nebraska has vivid memories of last year's loss.

"It was a close game and it's going to be a battle again this year," Nebraska quarterback Eric Crouch said. "But as far as momentum shifting, I really don't see that happening."

The statistics agree. The Wildcats and Huskers bring the top two defenses in the Big 12 into Saturday's game. K-State leads the conference and is second nationally in total defense, allowing just 232.2 yards per game. Nebraska is second in the league and No. 4 in the nation at 234.6 yards.

"They're a very aggressive defense. They're going to be right in our face," Nebraska receiver Matt Davison said. "Eric's a great quarterback, so we know that if we can get a little separation he's going to get us the ball."

Nebraska coach Frank Solich said the Wildcats' offense worries him just as much as the defense, even without Michael Bishop at quarterback. Last year's Davey O'Brien Award winner as the nation's top quarterback and the Heisman Trophy runner-up has moved on to the NFL.

Snyder has replaced him with Jonathan Beasley and Adam Helm, who have the Wildcats averaging 196.2 yards passing.

"When one guy with the ability at a position like the quarterback spot ends up leaving, everybody right away thinks there's going to be a great drop off," Solich said. "I think most people thought that they would need to find some quarterback, someone in their system, that would be able to step up and fill the void that was vacated there. They have done that."