Kansas State vs. Oklahoma: How Sooners' Loss Will Shake Up Week 9 Rankings

The No. 11 Oklahoma Sooners fell for the second time in three weeks in a home defeat to No. 14 Kansas State on Saturday. A Top Five school some two weeks ago, the Sooners now face another plummet down the rankings in Week 9, while the Wildcats have suddenly emerged as the Big 12 team to beat.

Saturday's showdown in Norman, Oklahoma, was a shootout both on the ground and through the air. The Sooners had the edge in total yards, amassing 533, while Kansas State had 385 yards total. Both teams rushed for at least 160. 

But Bill Snyder's old-school offense constantly had the Sooners on their heels, and Oklahoma missed two chip-shot field goals—including a 19-yarder to take the lead late—that led to its demise in a 31-30 Kansas State road victory.

After winning at Oklahoma two years ago, Kansas State's victory Saturday made it two in a row there, per ESPN Stats and Info:

This Top 15 matchup figured to have big Top 25 implications just based on the team's rankings, but the way it unfolded should have a far-reaching impact—not only in the Big 12 race, but in the rankings altogether.

USA TODAY Sports

Oklahoma's second conference loss all but squashes its already outside hopes of getting into the College Football Playoff or even one of the at-large top-tier bowl games. Even if somehow Baylor, TCU and Kansas State end up with two losses apiece, the Sooners won't hold a tiebreaker over the latter two teams after losing to them. Even so, a two-loss Big 12 champion would need heaven and earth to move for a CFP spot to open up for it. 

As for the implications of Saturday's loss, Oklahoma should fall out of the Top 15 and possibly as far back as No. 18 or 19—depending on how many teams behind them secure big wins later in Saturday's slate.

Kansas State, on the other hand? Saturday's victory has its fans thinking about 2012 all over again, and the parallels are abound, per SB Nation's Matt Hinton:

"

Oh wow Kansas State dramatically outperforming talent and expectations to (probably) move into the top 10 who could have seen it coming?

— Matt Hinton (@MattRHinton) October 18, 2014"

That season, of course, started out an incredible 10-0 before falling to Oregon in the Fiesta Bowl. The Wildcats can't hope for an undefeated record this time around after falling to Auburn at home this season, but the luck goes both ways as Braden Gall of Athlon Sports noted:

"

Kansas State is a few missed kicks away from being No. 4 in the nation. And a few missed kicks away from being unranked.

— Braden Gall (@BradenGall) October 18, 2014"

While in hindsight it's crazy to think about where Kansas State could be with a few altered outcomes, there remains little doubt to many—including David Ubben of Fox Sports—that K-State belongs in the Top 10:

With Baylor losing to West Virginia on Saturday, Kansas State could shockingly be the only Big 12 team with an undefeated conference record by the end of the day. Oklahoma State can stay perfect by beating TCU, but the Wildcats will host the Cowboys at home on Nov. 1. 

Date	Oklahoma (5-2, 2-2)	Kansas State (5-1, 3-0)
Oct. 25	Bye	vs. Texas
Nov. 1	at Iowa State	vs. No. 15 Oklahoma State
Nov. 8	vs. No. 4 Baylor	at No. 12 TCU
Nov. 15	at Texas Tech	Bye
Nov. 22	vs. Kansas	Nov. 20: at West Virginia
Nov. 29	Bye	vs. Kansas
Dec. 6	vs. No. 15 Oklahoma State	at No. 4 Baylor

Kansas State's Top 10 aspirations are about to become a reality, but its improbable hopes of breaking into the CFP conversation are inching closer to reality as well. 

However, just like many of the nation's most impressive teams, most of the Wildcats' tests are to come. They face Texas at home next week, before facing three Top 15 conference foes—Oklahoma State, TCU and Baylor—in the home stretch along with West Virginia.

Oklahoma still has its chances to pick up some morale-boosting victories and fight for one of the top bowl games, with Baylor, Texas Tech and Oklahoma State still on the schedule.

But the damage has already been doled out to the Sooners. Kansas State—expected to be in the middle of the pack in the Big 12—has come to play this season, and whoever steps into the Wildcats' path better be ready.