An all-too-familiar second half breakdown buried the Nebraska Cornhuskers and led to the Huskers' second straight conference road loss as Kansas State crushed Nebraska 45-21.

After trailing by ten at halftime Nebraska's offense failed to gain any significant traction, while allowing backup Wildcat quarterback Allen Webb and running back Darren Sproles to race free against what had been one of the nation's top rushing defenses.

"I'm really disappointed. We thought we had an excellent plan coming in and we just didn't do very well today, guys, said a clearly agitated head coach Bill Callahan after the game.

Kansas State piled up 418 yards of total offense, including 294 on the ground. Webb accounted for 147 rushing yards and scored four touchdowns, despite not being named as the team's starter until three days earlier.

Nebraska's offense struggled in nearly every aspect of the game. They set up their only two touchdowns of the game on long pass plays of 63 yards to Cory Ross and 55 yards to Terrance Nunn. Beyond those two plays Nebraska managed minus-2 yards of passing for the game.

The Huskers snapped the ball only three times beyond their own 35-yard line, were successful in only two of eleven third-down conversion attempts and turned the ball over on four consecutive possession in the fourth quarter.

"It's a tough pill to swallow, guys," lamented Callahan. "Real though."

The Huskers' collapse comes one week after a record breaking offensive performance by the offense one-week earlier against Baylor. In that game Dailey became the first Husker quarterback to pass for over 300 yards in a game.

"It's like a see-saw," Dailey said shaking his head. "At one point you're high in the sky and the next you're down on the ground eating dirt. It's not right."

Kansas State jumped out of the gate, scoring twice on Webb runs to grab an early 14-0 lead. Nebraska finally showed some life from the NU 17 when Ross took a shuffle pass from Dailey, broke several tackles and raced 63 yards for a touchdown to pull Nebraska to within seven points at the end of the first quarter.

On the Wildcats next drive it appeared as though the Huskers would hold them with an interception in the end zone, but a roughing the passer penalty negated the take-away and allowed KSU to score again on a short Sproles run.

Nebraska turned to the big play again when Dailey tossed deep to a racing Terrance Nunn for a 55-yard gain to the five. Two plays later Nebraska was back in it when I-Back Brandon Jackson scored from one yard out to make the score 21-14.

The Nebraska defense would give some life to the team as well. After a KSU field goal before the half widened to lead to 24-14, the Wildcats were forced to punt, deep in their own territory. After a bad snap bounced off a Wildcat blocker, Daniel Bullocks picked up the loose ball and raced 10 yards for a touchdown, putting Nebraska to within three points with 11:14 left in the third.

The Huskers would not threaten again.

Webb scored his third touchdown before the third quarter ended. Then the Huskers simply collapsed in the fourth.

Dailey fumbled the first snap of the quarter, but the Huskers dodged any trouble when Webb returned the favor three plays later. But the Huskers remained in the giving mood. Maurice Porter intercepted a Dailey pas on the ensuing drive that led to another Wildcat touchdown. Nebraska fumbled on their next possession setting up another KSU score. On the ensuing kickoff Brandon Jackson lost the ball in the sun and KSU recovered the ball again. Mercifully there was no more scoring leaving the final score 45-21.

Despite the loss the Huskers can still hold claim to a tie with Missouri for the Big XII North Division lead with a matching 2-2 league record. Those two teams meet next week in Lincoln.