Manhattan ? For Kansas State, the road to the Big 12 North title leads through some pretty inhospitable territory.

That would be Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Neb., where the Wildcats haven’t beaten Nebraska since quarterback Lynn Dickey led Kansas State to a 12-0 victory in 1968.

“That was what, when Nixon was president?” Kansas State center Nick Leckey said.

Actually, Nixon wasn’t inaugurated until 1969 — the year Nebraska began a 29-year domination of the Wildcats. And even though Kansas State’s victory drought ended in 1998 in Manhattan, the Cornhuskers still own a 17-game home winning streak against K-State.

That’s a bit of history the Wildcats (8-3) can’t afford to repeat today against the 18th-ranked Cornhuskers (8-2). At 4-2 in Big 12 play, the two teams share the North Division lead with two games left.

That means today’s winner will have the inside track at facing No. 1 Oklahoma in the conference title game Dec. 6.

“This is huge,” defensive end Andrew Shull said. “It’s huge for anybody who has ever played at K-State and for everybody that will play at K-State.”

Since 1997, the home team has won each time. Last year, the Wildcats humiliated Nebraska — on its way to an uncharacteristic 7-7 finish — 49-13 in Manhattan. It was the Cornhuskers’ most lopsided loss in the series.

“Last year, Kansas State really embarrassed us at their home,” Nebraska quarterback Jammal Lord said. “Hopefully, we return the favor.”

Those seem like routine sentiments — but to the Wildcats, it sounded like trash talk.

“It definitely is a respect game,” Leckey said. “I don’t think Nebraska really shows any respect for us. I guess they have their reasons.”

If the Wildcats can get by the Huskers and beat Missouri a week later, it will cap a turnaround from a three-game losing streak and an 0-2 start to their Big 12 season.