Mark Mangino has taken a bad football team and made it bowl eligible.

Kansas University gave itself a chance for a postseason berth with a 36-7 win Saturday over Iowa State at Memorial Stadium.

With injured senior quarterback Bill Whittemore returning to guide the offense, KU racked up 401 total yards.

But perhaps even more vital for the Jayhawks was the solid play of the defense, which held Iowa State’s anemic offense to 176 yards and just seven points. KU (6-6 overall, 3-5 Big 12 Conference) limited the Cyclones to 51 yards in the final three quarters.

“We didn’t want this to be our last game,” Whittemore said. “We were willing to do anything we could.”

Just a year ago Kansas finished 2-10 overall and 0-8 in the Big 12 Conference in Mangino’s first season as KU’s coach.

“I’m not going to tell you it’s a turnaround,” Mangino said. “I’m telling you we’re moving in the right direction, full speed ahead. There will be more bumps in the road, but we will endure them and will make this program one of the best in the Big 12 in the future.”

The Jayhawks already have made strides. Their sixth victory marked their most since 1995.

When it was over, players doused each other with Gatorade in a raucous locker room celebration.

Kansas University's Monroe Weekley (88) celebrates an interception by Rodney Fowler (23) in the fourth quarter of the Jayhawks' 36-7 victory over Iowa State. The outcome Saturday at Memorial Stadium gave KU six wins and made the Jayhawks bowl eligible for the first time since 1995. Top, Fowler bites a tangerine that was thrown on the field by KU fans. The Jayhawks could be headed to the Dec. 22 Tangerine Bowl.

“We didn’t have champagne,” Gordon said. “Gatorade was flying everywhere.”

Whittemore was key to making sure the Jayhawks celebrated on Senior Day.

Whittemore, who had missed most of four games because of injury, completed 18 of 28 passes for 221 yards with one touchdown and one interception. He also rushed 21 times for a team-high 85 yards and two TDs.

His 53-yard TD pass to junior receiver Brandon Rideau in the first quarter was his 16th and set a KU single-season record.

And when Mangino let Whittemore take the field for one last snap, then sent in freshman Adam Barmann, the KU fans gave Whittemore a warm ovation.

Victory over Cyclones makes Jayhawks bowl eligible Woodling: Kansas likely headed to Tangerine Bowl Fowler has big game for Jayhawks Ex-KU coach silent after loss KU fans have high hopes for bowl game Notebook How they scored 6Sports video: Kansas gains sixth win at ISU’s expense Hear Mark: KU-ISU postgame comments Photo gallery: KU v. Iowa StateGet the stats: KU vs. ISU 2003 Big 12 Bowl Watch

“I thought he deserved it,” Mangino said. “I did that purposely so that the fans at Memorial Stadium could take a good look at Bill for the last time because I think he’s meant a lot to Kansas football, and he’s really meant a lot to us the last two years.

“I think through all the pain and suffering he endured, he deserved one last notice from the fans, and they responded with a classy ovation.”

“It felt great,” Whittemore said. “It really did. Coach didn’t have to do that. It was nice of him to do that. I love this place. I’m going to miss it.”

But Whittemore, who missed games in all four of his college seasons because of injuries, could suit up one more time after leading KU to its sixth victory.

KU started slowly. Sophomore walk-on Jerod Brooks missed the extra-point attempt after Rideau’s TD, which allowed Iowa State to take the lead after Waye Terry’s two-yard touchdown run in the final minute of the first quarter.

The Jayhawks finally took the lead against Iowa State (2-9, 0-7) on Whittemore’s 12-yard run with 12:56 left in the half. KU settled for a 12-7 lead when Whittemore’s two-point conversion pass fell incomplete.

KU’s halftime advantage could have been bigger, but junior Johnny Beck missed a 32-yard field-goal attempt with two seconds left in the half.

“We will not go through this next year with the kicking game,” said Mangino, whose kickers are a combined 12-of-20 on field goals and 37-of-40 on extra points. “I assure our fans of that.”

Brooks atoned for his early miscue with a 28-yard field goal, and backup free safety Rodney Fowler helped KU break the game open with a pair of interceptions. The first set up sophomore running back Clark Green’s two-yard TD run, and Fowler returned the second for a 10-yard touchdown of his own.

In between, Whittemore added a one-yard touchdown run, his ninth of the season.

“He is outstanding and an inspiration,” Iowa State coach Dan McCarney said.

Whittemore slid on his first few carries early, but was soon back to running up the middle, fighting for extra yards.

“I was a bit skeptical about him coming back to play this game at first,” said Rideau, who caught five passes for 86 yards. “I was proud of him. He stepped up and did what he always does.”

Iowa State “brought every blitz known to man,” according to Mangino, but Whittemore continually checked the defense and called audibles that foiled ISU.

Kansas' Tony Stubbs (9) stuffs Iowa State's Stevie Hicks, the Cyclones' leading rusher with 62 yards.

KU’s captain was sacked only once.

“It was huge having him come back on Senior Day,” said red-shirt freshman Charles Gordon, who caught three passes for 72 yards. “It made us want it even more. Having his experience out there really helps a lot.”

Kansas finished with 401 total yards — 225 more than ISU. KU limited the Cyclones to 51 yards in the final three quarters.

“We need to be more consistent and make plays when they need to be made,” said Terry, one of three quarterbacks used by McCarney. “Our record doesn’t reflect this team.”

Iowa State has one more chance — Saturday at Missouri — to avoid going winless in conference play for the first time since 1994.

Now the Jayhawks will have to wait to see which bowl — if any — extends them an invitation to the postseason. KU’s likely destination appears to be the Tangerine Bowl Dec. 22 at Orlando, Fla.

“We’re not going to be presumptuous here,” Mangino said of a bowl berth. “But I’m pretty confident it’s going to happen.”