Manhattan ? Even with a victory, neither team is guaranteed bowl eligibility.

A loss today, though, would likely be disastrous for either Kansas State or Iowa State.

The Wildcats (4-4, 1-3 Big 12) have only one winning team among their last four opponents – No. 5 Texas, which comes to town Nov. 11.

But as inconsistent as the Wildcats have been on offense, they can’t count on going 2-1 or better against Iowa State, Colorado (1-7) or Kansas (3-5) to guarantee their first postseason appearance since they won the Big 12 title in 2004.

Kansas State has just 12 offensive touchdowns through eight games, and has gone without an offensive TD three times.

The Cyclones, who have been to two straight bowls and five in the last six years, won the last two meetings against Kansas State after a 10-game losing streak from 1995-2004. But this year, they’re 3-5 overall, 0-4 in Big 12 play and haven’t beaten a Division I-A opponent since a 16-10 victory over UNLV on Sept. 9.

That has the fans grumbling – and with good reason, kicker Bret Culbertson said earlier this week.

“I totally understand that,” Culbertson said. “We get frustrated enough. I can only imagine spending money on season tickets and seeing the way we’ve been playing.”

But targeting coach Dan McCarney’s job would be a mistake, linebacker Alvin Bowen said.

“Coach Mac has taken ISU to where it hasn’t been before,” said Bowen, whose 13.4 tackles per game lead the nation. “Hopefully, fans will stay with him through the good times and the bad times.”

Former Kansas State coach Bill Snyder issued a similar plea Thursday on behalf of his successor. Snyder, who retired last fall after leading Kansas State to 11 bowl games and one Big 12 title in 17 years, sent an open letter to fans asking them to be patient with the team and first-year coach Ron Prince.

“I have stated so very often that I came to Kansas State because of the people and I’ve stayed because of the people. You are truly wonderful,” Snyder wrote. “I am now asking that you please afford that same caring and loyal support to Ron Prince, his staff and players. This is a difficult transition for them, as it would be for anyone, and they are working diligently to give you the very best product possible.”

And despite their struggles – the latest being the loss of junior safety Marcus Watts to season-ending hand surgery – the Wildcats haven’t given up on getting Prince to a bowl game in his first season.

“The goals haven’t really changed,” defensive end Ian Campbell said. “We’ve wanted to get into a bowl game and we still have a chance of doing that, and that’s what we look forward to doing.”

Prince, whose team started 3-0 but has lost four of five since then, said consistency is the key.

“To put together a whole game and to play well will do us a lot of good,” he said. “If we play well, then we expect to win.”