Lincoln, Neb. ? The North Division representative in the Big 12 championship game will be decided in a back-to-the-future matchup tonight.

Nebraska (7-3, 4-2 Big 12) and Kansas State (6-5, 4-3) will play their most meaningful game against each other in a decade, since their days as the dominant teams in the division.

For Bill Snyder, a win and a berth in the Dec. 5 title game in Arlington, Texas, would rival any of his many accomplishments in his first run as the Wildcats’ coach. Snyder, 70, came back after three years in retirement to revive a program picked last in the North after being left in a shambles by Ron Prince.

Bo Pelini, Nebraska’s second-year coach, won nine games in 2008 and a share of first in the North but lost the tiebreaker to Missouri. For him, a victory over the Wildcats and an outright division title would mark another milestone in his effort to return the Cornhuskers to national relevance after they slid to mediocrity under Bill Callahan.

“All we’ve done right now is put ourselves in a position to have this opportunity,” Pelini said. “Being in this position won’t do us any good if we go out there and lay an egg on Saturday. I still believe we have not played our best football yet across the board. I think there is still so much out there for our football team.”

Kansas State faces an all-or-nothing situation. If the Wildcats lose, they won’t be invited to a bowl because they’re allowed to count only one of their two wins over Football Championship Subdivision opponents toward the required six-win threshold.

Snyder, who led the Wildcats to four division titles and the 2003 conference championship, has no clue whether his experience in big games will rub off on his players. Twelve of them are first-year starters, and six of those are in their first year in the program.

“Well, it’s like being a parent,” Snyder said. “You think you have all the experience, and you try to share what you think might be the right way for young people, your children, but they don’t always want to listen. You would like to think there would be some things we could share with our players and they could respond to it appropriately, but they’re still 18 years old and it remains to be seen.”

The Wildcats looked overmatched in last week’s 38-12 loss to Missouri at home. K-State failed to score a touchdown for the first time this season, and it had no answer for Danario Alexander, who caught 10 passes for 200 yards and three touchdowns.

K-State quarterback Grant Gregory said the game against Nebraska is like a second chance because the Wildcats still can win the division.

“I know there’s a sense of urgency,” he said. “This is it.”

Nebraska has rebounded from back-to-back home losses to Texas Tech and Iowa State to win three straight.

A defense that ranks among the nation’s best has carried Nebraska through the season. Lombardi Award finalist Ndamukong Suh and his defensive mates will go against the Big 12’s leading rusher in Daniel Thomas, who’s averaging 106 yards a game.