Kansas State defensive back Dante Barnett (22) pulls in an interception from Kansas receiver Jimmay Mundine (41) in the Jayhawks' 31-10 loss to the Kansas State Wildcats, Saturday at Memorial Stadium.

With the seventh-ranked Baylor Bears and a shot at a share of the Big 12 Conference title looming a week from Saturday, the Kansas State University football program has much more in its sights than just preparing for this weekend’s Sunflower Showdown.

Don’t expect that to distract the Wildcats (8-2 overall, 6-1 Big 12) for a second, though.

A lot has been made in Lawrence this week about what this rivalry means to the Jayhawks (3-8, 1-7) and how the intensity and passion behind it could inspire Kansas to finish the season strong against its rival to the west. One problem: The Wildcats feel just as strong, if not stronger, about the showdown with Kansas and rarely have been caught focusing on anything else when KU week pops up on the schedule.

A big reason for that is the approach taken by KSU coach Bill Snyder, who preaches the same focus and concentration week in and week out, day in and day out, no matter where the Wildcats are in their schedule.

“I would like to think that they respond to the consistency whether it is the University of Kansas or any other team,” Snyder said earlier this week. “You can beat anybody on any given day if they prepare as well as they can and play well. That has always been our approach no matter who the opponent is. We just prepare the best that we can and play with great enthusiasm, effort and execution. Then you have excellent opportunities to succeed. If you do not, then you run a great risk for someone else doing so and that will put you behind the eight ball.”

All the way up to No. 11 in the nation, with their only losses coming at TCU and home against Auburn, the Wildcats are playing for much more than just pride this weekend against Kansas. But, according to the KSU players, there clearly is an extra dose of motivation involved when the Jayhawks come to town.

“Absolutely,” senior offensive lineman B.J. Finney said. “It is bragging rights for the state. We take great pride in the game, especially being in-state guys. We do not want to lose to the rival program.”

Despite KU’s record or rough stretch during the past few seasons, the Wildcats are treating the Jayhawks as a dangerous opponent. They saw what they did against TCU at home and they’ve seen how KU has appeared to be a different team under interim coach Clint Bowen.

“We know KU has played a lot of good teams really close that may not have come out the way they wanted it to,” defensive back Morgan Burns said. “But they are going to be a tough team to play. They are going to be hungry to win this game. They understand that they are a better team than a lot of people think they are.”

Beyond that, Burns said the idea of Saturday’s 3 p.m. kickoff at Bill Snyder Family Stadium representing a trap game for the Wildcats was ridiculous.

“We have had like three games where people say it is a trap game,” Burns said. “As a team, I do not think we focus on that too much. We just have to take it one game at time, one practice at a time and one day at time.”

Added senior wide receiver Kevin Lockett: “You have to look at every game like it is a championship game regardless of what their record is or what our record is. We know that this is a rivalry. It is like Duke-North Carolina. In this game, it does not matter what your record is or what your offense or defense is like before this game because everything changes. It is just one of those deals in which it is hard to scout because you are going to get something different than what you saw on film.”

The Wildcats, who trail in the overall series 65-41-5, have won five straight in the series. KU’s last victory came in 2008, with Todd Reesing at quarterback. Since then, KSU has won the last five meetings by an average score of 44-13.