David Clasen/DN Several players fight for a pass from Ell Roberson in the end zone Saturday. Roberson attempted just eight passes in KSU's win, completing four of them.

Now, the Cornhuskers - at least one of them - are questioning each other's hearts.

Following the Huskers (7-5, 3-4 Big 12) 49-13 dismantling by No. 11 Kansas State (9-2, 5-2) on Saturday in Manhattan, Kan., NU co-captain and center John Garrison brought up the topic no one had been willing to touch.

"It was pretty obvious by the end of the game that they just flat out wanted it more," Garrison said. "The heart of this team - I question it a lot after this game.

"It seemed like everybody was not into the game. It was one of those games where everybody was flat."

The loss to the Wildcats started like NU's loss to Iowa State earlier this year and ended like the Colorado loss of last year.

This one was even more lopsided, though.

The outcome was the Huskers' worst defeat since 1968 and worst ever at the hands of Kansas State.

Scott Eastman/DN

"As a senior, this is one that I really wanted bad," said kicker Josh Brown, who - like the rest of NU's seniors - will end his career without a win in Manhattan. "I thought there was going to be a change of events, and we just didn't put a full game together."

Unlike NU's past two losses in the Little Apple, this one ended up being a blowout, and perhaps an expected one. Not a single fan of the 52,221 in attendance rushed the field.

Among other things, the loss means:

- Nebraska has five losses in a season for the first time since 1961, the year before Bob Devaney took over.

- Nebraska can't finish with a winning conference record for the first time since 1968.

- To win nine games for the 34th consecutive season, the Huskers will have to beat Colorado in two weeks and win their bowl game.

The Huskers were dominated in all three aspects of the game - offense, defense and even special teams.

"In order to get it done against (KSU), we would have had to play well in all three areas," NU Coach Frank Solich said. "That was our intent, and we really did not play well in any of the three areas."

The Wildcats held a commanding 507-231 edge in total yards. Nebraska was just as outplayed on special teams.

The Huskers had a punt blocked, which the Wildcats recovered for a touchdown to give KSU a 21-3 lead in the second quarter. Nebraska also missed a 28-yard field goal that would have pulled NU within 21-16.

"Honestly, I can't tell you what happened," said Brown, whose kick hit the right upright. "If I was to win the Super Bowl, I would want my snap, hold and kick to feel like that."

The turnover margin may have been the only edge the Huskers held over KSU. Nebraska forced three turnovers and didn't have one of its own.

After spending the past week talking of how the ball hadn't been bouncing their way this season, the Huskers had plenty of opportunities but didn't take advantage of them.

The Huskers managed just seven points off three KSU fumbles.

"We didn't have any momentum," quarterback Jammal Lord said. "And when we did, we lost it quick."

Despite missing several opportunities, Nebraska was very much in the game for three quarters.

After trailing by as many as 18 points in the second quarter, NU got back into the game with the help of a dazzling 35-yard touchdown run by Lord to open the second half. At that point, Nebraska trailed 21-13.

Then the Wildcats ran away with the game - scoring 28 unanswered points to end the game, including 21 in the fourth quarter.

And, oh, did they run.

With the help of a 91-yard scamper by quarterback Ell Roberson and a 70-yarder by running back Darren Sproles, the Wildcats piled up 415 rushing yards. It was the most rushing yards NU has allowed in a game since 1987.

"(The game) was characterized by way too many big plays," Defensive Coordinator Craig Bohl said. "Big plays usually occur because of poor tackling."

Kansas State didn't even have to put the ball in the air. Roberson, who played the entire game, had just eight passing attempts. The Wildcats went the entire first quarter without throwing the ball.

While the Wildcats were running crazy, the Huskers were running backward.

Of NU's 40 carries, 16 of them resulted in negative yards.

Eleven came from the hands and feet of Lord, who finished the day with 47 rushing yards, his second-lowest total of the season. Without those 11 carries for -54 yards, Lord would have finished with 101 yards.

"Our offense sputtered a lot today," Lord said.

NU's inept rushing game often put the Huskers in third-and-long positions. As a result, they converted just 2 of 15 third downs.

The poor output by NU's offense left Garrison questioning his team's heart.

"I know what we have on offense, and I know our capabilities," he said, "and we just didn't show it today.