:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/4334381/20121201_jla_as4_1092.0.jpg)
At one point, the Kansas State Wildcats looked like favorites to make it to the BCS National Championship game, but they had to settle in the end with a No. 5 ranking by BCS and an invite to a slightly less prestigious BCS bowl. Only Notre Dame, Alabama, Florida and Oregon, their eventual opponent in the Fiesta Bowl, received higher rankings to end the season.
No. 1 Notre Dame will face No. 2 Alabama in the Championship following Bama's win in the SEC Title Game.
For their part, K-State blog Bring On The Cats is just happy that this year, there's absolutely no controversy to be had -- Kansas State solidly earned the Fiesta Bowl bid and their final spot in the BCS with a solid season, better than anyone else in the conference could muster:
There's no controversy this year. No torches and pitchforks for bowls that would pass up top-10 K-State for Michigan or Virginia Tech. The Wildcats are Big 12 champions and have the conference's automatic bid to the Fiesta Bowl.
K-State will move on to play the Oregon Ducks in the Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 3.