.vresize.36.36.medium.0.png){kind=small}
.vresize.36.36.medium.0.png){kind=small}
(AP) - The brutal defeat Kansas State endured two years ago at Baylor is not in the back of the ninth-ranked Wildcats' minds.
More like front and center, every day of every week.
Their upcoming showdown Saturday would have taken on a different tone if the Bears were without Bryce Petty, but No. 5 Baylor's quarterback has been cleared to play with another Big 12 title on the line.
Petty woke up with a headache Monday but practiced Tuesday and Thursday after getting knocked out of last Saturday's 48-46 win over Texas Tech with a mild concussion. He was medically cleared Friday.
"I'll be fine," the fifth-year senior said Monday. "I think it's more exercise-induced kind of stuff, go through things, make sure everything's OK."
Petty threw for 210 yards and two touchdowns against the Red Raiders before taking a high hit from linebacker Sam Eguavoen, who was penalized for a personal foul. Petty walked slowly to the sideline and then to the locker room, but was back on the sideline before the end of the game without shoulder pads or his helmet.
"He was here (Sunday) and was feeling pretty good. He actually felt pretty good at the end of the game the other day," coach Art Briles said. "Of course he took a hard shot, clean shot. But I just saw him 10 minutes ago and he's fine. Smile on his face and determination in his heart."
The winner between Baylor (10-1, 7-1) and K-State (9-2, 7-1) will earn at least a share of the Big 12 title. If TCU loses earlier Saturday to last-place Iowa State, they would be playing for the outright title.
The Bears are the defending Big 12 champions, having clinched the 2013 title outright with a home win over Texas in the regular-season finale.
Even if Petty weren't under center, things wouldn't have been easy for the Wildcats, who were barreling toward an undefeated season in 2012 with only the Bears and struggling Texas standing in the way of the BCS title game. They had a Heisman Trophy front-runner in Collin Klein at quarterback, and a defense that had evolved into one of the nation's best.
Then they were run right out of Waco after a humiliating 52-24 loss.
"I certainly think about it a lot. It left an indelible mark on me," defensive end Ryan Mueller said. "It was definitely the most painful loss I've had here.
"That one hurt, big time."
It was no surprise, then, that after rolling to a 51-13 rout of Kansas last weekend, thoughts immediately shifted to the Wildcats' trip to Baylor.
"It's going to be huge going down there, playing the best team in the Big 12, arguably," said Mueller. "We're going to be ready to go. We're going to prepare like we've never prepared before. We know what's on the line."
Kansas State was 10-0 two years ago when it visited Floyd Casey Stadium, which has since been replaced by a glittering new facility. The Bears were stumbling along around .500, but on a bizarre night in which everything seemed to go awry, the Wildcats allowed 342 yards rushing, 580 yards of offense and watched Baylor pick off Klein three times.
Mueller wouldn't use the word "payback" to describe his feelings heading into Saturday's game at glitzy McLane Stadium. But not only do the Wildcats have a chance to capture a share of the Big 12 title, they can also ruin the Bears' national title hopes.
Baylor was seventh in last week's College Football Playoff rankings, and jumped up to sixth - Ohio State is fifth - in Tuesday's rankings. A win over Kansas State and a little bit of help elsewhere could push the Bears into the inaugural four-team playoff.
"It's going to be a real emotional game, a big game for us, just like every game every week," Kansas State running back DeMarcus Robinson said. "Two years ago, it hurt. We're trying to avoid that feeling again. It was terrible."
The Wildcats still have an outside shot at the playoff, though it would take a monumental amount of help. A more realistic goal is a share of the school's second Big 12 title in the last three years, something it has never before accomplished.
"They ruined our season two years ago," wide receiver Curry Sexton said. "It's going to be a tough game. They're a really good football team, but we're looking forward to the challenge."
