Snyder hopeful Klein can start for No. 3 K-State

He has 17 rushing touchdowns to go with 27 last year, making him the record-holder in the Football Bowl Subdivision for rushing TDs by a quarterback in consecutive seasons.

Considering all that, it's little surprise that he's 20-4 as a starter, and that three more wins would push him past Ell Roberson and Heisman Trophy runner-up Michael Bishop for the most wins by a quarterback since Snyder stepped into Manhattan to resurrect the program in the late 1980s.

If the kid nicknamed "Optimus Klein" is unable to start Saturday, the challenge of moving the Wildcats — No. 2 in the current BCS standings — one step closer to the national championship game will fall to Sams, an elusive freshman with more raw athleticism but far less experience.

"He did a nice job for the most part in the ballgame. He was 5 of 6 throwing the ball, managed the game well enough," Snyder said. "The more opportunities you have, the better you get."

TCU coach Gary Patterson said he wouldn't assume that Klein will play, but he also said that both of the Kansas State quarterbacks present problems with their ability to scramble.

"Sams, the redshirt freshman, as far as I could see, he ran the same plays as Collin does," Patterson said. "They both have patience running the football."

Kansas State running back Angelo Pease also said that the offense won't change regardless of who is under center, and that the Wildcats have confidence in either quarterback.

"If Collin plays, he plays, if he don't, he don't," Pease said. "The only difference with Collin is he's more of a leader, only because he's more experienced."