Kansas is just a chalk outline after Missouri gets through - No. 2 Jayhawks, suspect because of a soft schedule, lose, 36-28, to No. 3 Tigers, who bolster BCS title bid.

It took until Nov. 24 to find out that No. 3 Missouri, not No. 2 Kansas, was probably the Big 12 Conference school you needed to throw your arms around.

Missouri dominated most of Saturday night's eagerly awaited battle at Arrowhead Stadium, then survived a frantic fourth-quarter rally to hold off Kansas, 36-28.

After not producing a first-half point, the high-powered Kansas offense finally got powered and cut the lead to six points with a touchdown with 2:03 left.

Missouri receiver Tommy Saunders, part of the "hands" team, had to recover an onside kick to keep Tigers fans from thinking Saturday might go from the best to the worst night of their lives.

Kansas got the ball back again with 17 seconds left, but quarterback Todd Reesing was sacked for a safety and that doomed one team's championship dreams -- while lifting another's.

Simply plug in Missouri for Kansas as this year's latest out-of-nowhere hope.

Missouri (11-1) is one victory over Oklahoma in next week's Big 12 championship game from earning one of two berths in the Bowl Championship Series championship game, to be played Jan. 7 in New Orleans.

"If we're not the No. 1 team in the country, then something's wrong," Missouri quarterback Chase Daniel, who completed 40 of 49 passes for 361 yards and three touchdowns, said afterward.

Get this: Missouri could be No. 1. The Tigers were No. 4 in last week's BCS standings, trailing Louisiana State, Kansas and West Virginia.

At worst, though, Missouri will rise to No. 2 today behind West Virginia and be assured of a title-game berth with a win next week.

Crazy season, huh?

The national title picture, once clear as mud, can now at least be explained in a few sentences.

If Missouri and West Virginia win next week, they will meet for the national title on Jan. 7 in the Louisiana Superdome.

Missouri plays Oklahoma in San Antonio, and West Virginia is at home against Pittsburgh.

Missouri had a 24-23 fourth-quarter lead against Oklahoma in October, in Norman, before losing, 41-31.

If Missouri or West Virginia stumbles, Ohio State probably seizes one of the two BCS title berths.

That idea seemed almost preposterous two weekends ago, when the Buckeyes dropped to No. 7 in the BCS standings after a home loss to Illinois.