KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Chase Daniel and his Missouri teammates will have almost no time at all to savor the biggest victory in school history. A tantalizing chance for an even grander prize lies just over the horizon for a team that wasn't even ranked until late September.

After beating No. 2 Kansas, 36-28, last night and ruining the Jayhawks' perfect season, the third-ranked Tigers are Big 12 North champions and off to San Antonio for a date with No. 10 Oklahoma in the conference title game. Beat the Sooners, and they're in the BCS national championship game, something that seemed unthinkable in September for a team that hasn't won even a conference title in 38 years.

"Hopefully, we're No. 1 in the nation," said Daniel, the junior quarterback who threw for 361 yards and three touchdowns. "But all that stuff doesn't matter. We've got a tough game going down to San Antonio against a great Oklahoma team."

The Sooners are the only team so far that's been able to put a blemish on Missouri (11-1, 7-1 Big 12), scoring 18 straight points in the fourth quarter for a 41-31 victory in Norman.

Yesterday, Daniel was unstoppable, outplaying Todd Reesing, his Kansas counterpart, in a showdown between Heisman Trophy contenders.

"I'm sure we just sent him to New York," Kansas defensive back Aqib Talib said. "He made good decisions all night and didn't try to force anything. He's got my vote."

Missouri figures to go to the top of the BCS standings and become No. 1 in the AP Top 25 for the first time since 1960, the last time the Tigers were this close to a national championship.

"I'm excited about that, but we didn't get here thinking about it," Missouri coach Gary Pinkel said. "You know, we had to win five straight games to have a chance to play in this one for the divisional championship. I'm just so proud of everybody."

Reesing's 5-yard touchdown pass to Marcus Henry with 2:03 to go drew the Jayhawks within six points and Missouri's Tony Temple was stopped on third down to give the Jayhawks (11-1, 7-1) one last slim chance.

Lorenzo Williams put the finishing touches on it for Mizzou, sacking Reesing in the end zone for a safety with 12 seconds left. The Kansas quarterback, who had never lost as a college starter, walked off dejected, a muddy divot stuck in his face mask.

"I'm not in a happy mood right now," said Reesing, who was 28 of 49 for 349 yards. "It is frustrating."

Reesing was intercepted twice, each one leading to Missouri touchdowns.

"We moved the ball well on offense," he said. "We weren't able to convert in the first half. In the second half, it was just too late. We kind of ran out of time."

Kansas became the sixth team ranked No. 2 this season to lose.

The Tigers, who had never won 11 games in a season, are now in control of a national title race that has been twisting and turning all season.

On Friday, No. 1 LSU lost 50-48 in three overtimes to Arkansas, putting the top ranking and top spot in the BCS standings up for grabs for the second time this month. Two weeks ago it was Ohio State losing to Illinois that rearranged the BCS standings.

No. 4 West Virginia bombed No. 20 Connecticut, 66-21, earlier yesterday and figures to move up at least one spot to second in the BCS standings when they come out today.