Here are seven thoughts from Kansas State's 26-20 win over West Virginia on Thursday night:

1. K-State is really tough: Coming off the deflating loss at TCU, this trip to Morgantown could have been tricky for the Wildcats. Instead, Grind State went to work on the Mountaineers with a methodical performance in all three phases. It was far from a flawless performance, prompting Bill Snyder to say afterward it “was as undisciplined as I can ever remember.” The Wildcats missed two field goals, couldn’t run the ball a lick and committed an atypical plethora of penalties. But as one Big 12 alum texted me during the second half, K-State has a bunch of players “you can tell just want it.” The Wildcats can still win at least a share of the Big 12 title. Doubt them at your own peril.

2. Lockett deserves to be an All-American: He doesn’t get the love nationally he should, but Tyler Lockett should be a consensus All-American as a punt returner. After taking another one to the house in Morgantown, Lockett leads the country in punt returns. He also had another monster night receiving with 10 catches for 196 yards. After a slow start, Lockett has been on a tear since the beginning of October with 53 receptions, 800 yards and five touchdown catches in K-State’s last six games. Lockett has been a joy to watch the last four seasons, and his legacy is secure as one of the finest players to ever come through the Big 12.

3. K-State’s running game has vanished: Snyder offenses in recent years have been forged on efficient ground games. But K-State’s rushing offense has completely disappeared the last two games. After gaining just 34 yards at TCU, the Wildcats rushed for one yard on 29 carries in Morgantown. That’s an average of 0.03 yards per carry. Despite winning the game, Snyder was annoyed afterward, sarcastically noting that he’d “like to run the ball and get a yard or two. That would work for us.” To have any hope of toppling Baylor in two weeks, the Wildcats will have to run the ball much better. Shawn Oakman & Co. are too adept at getting to the passer for K-State to resort into a one-dimensional offense again. No doubt fixing the running game will be the focus in practice for the Wildcats leading up to their trip to Waco.

4. Waters continues to shine: With the running game stagnating again, K-State had to rely on Jake Waters for offense. And again, Waters delivered, completing 22 of 34 passes for a career-high 400 yards and a touchdown. Waters has been the model of consistency this year, throwing for at least 200 yards in every game with only five interceptions. After Snyder, Waters is as big a reason as any for why the Wildcats remain alive in the Big 12 title race. With Trevone Boykin and Bryce Petty also in the league, Waters probably won’t earn All-Big 12 honors. But he’s performed at an All-Big 12 level all year, including Thursday night.

5. West Virginia has run out of steam: If you told most any Mountaineers fan before the season that West Virginia would finish 7-5 this year, he or she would probably take it. Still, with three straight losses, this season has a bittersweet tinge. West Virginia produced a memorable October with wins at Texas Tech and Oklahoma State and a 14-point victory over seventh-ranked Baylor. But since falling 31-30 to No. 5 TCU, the Mountaineers have looked out of gas. That said, Dana Holgorsen has saved his job and has plenty to build on for 2015. The Mountaineers can also still rebound to finish strong with a win at Iowa State and then a victory in a bowl game (likely the AutoZone Liberty Bowl against an SEC foe). This West Virginia season hasn’t been everything it could have been. But considering the preseason expectations and the brutal schedule, it’s still been pretty good.

6. Skyler Howard auditions well: With Clint Trickett graduating, the Mountaineers will be left with another QB battle in 2015. Talented true freshman William Crest opened the season as Trickett’s primary backup before suffering a shoulder injury. But while Crest remains the likely heir apparent, Howard could have a say in that. After Trickett left for the locker room with a concussion Thursday, Howard sparked the offense with his arm and his wheels. He completed 15 of 23 passes for 198 yards and two touchdowns. He also had a key 16-yard run on a third down that led to a touchdown. The Mountaineers could have a fun QB competition to follow in the spring.

7. West Virginia punt return a disaster, again: Despite cycling through several returners, West Virginia’s ineptitude fielding punts this year has been staggering. The Mountaineers lead the country with five punt return fumbles. It’s been so bad, @fauxholgorsen published a satirical memorandum on “how to be a punt returner” earlier this year. Another punt return blunder cost West Virginia again Thursday at the end of the third quarter as Vernon Davis inexplicably allowed the punt to bounce off his foot when he could have easily moved out of the way. The turnover sapped West Virginia’s budding momentum and allowed K-State to kick a field goal to extend its lead to 23-10. At the top of the real Holgorsen’s offseason to-do list should be unearthing a reliable punt returner.