MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — Jarrett Stidham knew his lack of experience was probably a big reason Baylor was only ranked sixth in the initial College Football Playoff poll this week.

In his first start, the freshman showed he can keep the high-powered Bears humming.

Stidham threw for 419 yards and three scores in place of the injured Seth Russell, Corey Coleman caught two touchdown passes and No. 2 Baylor held on for a 31-24 victory over pesky Kansas State on Thursday night to prove it isn’t going anywhere.

“I think that motivated the whole team, but especially Jarrett,” Baylor running back Devin Chafin said about the rankings. “We definitely came out here with a chip on our shoulder.”

Russell broke a bone in his neck two weeks ago against Iowa State and had surgery last Friday, and many wondered how the Bears would handle his loss. And while the Wildcats made sure Stidham’s debut wasn’t easy, the reigning Big 12 co-champions kept their playoff hopes alive.

“We feel like our team is a team of survivors,” Baylor coach Art Briles said. “We’ve got a lot of guys who have been through a lot. A lot of coaches who have been through a lot.”

They went through a lot Thursday night, too.

Kansas State closed to 31-24 on Joe Hubener’s touchdown pass to Deante Burton with 4:07 left, and Chris Callahan’s missed field goal with 51 seconds remaining gave the Wildcats a chance.

But on their next play, Hubener threw a lateral to wide receiver Cody Cook, who then threw down the sideline. The sometimes-quarterback’s pass was picked off by Terrell Burt, who managed to get his right foot down inbounds, and the interception stood after an official’s review.

Baylor (8-0, 5-0) ran out the clock to drop Kansas State (3-5) to 0-5 in conference play for the first time since 1989, the first season for coach Bill Snyder on the sideline.

Hubener ran for 153 yards and two touchdowns, but he was just 12 of 21 for 151 yards with an interception. Charles Jones added 76 yards rushing for Kansas State.

Coleman finished with 11 catches for 216 yards, and has a nation-leading 20 TD catches this season.