K-State defense brings freshman phenom back to earth.(Knight Ridder Newspapers)

DALLAS _ Tennessee freshman quarterback Casey Clausen, undefeated as a starter in college heading into Monday's Cotton Bowl, emerged from the game wondering what happened.

The Volunteers' golden boy from California was on an impressive first-year run when Peyton Manning-type potential nose-dived to reality to end what had been a storybook season.

Clausen was off in the 35-21 drubbing administered by Kansas State. Way off.

He finished 7-for-25 for 120 yards with three interceptions, easily the worst performance of his short career. A true freshman, Clausen looked his age trying to guide an offense that spun in its tracks on the Cotton Bowl's snowy field.

"Coming in we knew they were going to take away (running back) Travis Henry and pretty much make me make plays," Clausen said. "I didn't make any plays. I had a chance to get the ball in receivers' hands and I didn't do that."

Clausen entered the game with a 6-0 record as a starter. He owned several Tennessee freshman passing records, ones once held by Manning, now with the Indianapolis Colts. But the most important start of his young career turned into his worst, due to a freshman-confusing Kansas State defense.

The Wildcats, normally an aggressive, blitzing defense, stayed back and confused Clausen with coverage. The 6-4 Clausen usually had time to throw, but struggled to identify the defense and several times threw into the heart of the coverage.