Most Nebraska Huskers fans have probably already come to the conclusion that it's bowl game or bust at this point of the season.
With just eight days left in the regular-season, the Huskers still have two opportunities to win that elusive sixth game of the season and become bowl-eligible but the biggest chance is just a day away.
Yes, they'll still have another shot even if they lose to Wisconsin on Saturday, but let's be honest: If the Big Red falters again, for the 11th consecutive time to the Badgers, to a team that lost its starting quarterback in September, one that fired its offensive coordinator just this past Sunday, at Memorial Stadium, will they really go to Iowa and win?
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"I don't feel like it's nothing crazy, I don't feel like we cursed or nothing like that, they be talking crazy, we just gotta come out there, go out there and play, go out there to win, not go out there just to compete, we compete to win," senior safety DeShon Singleton said.
Singleton, who will be one of around 30 players walking on Senior Day for the Huskers, admitted, "Well, that's a long time," when told how long it has been since Nebraska beat Wisconsin (2012).
He and the rest of the Huskers know what's on the line, but the bottom line is they need a win, something they've failed to do since Oct. 5 -- seven weeks ago.
"We don't like them, they don't like us, it's just how it is," senior linebacker John Bullock said. "This game and the next game always mean a lot more to this place than most other games do but it doesn't matter who it's against, we're just trying to get that win, we're just trying to win."
That next win is extremely important. After another late-season skid, many fans may not care about a low-priority bowl game. However, the extra practice -- 20 hours per week leading up to the bowl game, which would likely be around four weeks away -- is what's needed to help this team take another step.
"I 100% believe in the impact (a bowl game) has on your program and your development over time," head coach Matt Rhule said.
"It'll mean the world to this program," Bullock added. "I think it'll take it off on the right trajectory going forward just knowing that we can win. That's kinda how us seniors wanted to leave this place. The seniors will give our all to get that sixth win, that's our main goal right now is just to win, so whatever we gotta do to get that, that's what I plan on doing."
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Avoiding the flip side is also important. A 5-1 start energized the fanbase and showed progress from Rhule's first season at the helm. Another 5-7 finish would destroy that and create more uncertainty heading into next year.
"We're in the same spot as last year," Rhule said. "You've got to break through so that there's something new next year that you're going for. So that's what the end of the year is to me, it's not about optics, it's not about hope, it's about action, it's about doing things."
"It's shocking to me that it's been that long since the program has been to a bowl game," new offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen said. "Doesn't make any sense to me but it is where we're at. We tried everything we could to win that game last week and we had a chance still, and we're gonna try everything that we can to win this game this week and we'll have a chance still."
That's the biggest thing right now: Nebraska still has a chance and the players are confident. However, coming up short this weekend against the Badgers will only increase the pressure and likely reduce confidence. As Rhule said, it's time for action and the Huskers have to come through on Saturday.
"I think we'll make the biggest jump from this week to the next," Dylan Raiola said after the loss to USC. "Husker nation's probably got a lot of doubt, lot of uncertainty so it's up to them. I think we're gonna roll into these next two games and roll into this bowl game and then next season we'll see and get rolling from that point."
That's the hope but the Big Red needs to do it, and do it now.
Related: Holgorsen 'putting a lot of pressure' on Huskers, Rhule says. It's time they shine.