Nebraska Streak of Bowls Ends at 35

Colorado stayed alive in the Big 12 North race for another day and ended Nebraska’s season in November for the first time since 1968.

The Buffaloes’ 26-20 victory Friday sent the Cornhuskers to their first losing season in 43 years and ended their NCAA-record streak of consecutive bowl appearances at 35.

“I’m really glad they’re home for the holidays,” Colorado defensive tackle Matt McChesney said. “They can sit and watch everybody else play. I hope it feels good.”

Bobby Purify ran for 130 yards and a touchdown and the Buffaloes intercepted Nebraska’s Joe Dailey four times. They won their third in a row after a 1-4 start in the conference.

Now Colorado, 7-4 and 4-4 in the Big 12, needs Missouri to win today at Iowa State. That would put the Buffaloes in the Big 12 championship game against Oklahoma on Dec. 4 in Kansas City, Mo.

“We’ll worry about that tomorrow,” Colorado Coach Gary Barnett said. “If it’s supposed to happen, it will happen. If not, we’ll go someplace else.”

While a bowl is in the Buffaloes’ future, regardless of what happens today, Nebraska (5-6, 3-5) is done.

The Cornhuskers, who fired Frank Solich last year after a 9-3 regular season, finished with four losses in five games under new Coach Bill Callahan.

“It’s one game today, it’s one season. I never look back,” Callahan said.

Receiver Willie Amos shrugged at the end of the streak.

“Records are made to be broken. Everything on this Earth isn’t constant,” Amos said. “It’s up to the next guys to come build up the program again.”

With help from Missouri, the Buffaloes could play in the Big 12 championship game for the third time in four years.

“Me and about 70 friends may be the biggest Missouri fans in the country,” Colorado quarterback Joel Klatt said.

Nebraska had only 11 yards in the first quarter.

“They were yelling at each other in the huddle,” McChesney said of the Cornhuskers. “The offensive line was yelling at the quarterback, and he was yelling at everybody. I was happy about that. But they came back with a lot of heart at the end.”