51¶ÌÊÓƵ

But when a teammate laid out the exact number prior to Tuesday’s practice, it struck the freshman quarterback. Eight years without a bowl game have passed within the Nebraska football program dating back to the 2016 season.

“I actually heard someone say there hadn’t been a bowl game in eight years or something like that, so giving the fans a guaranteed (extra) game and possibly more being in the playoffs would mean a lot to this fanbase; they’ve been through a lot and they’ve been really loyal to everybody,� Raiola said. “It’d mean a lot to everybody to get to a bowl game.�

Nebraska will have that opportunity this Saturday when it faces UCLA — a win would secure the elusive sixth win. However, Raiola said he and the rest of the team don’t want to “do the minimum� and just get to six wins. They want to win out.

So while reaching the six-win mark is a key goal for the team and the entire Nebraska fanbase, it’s simply the next step for a Husker football team that is seeking to continue the championship mentality it’s begun showing.

“We know it’s important to get that sixth win,� defensive lineman Ty Robinson said. “… How we’re going to keep that mentality is just focusing on one game and not trying to jump ahead or overlooking an opponent. That starts this week, so we’re going to treat the same great game preparation I did for last week against Ohio State against UCLA, and I know the rest of the guys are going to do that as well.�