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That goal was feasible as few as 10 days ago, when the Huskers were 8-1, 4-1 in the Big Ten and had a chance to essentially book a trip to Indianapolis with a win against Wisconsin. 

No need to rehash how that went.

Nebraska's hopes still weren't entirely dashed after the loss to the Badgers, though. The chips needed to fall favorably, no doubt, but it was still possible.

But a second straight loss to Minnesota nailed the coffin shut for good, resulting in a 15th consecutive season without a conference championship for the Huskers.

Which brings us to Friday's game at Iowa. To an outsider, it may seem as if NU players and coaches no longer have a reason to be fired up over a game against the Hawkeyes, even if there's a trophy involved.

Nebraska senior offensive lineman and co-captain Jake Cotton doesn't see it that way.

"You're motivated by your teammates," he said. "You're motivated by the coaches. You want to win for the guys in the stadium. I don't care if we were 0-11 at this point, my motivation going into a game isn't going to be any different than if we were playing in the national championship game. 

"You gotta have a sense of pride, especially in football, just to go about your work and to get the job done. Motivation doesn't come from trophies or anything like that. It comes from wanting to go out there and have fun with your teammates and win with your teammates."

Cotton said there might even be an added incentive to work a little bit harder this week, partly because there's one less day to prepare and partly because it's the last Big Ten game he'll play.

"You don't have any other option than to practice your tail off," he said. "This is it. We can go 9-3 or we can go 8-4, and everybody wants to go 9-3, I can tell you that much. There's nobody in Nebraska that wants to win more than the people within these walls. The necessary steps are being taken."

That attitude can be seen throughout the program, with Nebraska coach Bo Pelini stressing a similar mentality Monday.

"I told them (Sunday) that there is no reason to feel sorry for ourselves or feel sorry for yourself as a player and a coach or anything else," he said. "For one, you don’t have time. No. 2, we’re responsible."

Added nickel back Byerson Cockrell: "Honestly, it's not too difficult (to be motivated). I just want to win, especially for my seniors, because it's their last regular-season game. I just want to put it all on the line for them."