Joe Dailey didn't hesitate. Asked Monday to identify the high point of the Nebraska football season, the sophomore quarterback pointed to the Nov. 13 game at Oklahoma — a 30-3 Husker loss.

"The Oklahoma game pretty much brought out a lot of feelings and a lot of things that hadn't been known," Dailey said. "I don't think anyone expected us to put up such of a fight. The scoreboard may not have reflected it, but you could see on film that people didn't give up at all. That's a big thing."

Nebraska senior linebacker Chad Sievers regarded the Oklahoma loss with less enthusiasm than Dailey did.

"I can't speak for the offense, but we got beat 30-3," Sievers said. "That wasn't a highlight at all, in my opinion. I don't take moral victories. I hope it hasn't come to that at Nebraska. I know on defense we don't have that mentality. We know we have the talent. We just haven't performed. And that's on (the players)."

OK, so nobody ever said Nebraska players have to agree on everything.

There is, however, at least one item upon which every Husker can agree: NU faces a must-win situation against Colorado in an 11 a.m. game Friday at Memorial Stadium.

At 5-5 overall, Nebraska needs a victory to become bowl-eligible and thus continue its NCAA-record streak of bowl appearances, which stands precariously at 35.

Also in jeopardy is the Huskers' 42-year streak of recording a winning record during the regular season.

"It's been a trying season," Nebraska head coach Bill Callahan said. "We've put ourselves in this situation, and we've got an opportunity to get out of it."

Callahan, winding down his first season at Nebraska, said Friday's game is "significant in every respect."

"From morale, to spirit, to tradition, to recruiting — it all ties in, so we're going to do our best to keep that streak alive," he said.

As a senior, Sievers said, he wants to win Friday in order to extend his playing career. But Sievers also has the long-term health of the program in mind.

"What we want to do is win this game this week, win the bowl game and get these younger guys going in the right direction," said Sievers, speaking from a veteran's perspective. "We want to set a good example for them. We want to show them that, yeah, there are going to be tough times here and there, but that we fought through it and ended up on a good note.

"Hopefully, it'll take the younger players to the next level and they can step up and compete for a Big 12 championship next year."

Meanwhile, Colorado (6-4, 3-4 Big 12) comes to Lincoln with its Big 12 North Division championship hopes alive. Nebraska saw its league title hopes vanish last weekend when Kansas defeated Missouri and Iowa State beat Kansas State. 

"I just felt we had opportunities to capture a division title and didn't get it done," Callahan said. "You get what you deserve in this business, and we certainly didn't deserve to be conference champions at this point."

Nebraska comes off back-to-back road losses. Before losing at Oklahoma, the Huskers dropped a 34-27 decision at Iowa State.

Dailey said he hopes Nebraska responds Friday with the level of intensity and passion it showed against the second-ranked Sooners.

Sievers said he hopes Nebraska plays with the energy it did in its last win, a 24-3 decision against Missouri on Oct. 30 in Lincoln. In Sievers' opinion, that was the Huskers' highlight of 2004.

"I think everyone really played for each other," said Sievers, pointing specifically to the defense and special teams. "You could see the joy from everyone in the locker room. It was like, ‘OK, this is the way we know we're capable of playing.'"

Reach Steven M. Sipple at 473-7440 or ssipple@journalstar.com.