DALLAS — Perhaps it is time for Nebraska to chalk up another program-defining victory, whatever that means.

Just what the heck is a program-defining win?

In Nebraska’s case, perhaps it’s a triumph that would cease the prevalent mentality that every football game is a referendum on Bill Callahan and his coaching staff’s capability. That every game is a definitive “measuring stick” to gauge whether the program is indeed headed back in the “right direction.”

All those buzz words are giving me a buzz.

Coaches in big-time programs with fervent fan bases experience such pressure to varying degrees every time their teams take the field. At Nebraska, in the existing climate, Callahan experiences such tension to a high degree seemingly every time the Huskers snap their chinstraps.

In fact, everyone in the free world is waiting to determine whether Callahan can lead Nebraska back to national prominence, or so it seems.

At the end of the day, is a 10-4 record this season really much different than 9-5?

When will the unyielding pressure drop a notch for Callahan and the Huskers?

It’s difficult to answer, but a triumph over 10th-ranked Auburn in the Cotton Bowl on Monday no doubt would minimize Callahan’s stress and make for a much more comfy offseason for the 50-year-old head coach.

Is Nebraska ready to end a 0-for-6 skid against top-10 opponents dating to 2001?

Has the time arrived?

Signs point toward the 22nd-ranked Huskers cashing in big in Big D.

Nebraska has played four top-10 opponents during Callahan’s three seasons on campus. The Huskers lost a miserable outing against second-ranked Oklahoma in Year One, and then faced nobody in the top 10 in Year Two.

This season, if you consider Nebraska’s three games against top-10 competition, it appears the Huskers are drawing close to a breakthrough.

In terms of overall talent level, “We’re getting closer,” Callahan said. “And our players are more confident in their matchups.”

Although then-No. 4 Southern California controlled Nebraska for most of the Sept. 16 game in Los Angeles, the Huskers’ physical brand of play left an impression on the Trojans.

Although Nebraska lost 22-20 to then-No. 5 Texas a month later, the Huskers clearly were imposing their will in the late stages of the game before the Longhorns miraculously escaped thanks to a gift-wrapped fumble.

Although Nebraska lost 21-7 to then-No. 8 Oklahoma in the Big 12 title game, the Huskers had plenty of chances to win. NU took all five of its second-half possessions into OU territory only to come up empty on the scoreboard.

Oklahoma, meanwhile, passed midfield just once in the second half but turned it into seven points.

Point is, there wasn’t much of a difference between the teams.

“It’s been on my mind, that we get so close, so close and then something holds us back,” Nebraska junior linebacker Corey McKeon said. “We’ve got to beat a big-time team to be a big-time team.”

Senior tight end Matt Herian said Nebraska has proven it can play with the big boys.

“We have the talent, we have the confidence in ourselves to play with them now,” Herian said. “Learning that about ourselves has made a lot of difference.”

Perhaps such knowledge will help push Nebraska over the hump Monday.

This game will be close. A bruiser. It will be worth delaying your post-lunch nap to watch the finish. The teams are evenly matched. A fine line will separate success and failure. You know, a key tackle here, a turnover there.

For Nebraska, probably more so than Auburn, a fine line separates an offseason of catcalls for coaches’ heads and another program-defining victory.

The line has become incredibly fine in Huskerville.

I’m convinced Callahan has Nebraska barreling down the right track. But NU obviously could use a win against Auburn to satisfy those with lingering concerns. Indeed, imagine Kevin Cosgrove’s offseason if the Tigers’ 68th-ranked offense suddenly starts lighting up the scoreboard.

In order to prevail, Nebraska will need to establish a strong physical presence over Auburn’s quick-but-smallish front seven. The banged-up Husker I-backs appear to have healed well enough to be a major factor in this game. A pounding ground game could negate the Tigers’ disruptive quickness.

Nebraska coaches say Auburn’s defense possesses the talent level of Oklahoma, Texas and Southern California, though I’ll believe it when I see it.

Auburn’s offense has battled injuries all season but is now healthy. The Tigers offensive coaches and players seem extremely confident.

However, if Nebraska’s defense plays as efficiently as it did against Oklahoma (read: stop the run and make Brandon Cox beat you), the Huskers should be 10-4 by early Monday afternoon.

Yes, 10-4 would be significant in light of last year’s 8-4 finish.

To be sure, 10-4 would show discernible progress, while 9-5 would indicate a pause in the program’s advancement. Fair or not, we all know the importance of perception.

A 10-4 record with a bowl win against the likes of Auburn pushes Nebraska well into next year’s preseason top 25, perhaps somewhere around No. 15, while 9-5 elicits a yawn from national pundits.

A 10-4 record increases Nebraska’s ever-growing momentum in recruiting and makes for a second consecutive feel-good offseason, like the one that followed the Huskers’ 2005 Alamo Bowl victory against No. 20 Michigan.

Now that was a program-defining triumph, particularly in hindsight, as Nebraska rallied to beat a team that clearly possessed top 10-level talent.

Perhaps it’s time for another such victory.

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