• Video: See what Nebraska coach Bo Pelini had to say after the Huskers' 28-20 win over Colorado:



BOULDER, Colo. — For all of you who love to digest controversy with your Cheerios and OJ.

For all of you who yearn for the little guy — Bearcats and Broncos and Horned Frogs, oh my.

For all of you who long to see those gray-haired university administrators who orchestrate the BCS shaking in their luxury suites, grasping for reasons to resist a playoff.

This is your moment. This is Nebraska's moment.

Big 12 championship. Colt McCoy's Longhorns. Saddle up.

If you grew up and grew old watching Devaney and Osborne, if you practiced option pitches in your living room (watch out for the lamp!), if you opened your newspaper each Monday to see where Nebraska ranked among the nation's elite, these next seven days are for you.

You deserve it. You've waited ... oh ... 2,913 days.

It's been eight years since Nebraska had a say in the national title chase post-Thanksgiving. There was a Big 12 North trophy in there. A few warm and fuzzy bowl wins to add to the photo album.

But Nebraska didn't build its reputation by winning Alamo Bowls and Gator Bowls. You can only call yourself a power if you're relevant to the national stage.

And NU hasn't been this prominent since Dec. 9, 2001, when Gary Barnett got on TV and whined about computer rankings.

A month later, after talking heads called the Huskers every name in the playbook, Miami hung 34 before Frank Solich could catch his breath. Big Red staggered back to Lincoln like a puppy who'd spent one too many nights in the cold.

What followed: shock, shame, depression, anger, the complete overhaul of everything Nebraskans knew to be right and stable and true.

Eight long years in the dark.

Well, open the curtains, friends. Soak up the spotlight.

This time the Huskers will have fans in all corners of America.

It's been a quiet year for a sport that relies on controversy for publicity.

Three powers — Florida, Alabama and Texas — have stood above the rest since September. 'Bama and Florida play next Saturday in the SEC championship. Winner faces Texas.

Any questions?

You can almost see the Harvey Perlmans of the world smiling. No media firestorm this year! Even Orrin Hatch can't argue with Florida-Texas!

Only one impediment remains (assuming Florida throttles Florida State Saturday).

Nebraska.

If the Huskers hook the Horns, the whole BCS structure would crumble like Charlie Weis' ego.

ESPN would have to hire more experts. The collective gnashing of teeth would make all previous BCS controversies look like Thanksgiving dinner at the Huxtables.

TCU and Cincinnati and Boise State and Georgia Tech, even the loser of Florida-Alabama, may as well meet at a truck stop in Middle America (how 'bout Omaha?) and play Paper, Rock, Scissors for a ticket to Pasadena.

You don't even have to be partisan to relish that image.

And that's the point. That's the greatest accomplishment of Bo Pelini's second year: He put Nebraska in position to matter again.

No, it didn't happen perfectly. Had the offense not gotten lost in an October corn maze, the Huskers themselves would be two wins from a national championship.

Imagine four undefeated teams. Two national semifinals. Florida vs. Alabama. Texas vs. Nebraska.

For now, accept this bunch. Embrace them, even. They've won five straight conference games for the first time since 2001. (Colorado ended that streak with a 62-36 bloodbath.)

Is Nebraska back? I hesitate to go there. We've been fooled too many times. This offense still borders on hapless. This defense too often stooped to Colorado's level Friday.

But count it as a good sign that Rex Burkhead gave Shawn Watson another horse to ride when Roy Helu tires.

Count it as a good sign that this defense — despite the Pelinis' foolish strategy to play young linebackers Sean Fisher and Will Compton instead of seasoned defensive backs Dejon Gomes and Eric Hagg — made red-zone stops when it had to.

Count it as a good sign that Nebraska beat the Buffs in the same fashion it beat Kansas State, and Kansas, and Oklahoma, and Baylor.

Blackshirts. Alex Henery. Niles Paul. And just enough offensive oomph to advance.

Count it as a good sign that Bo Pelini, after the final Colorado touchdown, scolded his older brother and stormed off the field like someone had taken his turkey.

No, Bo isn't happy with a vacation to Jerry World. He wants to blitz the BCS.

Now who wouldn't want to root for a guy like that?

Contact the writer:

679-9899, dirk.chatelain@owh.com

• Ndamukong Suh at the postgame press conference: