Boulder, Colo. ? Colorado coach Gary Barnett’s perspective has changed when it comes to figuring out whether his team should be eligible for a bowl game.

Victories against Iowa State and Nebraska in its final two games would put Colorado at 6-6 and eligible for a bowl. Should the Buffs go?

“When I was 9-4 last year, I would have said no,” Barnett said. “Now that I’m trying to get to 6-6, I would tend to answer yes.”

Should Colorado win out, they could look to the Tangerine, Houston or Fort Worth bowls. What happens will depend on what other Big 12 Conference teams do, particularly Texas A&M and Kansas.

Coaches always welcome the extra practice sessions before a bowl game, a big incentive for a young Colorado team.

Colorado has been to a bowl in each of the last two seasons — the Fiesta Bowl following the 2001 season and the Alamo Bowl last season.

“We have a tendency to judge the bowls on what the public thinks are the important things,” Barnett said. “That’s not what it’s about. To say whether a team is bowl-worthy at 6-6, it depends. If a bowl invites you, then you’re bowl-worthy.”

Colorado still must take care of business. Iowa State coach Dan McCarney lauded the Buffs’ improvement, particularly on defense, but warned his team will not back down today. And then there is Nebraska, which will be eager to snap a two-game losing streak to Colorado.

“That’s not up to us,” CU tackle Sam Wilder said of the postseason. “Our deal is we get 6-6 and we’re eligible for it. If they take us, they take us.”