For the second straight year, the Cornhuskers only faintly resemble the Nebraska juggernauts of old, and their head coach is under fire again.

But there is something decidedly different about this year’s Nebraska team, and Colorado has noticed.

“They’re way better on defense than they were last year,” Colorado center Marwan Hage said.

The Cornhuskers boast the No. 14 defense in the country, surrendering just 305.1 yards per game. They rank No. 4 nationally in scoring defense, yielding a meager 14.8 points per game.

Colorado will try to solve that defense today at Folsom Field in Boulder, Colo.

Bowl eligibility is at stake for the Buffs (5-6, 3-4 Big 12 Conference), who need another victory to qualify for a postseason berth.

For the No. 25 Huskers (8-3, 4-3), another win would help position them for a more prestigious bowl. A loss, however, would mean finishing the year with three losses in their last four games and might determine the fate of coach Frank Solich.

Colorado, meanwhile, has to do something it hasn’t done in 45 years to get bowl eligible. The Buffaloes have to beat Nebraska for the third straight year.

With regular season-ending wins over Nebraska the last two years, the Buffaloes earned the league’s North Division title. This time, they have to win today just for a chance to go to a lower-tier bowl.

“That would be a great way to finish, a nice way to kind of overshadow our lack of success this year,” Colorado receiver John Donahoe said.

Colorado last won three straight against Nebraska from 1956-58.

No. 6 Texas (9-2, 6-1) plays today at Texas A&M (4-7, 2-5). The Longhorns probably clinch a spot in the Bowl Championship Series with a win, while the Aggies will finish coach Dennis Franchione’s season with a losing record for the first time since 1982.

Missouri (7-4, 3-4), bowl eligible for the first time since 1998, plays its regular-season finale Saturday against Iowa State (2-9, 0-7).

No. 1 Oklahoma (12-0, 8-0) and No. 19 Kansas State (10-3, 6-2), who have completed their regular seasons, are preparing for the Big 12 championship game Dec. 6 in Kansas City, Mo.

Oklahoma and Kansas State are in the championship game for the third time, the Sooners returning for the second year in a row. The Wildcats are in for the first time since losing, 27-24, to Oklahoma in 2000.

Oklahoma State (9-3, 5-3), Texas Tech (7-5, 4-4) and Kansas University (6-6, 3-5) have finished their schedules and are waiting for bowl invitations. Baylor (3-9, 1-7) lost its last seven games for first-year coach Guy Morriss.

Texas has won three straight against the Aggies in the third-most played game in college football. Only Minnesota-Wisconsin and Kansas-Missouri are longer than the Texas rivalry that will be played for the 110th time.

The Longhorns are still in contention for the BCS because of a series of losses by other ranked teams while they have won five straight since their 65-13 loss to Oklahoma.

It has been a tough season for the Aggies, including a 77-0 loss at Oklahoma that was their worst in school history. Their traditionally strong defense is ranked 95th in the country and has allowed at least 33 points in eight straight games.

Since opening the season with four straight wins, Missouri has alternated losses and wins. The Tigers lost 24-14 at Kansas State last week, a loss that knocked them out of the Big 12 North title chase.