Lincoln, Neb. (ap) — With nothing at stake for either team in the Big 12 North, the annual day-after-Thanksgiving meeting between Nebraska and Colorado comes down to this: bowl implications.

Nebraska is looking to play in one on New Year’s Day.

Colorado is just looking to play in one.

After winning four of their last five games, the Cornhuskers (7-4, 4-3) are positioned for a Gator Bowl bid if they can beat the Buffaloes.

“If that happens, great. I’d love to get to a New Year’s Day bowl game,” Nebraska coach Bo Pelini said. “If it’s not a New Year’s Day bowl game, I know this: If we win the football game we’ll have more options than if we don’t.”

Injury-depleted Colorado has lost six of eight after a 3-0 start and needs a win over the Huskers to become bowl eligible. The Insight, Independence and Texas bowls would be possibilities.

The Buffs find themselves in the same situation as the Huskers when the teams met in Boulder last year. Colorado won 65-51, denying Nebraska a bowl bid and marking the end of the Bill Callahan era.

“There’s a lot on it,” CU coach Dan Hawkins said. “It’s the last game, and you always want to finish. It’s Nebraska. That means a lot. Like I told our guys, ‘All the chips are in the middle. You’re all in. There’s no reason not to be.”‘