When Bill Callahan came to Nebraska as head coach midway through the first decade of the new century, Nebraska’s defense regularly surrendered video-game point totals. When Colorado posted 62 against Nebraska on Thanksgiving weekend in 2001, the result was hard to put into words… much like “Germany 7, Brazil 1.”

The 10 Longest Bowl Droughts Among Power 5 Schools

With the college football season set to get underway Thursday night, a number of schools have dreams of a conference and in some cases, perhaps a national championship. For some teams however, just making a bowl games would constitute a successful season. Here are the 10 teams from Power 5 conferences with the longest bowl droughts:

10. Purdue

Last Bowl Appearance: Jan. 1, 2013 — lost to Oklahoma State in Heart of Dallas Bowl

To say times have been tough for Purdue football would be an understatement. Since losing the Heart of Dallas Bowl to close the 2012 season, Purdue has gone just 4-20. The Boilermakers haven’t had a winning season since 2011 when they beat Western Michigan in the Little Caesars Bowl.

9. Northwestern

Last Bowl Appearance: Jan. 1, 2013 — beat Mississippi State in Gator Bowl

A loss to rival Illinois to close the 2014 season would cost Northwestern a trip to a bowl. The Wildcats have finished 5-7 in each of the last two years after five straight bowl appearances.

8. Iowa State

Last Bowl Appearance: Dec. 31, 2012 — lost to Tulsa in Liberty Bowl

Over the last 25 games, Iowa State has a record of just 5-20. The Cyclones failed to win a game in Big 12 play last season. Head coach Paul Rhoads enters the 2015 season on the hot seat, but the good news is the last guy fired at Iowa State went on to win a national championship at Auburn.

7. Virginia

Last Bowl Appearance: Dec. 31, 2011 — lost to Auburn in Chick-fil-A Bowl

Virginia overachieved in 2011, but has managed to go just 11-25 since. The Cavaliers did improve from 2-10 to 5-7 a season ago, but allowed rival Virginia Tech to score the go-ahead touchdown with 1:48 to go to keep the Cavaliers from becoming bowl-eligible. Virginia hasn’t defeated the Hokies since 2003.

6. Wake Forest

Last Bowl Appearance: Dec. 30, 2011 — lost to Mississippi State in Music City Bowl

It’s hard to believe that Wake Forest was the class of the ACC less than a decade ago. The Demon Deacons finished with the worst record in ACC play a season ago and have not had a winning season since 2008.

5. California

Last Bowl Appearance: Dec. 28, 2011 — lost to Texas in Holiday Bowl

The days of Aaron Rodgers and Marshawn Lynch seem like eons ago in Berkeley. California has failed to reach a bowl in each of the last three years. The Golden Bears started 5-4 last season and needed just one win to become bowl-eligible, but dropped each of their final three games. To make matters worse, Cal hasn’t defeated archrival Stanford since 2009.

4. Kentucky

Last Bowl Appearance: Jan. 8, 2011 — lost to Pittsburgh in Compass Bowl

Over the last four seasons, Kentucky has been without question the weakest link in the SEC. The good news for the folks in Lexington is that the Wildcats more than doubled their win total last year. After a 5-1 start last season, Kentucky lost its final six games to miss out on a bowl game for the fourth straight year.

3. Kansas

Last Bowl Appearance: Dec. 31, 2008 — beat Minnesota in Insight Bowl

The Kansas Jayhawks seem content with being a basketball school. After winning the Orange Bowl in 2007 and eight games in 2008, the Jayhawks dropped their final seven games in 2009 following a 5-0 start. Kansas has not more than three games in any season since.

2. Indiana

Last Bowl Appearance: Dec. 31, 2007 — lost to Oklahoma State in Insight Bowl

Over the last 20 years, Indiana has managed just one winning season. An appearance in the 2007 Insight Bowl was the first bowl appearance for the Hoosiers since 1993. Indiana has won five games on three occasions since 2006, but have managed to land win No. 6 just once.

1. Colorado

Last Bowl Appearance: Dec. 30, 2007 — lost to Alabama in Independence Bowl

Colorado will celebrate the silver anniversary of its 1990 national championship this year, but the Buffaloes haven’t celebrated a winning season since 2005. Colorado has the longest bowl drought among Power 5 programs and has not won a bowl game since beating UTEP in the 2004 Houston Bowl.

About Mike Ferguson

Mike Ferguson is a Bloguin contributor, the editor of Noled Out and a lifetime Florida State sports enthusiast. Mike vividly remembers watching Warrick Dunn run down the sideline in Gainesville in 1993, the "Choke at Doak" in 1994 and Monte Cummings' driving layup to beat #1 Duke in 2002. Mike has worked as a sports reporter in both print and online. For isportsweb in 2013, Mike gave press coverage of Florida State football's run to the 2013 national championship. Mike has been featured on SI.com, FoxSports.com and Yahoo Sports while interviewing major sports stars such as 2013 National League MVP Andrew McCutchen. Mike graduated from Florida State University in 2009 with a major in Religion and a minor in Communications. Mike currently resides in Haines City, Florida with his wife Jennifer and daughters Trinity and Greenly. Mike is a full-time reporter at Polk County's newspaper, The Ledger, in Lakeland, Florida. Mike can be followed on Twitter @MikeWFerguson.

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