LINCOLN, Neb. -- The Washington Huskies step today into one of college football's most tradition-laden venues, Nebraska's Memorial Stadium, where 81,091 attend every game, forming the storied Sea of Red.

No better place, then, for the Huskies to finally emerge completely from the depths.

While today's 12:30 p.m. kickoff against Nebraska marks an obvious opportunity for Washington to claim victory in its three-game "series" with the Cornhuskers, the bigger picture might be that it also gives the Huskies a chance to pronounce themselves back on college football's main stage, three years after going 0-12.

Washington has quietly -- at least, outside of Seattle -- won six games in a row, tied for the fourth-longest winning streak in the nation. It's the longest for the Huskies since 2001, when they were coming off their last Rose Bowl appearance.

Proof, however, that not everyone is sold on the Huskies quite yet is found in the 17-point spread favoring Nebraska.

Countered UW coach Steve Sarkisian, 14-13 in his Washington career: "I don't think it's a fluke that we're on a six-game winning streak right now. I think that we're getting better."

Consider this game a chance to prove that to the nation.

"This would be a game that would definitely help us out in that area," said receiver Jermaine Kearse. "This is definitely a game that can do that for us."

The trick now is getting it done.