The Nebraska Cornhuskers play the USC Trojans on Saturday in the 2014 Holiday Bowl.  Kickoff is at 8:00 p.m. ET.  Watch the live stream below.

Nebraska (9-3) heads into the Holiday Bowl without head coach Bo Pelini, whom the school fired on Nov. 30, two days after the regular season concluded.  The firing was somewhat surprising, given the team's record and the fact Pelini had at least snapped their two-game losing streak with a 37-34 overtime win on Nov. 28 against Iowa.  The issue was apparently Pelini's failure to win a conference title, and the team having lost seven games by at least 17 points didn't help.

"We just, for whatever reason, weren't good enough in the games that mattered against championship-caliber opponents," said Nebraska athletic director Shawn Eichorst, via ESPN.  "And I didn't see that changing.  It wasn't a lack of effort by him or his staff or our wonderful players, but I think new leadership is in order."

The firing of Pelini didn't sit well with all of the players, either.

"Biggest mistake you ever made," quarterback Tommy Armstrong Jr. tweeted, according to ESPN.  "Bo was the best coach I've ever had and I'll always appreciate the things you taught me."

Although the Cornhuskers hired Oregon State coach Mike Riley to replace Pelini, it'll be assistant Barney Cotton coaching the team on Saturday.

"I really have a very simple job," he said.  "That's to help our players finish out the best way and help this coaching staff stay cohesive and united and keep loving each other."

USC, meanwhile, finished the regular season with an 8-4 record.  They had a decent finish to the season, winning three of their last four games, including their finale against Notre Dame, and can finish their 2014 campaign on a high note by coming away with the Holiday Bowl trophy.

Watch the live stream HERE.