Dylan Raiola passed for 185 yards and a touchdown, Nebraska used a dominant defense to jump out to a big early lead and, despite a tough second half, the Cornhuskers defeated Colorado, 28-10, on Saturday night.
The Huskers (2-0) sacked Shedul Sanders five times and applied pressure throughout the game to win the final game of a four-game home-and-home series. The Buffaloes (1-1) had won the first three games.
Nebraska fans had this matchup marked on their calendars since last year’s 36-14 loss in Boulder, and there was a definite big-game atmosphere in the air leading up to the kickoff between the Big Eight and Big 12 rivals.
Terence Crawford, an undefeated world boxing champion and Omaha resident from Nebraska’s 1994 national championship team, led the Huskers onto the field.
The current program is a lot different than it was 30 years ago, when Nebraska won a top-three matchup here en route to coach Tom Osborne’s first title, but the energy of the sellout crowd and the staunch defense offered a glimpse into the Huskers’ past. Students ran onto the field after the game.
The Buffaloes didn’t record a first down until their fifth possession, and finished with minus-2 yards in the first quarter and 260 yards. A sack by Ty Robinson ended Colorado’s opening series on third down, then blocked Alejandro Mata’s 29-yard field goal try. The Buffaloes were also thwarted twice on fourth down and one yard, when Tommy Hill intercepted a Sanders pass from the end zone for an easy 7-yard pick-six.
Dante Dowdell ran for 74 yards and scored touchdowns of 12 and 1. The Huskers also got some good luck when CU linebacker Lavonta Bentley dropped a ball that was sure to be intercepted, and Ramir Johnson smashed it away for an 18-yard touchdown.
The Huskers’ 28-0 halftime lead was their largest since they led Northwestern 35-7 in 2021. The Buffaloes hadn’t been held scoreless in the first half since losing 35-0 to Oregon last year.
Mata’s 27-yard field goal and Sanders’ 5-yard TD pass to LaJontae Webster put the Buffaloes up by 18 midway through the fourth quarter.
Nebraska went into its shell offensively after building a big lead, then played sloppy in the second half with four holding calls, a false start, an illegal block and a delay of game.
summary
Colorado: The Buffaloes continue to have issues with offensive line play and discipline. Sanders was sacked five times and hurled nine times, and the run game was virtually nonexistent. Linebacker Trevor Woods was ejected for targeting and received two flags for personal fouls, pass roughing and pass interference.
Nebraska: This game was all about defense, as the Huskers thwarted the Buffaloes’ explosive offense for long stretches, holding opponents to 24 points or less for the ninth straight game, their longest streak since 14 straight games during the 2009-10 season.
Next
Colorado: They visit Colorado on Saturday.
Nebraska: They will host Northern Iowa on Saturday.
Reported by The Associated Press.
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