Nebraska rides dominating defensive performance to 28-10 win over old rival Colorado

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Dylan Raiola passed for 185 yards and a touchdown, Nebraska turned a smothering defensive performance into a big early lead, and the Cornhuskers went on to beat Colorado 28-10 in a game that turned into a slog in the second half Saturday night.

“That's how we wanted to come out. Dominance,” defensive lineman Ty Robinson said. “We wanted them to feel us.”

The Huskers (2-0) sacked Shedeur Sanders five times and pressured him throughout while winning the final meeting of a four-game home-and-home series. The Buffaloes (1-1) had won the first three.

“We expected this score, and we expected this to be like this,” second-year Nebraska coach Matt Rhule said. "We have a good team.”

Nebraska fans had this game circled on their calendars since last year's 36-14 loss in Boulder, and there was a palpable big-game vibe in the lead-up to kickoff between the old Big Eight-Big 12 rivals.

Nebraska's 1994 national championship team and undefeated world boxing champion and Omaha resident Terence Crawford led the Huskers onto the field.

And though the current programs are far removed from where they were 30 years ago — when Nebraska won a matchup of top-three teams here on its way to Tom Osborne's first title — there were hints of the past for the Huskers with their amped sellout crowd and stout defense. The student section came running onto the field when the game ended.

“The way we started is just not indicative of who we are, and we just never got it together,” CU coach Deion Sanders said. “Sometimes you have those games.”

The Buffs didn't record a first down until their fifth possession, netted minus-2 yards in the first quarter and finished with 260. Robinson's sack forced a three-and-out on Colorado's game-opening series, and later he blocked Alejandro Mata’s 29-yard field-goal try. The Buffs also got stuffed on fourth-and-1, twice, and Tommi Hill picked off Shedeur Sanders' pass from the end zone for an easy 7-yard pick-6.

“This was a big moment,” Rhule said. “It's really big for us to show up and not back down from their stars because we’re a little different. Our team is our star. I know Dylan is getting a lot of publicity and we have a lot of guys who could be stars. Our defense is a star. Everyone talked this guy, that guy, this guy. I kept saying they're forgetting our defense. They're forgetting the Blackshirts.”

Dante Dowdell, who finished with 74 yards, ran for touchdowns of 12 and 1 yard, and the Huskers had good fortune when CU linebacker LaVonta Bentley bobbled what looked like a sure interception and Rahmir Johnson swiped it away for an 18-yard touchdown.

The Huskers' 28-0 halftime lead was their biggest since it led Northwestern 35-7 in 2021. The Buffs hadn't been held scoreless in an opening half since they trailed Oregon 35-0 last year.

Mata's 27-yard field goal and Sanders' 5-yard TD pass to LaJohntay Webster got the Buffs within 18 points midway through the fourth quarter.

Nebraska went into a shell offensively after building its big lead and then got sloppy with four holding calls, a false start, illegal block and delay of game — all in the second half.

Sanders was 23 of 38 for 244 yards and Travis Hunter caught 10 passes for 110 yards.

The Buffs' defense took a big hit in the first half when safety Shilo Sanders went out with an arm injury. Deion Sanders said in his NBC halftime interview that he thought his son broke his forearm. He had no update after the game.

THE TAKEAWAY

Colorado: The Buffs continue to have problems with offensive line play and discipline. Shedeur Sanders was sacked five times and hurried nine, and the run game was virtually nonexistent. Linebacker Trevor Woods was ejected for targeting, there was a personal foul, roughing the passer and two pass interference flags.

Nebraska: This one was all about defense. The Huskers shut down the Buffs' explosive offense for long stretches and have held nine straight opponents to 24 points or less, their longest streak since a 14-game stretch over the 2009-10 seasons.

UP NEXT

Colorado: visits Colorado State on Saturday.

Nebraska: hosts Northern Iowa on Saturday.

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Eric Olson, The Associated Press