Huskers Lower Boom on Buffaloes

Lincoln - Nebraska dominated the first half to build a 28-0 halftime lead before relying on its defense to secure a 28-10 victory over visiting Colorado on Saturday night.

Playing in front of the 398th consecutive sellout crowd with 86,906 fans at Memorial Stadium and an NBC prime-time national television audience, the Cornhuskers improved to 2-0 on the season while notching their 50th all-time win over their old conference rival. Colorado slipped to 1-1 on the season.

Nebraska's defense starred from start to finish, holding Colorado's normally high-powered offense to just 260 total yards while sacking CU quarterbacks six times. The Blackshirts added a pick-six of Shedeur Sanders by cornerback Tommi Hill in the first quarter, and a forced fumble by Willis McGahee IV that was recovered by Jimari Butler on the defense's final play of the game.

The Blackshirts, who registered 49 yards in tackles for losses on the night, limited Colorado to just 16 rushing yards for the game. In fact, through the first 49 minutes, the Blackshirts held CU to minus-16 yards on the ground until Dallan Hayden burst through on a 17-yard run.

Nebraska put up 149 rushing yards, while freshman quarterback Dylan Raiola added 185 passing yards on 23-of-30 passing and managed a Husker offense that played turnover-free football. NU finished with 334 total yards, while CU had just 260 total yards.

The Blackshirts sparked the Huskers from the opening kickoff and set the tone physically for total domination of the Buffaloes in the first half.

Defensive tackle Ty Robinson established the first-half standard on the game's first drive, knocking down Sanders' first pass, before dropping Sanders for a nine-yard sack two plays later to force a Colorado punt from its own 12 on 4th-and-19.

An 11-yard return by Isaiah Garcia-Castaneda on CU's 49-yard punt set up the Husker offense on Colorado's 49 for the Big Red's first drive. Raiola and the offense capitalized seven plays later with Dante Dowdell finishing off a touchdown drive with back-to-back blasts up the middle, first for 13 yards, then a 12-yard touchdown. Tristan Alvano's extra point gave Nebraska a 7-0 lead less than five minutes into the game.

Colorado got its biggest play of the half on the ensuing kickoff with a 61-yard kick return by Jimmy Horn Jr., but Robinson welcomed Sanders back onto the field with an 11-yard sack. Back-to-back 10-yard passes set up 4th-and-1 for the Buffaloes at the NU 28, and the defense shut down the drive with a two-yard tackle for loss by DeShon Singleton.

Nebraska was forced to punt on its second drive, but Brian Buschini made the most of his first appearance with a 60-yard bomb that was downed at the CU 2.

On Colorado's opening play of its drive, Sanders attempted a quick pass to the flat that was read brilliantly by Hill. He broke on the ball, leaped into the air and pulled it down clean before dancing untouched into the end zone to give Nebraska a 14-0 lead just over 10 minutes into the game.

The Blackshirts forced a three-and-out on Colorado's next drive, which featured a five-yard sack of Sanders by MJ Sherman on first down. A short punt set up the Huskers at their own 45 to start the ensuing drive. Nebraska was set to capitalize again, but Alvano's 32-yard field goal attempt on the opening play of the second quarter stayed wide left.

Nebraska's defense refused to blink, allowing just one first down before forcing another Colorado punt. Raiola and the offense took over at the Husker 14 with a long field in front of them, and the Big Red produced its most powerful drive of the half, starting with a 13-yard completion to tight end Thomas Fidone. The Huskers pounded their way across midfield with runs on five of their next six plays, aided by a pair of Colorado penalties. 

Raiola then hooked up with Jaylen Lloyd on a 36-yard pass play to set up the Huskers at the CU 1. On the next play, Dowdell jumped over the Buffalo defense into the end zone for his second touchdown of the half to give Nebraska a 21-0 lead. Dowdell finished with 67 yards on 14 carries to lead all rushers in the game.

Sanders and the Buffaloes finally answered with a sustained drive that featured 43 passing yards on three completions to Travis Hunter, but the Blackshirts stiffened to force a 29-yard field goal attempt that was blocked by Robinson to keep Colorado off the scoreboard.

The teams exchanged unsuccessful drives before took over at its own 30 with 1:25 left in the half. Raiola hit Rahmir Johnson for a six-yard gain to start the drive before connecting with Isaiah Neyor for 16-yard pass that was bolstered by a 15-yard targeting penalty on Colorado's Trevor Woods to move the ball to CU 33. The Buffs were flagged for pass interference on the next play, before Raiola connected with Rahmir Johnson on an 18-yard touchdown pass to send the Big Red to halftime with a 28-0 lead.

Nebraska put up 213 total yards in the first half, while hold Colorado to 112. The Buffs were also flagged for seven penalties for 80 yards while the Huskers committed just three first-half penalties for 25 yards.

In the second half, Nebraska played conservatively on offense and turned the game fully over to the Blackshirts. The Huskers were also flagged for nine penalties for 80 yards after the half, with several flags eliminating big plays by the offense, including a 70-yard touchdown pass from Raiola to Johnson that was called back by a holding penalty.

Both teams finished with more than 100 yards in penalties on the night.

Nebraska returns to Memorial Stadium for its third straight home game to start the season when the Huskers play host to Northern Iowa on Saturday, Sept. 14. Kick-off with the Panthers is set for 6:30 p.m. with live television coverage by BTN.

Game Summary
Nebraska 28
Colorado 10
Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024
Memorial Stadium (Lincoln, Neb.)
Attendance: 86,906

Scoring Summary
First Quarter
10:34 - NEB - Dante Dowdell 12 run (Tristan Alvano kick), 7 plays, 49 yards, 3:22, NEB 7-0
5:45 - NEB - Tommi Hill 7 INT return (Alvano kick), 0:05, NEB 14-0

Second Quarter
6:44 - NEB - Dowdell 1 run (Alvano kick), 9 plays, 86 yards, 4:46, NEB 21-0
0:40 - NEB - Rahmir Johnson 18 pass from Dylan Raiola (Alvano kick), 3 plays, 70 yards, 0:45, NEB 28-0

Third Quarter
10:38 - CU - Alejandro Mata 27 FG, 8 plays, 49 yards, 2:46, NEB 28-3

Fourth Quarter
8:45 - CU - LaJohntay Wester 5 pass from Shedeur Sanders (Mata kick), 6 plays, 58 yards, 2:04, NEB 28-10