The Colorado Buffaloes had a night to forget in Lincoln, Nebraska on Saturday. Deion Sanders and the Buffaloes entered Memorial Stadium for their week two matchup against the Cornhuskers but never gained momentum, struggling throughout the game.
Colorado’s offense struggled throughout the night, managing just 10 points against a formidable Nebraska defense. Shedeur Sanders faced relentless pressure, enduring six sacks, a stark contrast to the one sack allowed against the NDSU Bison in the previous week. Sanders acknowledged the issue postgame, emphasizing the need for improved protection.
The Buffaloes also struggled with their running game, rushing for only 16 yards and averaging 0.7 yards per carry. The team leaned heavily on Sanders’ passing game, with 40 pass attempts and only 22 rushing attempts, including just four rushing attempts in the first half.
Nebraska controlled the game by dominating the ground game and managing the clock effectively, making it difficult for Colorado to catch up. Despite a stronger second-half performance, where they outgained Nebraska by 27 yards, it wasn’t enough to overcome the deficit from the first half.
Sanders reflected on the game, acknowledging that the Buffaloes’ poor start did not reflect their true capabilities and that the team never fully recovered. The pressure of the high-stakes rivalry game in front of 86,000 fans seemed to affect the team.
Sanders admitted the pressure affected his team, noting the challenge of handling such high-stress situations. Nebraska capitalized on Colorado’s struggles, with their defensive line overwhelming Sanders and the Buffaloes’ offense.
Despite the defeat, there was a silver lining for the Buffaloes’ defense. After a shaky start against NDSU, the defense regrouped to hold Nebraska scoreless in the second half. The defensive unit, featuring five new transfers, is still finding its cohesion but showed promise.
Next week, the Buffaloes will face Colorado State in another rivalry game. If they can learn from their mistakes, there is hope they will return to winning form in week three.
