Eric Boggs 
Dylan Raiola walks off the field covered in a sea of red.
The Nebraska Cornhuskers asserted their dominance over longtime rival Colorado on Saturday, cruising to a 28-10 win behind a stifling defense and efficient offense. This marks Nebraska’s first victory over Colorado since 2010, when both programs were members of the Big 12 Conference. The Huskers are now 2-0, while the Buffaloes drop to 1-1 under head coach Deion Sanders.
Nebraska wasted no time establishing control, building a commanding 28-0 lead by halftime. The Huskers’ defense was relentless, limiting Colorado to just 16 rushing yards and harassing quarterback Shedeur Sanders all night. Nebraska recorded six sacks, one of which resulted in a pick-six by Tommi Hill that gave the Huskers a 14-0 lead in the first quarter. Hill returned the intercepted pass seven yards for the score after a 60-yard punt by Brian Buschini pinned Colorado deep at its own two-yard line.
“We had a lot of energy out there tonight,” said Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule. “The guys executed the game plan, and we really brought it on defense. Holding a team like Colorado to 16 yards on the ground speaks to how well we played up front.”
Nebraska Defense Shines
The Cornhuskers’ “Blackshirts” defense delivered one of its most complete performances in recent memory. Led by DeShon Singleton, Ty Robinson, and a balanced pass rush, Nebraska bottled up Colorado’s offense. Singleton tallied six total tackles, five of them solo, while Robinson recorded a sack and blocked a second-quarter field goal attempt. Mikai Gbayor also tied for the team-high with six tackles before being ejected in the fourth quarter for a helmet-to-helmet hit on Shedeur Sanders.
In addition to Hill’s pick-six, Nebraska forced another turnover in the second quarter when Willis McGahee IV stripped the ball from a Colorado rusher, and Jimari Butler recovered the fumble. By halftime, Colorado had managed just 12 total yards over its first five drives, four of which ended in punts or turnovers.
The Buffaloes struggled to protect Shedeur Sanders, who was under constant pressure throughout the game. He completed 23-of-38 passes for 244 yards, with one touchdown and one interception. Despite the lopsided loss, Sanders found star two-way player Travis Hunter 10 times for 110 receiving yards. However, most of those yards came in the second half, when the game was already out of reach.
Nebraska Offense Efficient and Balanced
On the offensive side of the ball, Nebraska played it safe after establishing its early lead. True freshman quarterback Dylan Raiola was efficient, completing 23-of-30 passes for 185 yards and a touchdown. He relied on short, high-percentage throws to keep the chains moving and minimize mistakes. Raiola connected with senior running back Rahmir Johnson for an 18-yard touchdown pass late in the second quarter, giving Nebraska a comfortable 28-0 lead at the break.
Dante Dowdell powered the ground attack with 77 yards on 17 carries, scoring two first-half touchdowns to continue his hot start to the season. Dowdell found the end zone on a 12-yard run in the first quarter, then punched it in from one yard out in the second quarter to cap another dominant Nebraska drive. Johnson also contributed on the ground with 33 rushing yards, along with 49 receiving yards on a career-high eight catches.
“Our offensive line really gave us room to work,” Dowdell said. “We wanted to control the clock and keep their offense off the field, and we did that for most of the game.”
Nebraska’s strategy in the second half shifted to clock management, running the ball and limiting risks on offense. While they didn’t score after halftime, they didn’t need to. The defense continued to suffocate Colorado, allowing just one second-half touchdown on a seven-yard pass from Sanders to LaJohntay Wester in the fourth quarter.
Nebraska Reaches Milestones Against Colorado
Nebraska’s victory was significant in several ways. It marked the Huskers’ 50th win in the all-time series against Colorado, improving their record to 50-21-2. The 18-point margin of victory was Nebraska’s largest over Colorado since a 45-17 blowout in 2010, and the defense’s performance was particularly impressive. This is the tenth time under Rhule that the Huskers have held an opponent to under 100 rushing yards, and the seventh time they’ve limited an opponent to 75 or fewer rushing yards.
“It’s always great to win, but getting a win like this against a team like Colorado makes it even sweeter,” said Rhule. “We’re building something here, and tonight was a big step in the right direction.”
Looking Ahead
With Nebraska off to a strong start at 2-0, the team will look to carry momentum into next week’s matchup against Northern Iowa at Memorial Stadium. Colorado, now 1-1, faces plenty of questions after this loss and will try to bounce back when they return home to face UNLV.
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