Lincoln, Nebraska: A Tough Night for the Buffaloes
It was one of those nights in Lincoln where the weather matched the mood of the Colorado Buffaloes’ fans. The Cornhuskers went full steam ahead, steamrolling Colorado with a decisive 28-10 victory that had everyone buzzing. From the opening whistle, Nebraska took control and never looked back, racing out to a jaw-dropping 28-0 lead by halftime.
Buffaloes Struggles Exposed Again
As it turns out, the Buffaloes are still rocking the same problems that haunted them the previous season. Colorado’s struggle to run the ball was painfully obvious, and their quarterback, Shedeur Sanders, found himself back on the turf a whopping four times in just the first half alone. By the end of the 30-minute mark, the team had actually racked up a spectacular -17 rushing yards. Now that’s not exactly a stat that’ll earn you a trophy!
Defensive Breakdowns and Mistakes
Nebraska’s first-half scoring spree kicked off with a big-time error from Sanders, who tried an ill-advised throw into zone coverage. This resulted in a 7-yard pick-six by Tommi Hill. The ball was clearly not meant to be thrown where it headed! Soon after, Nebraska’s Rahmir Johnson made his mark with a highlight-reel catch that topped off the first half. There’s nothing like a wild catch to rally the home crowd!
Defensive Highlights Amidst the Chaos
Now, on the flip side, it wasn’t all doom and gloom for Colorado. Their defense showed up to play in the second half, especially after linebacker Trevor Woods was ejected for targeting and defensive lineman Chidozie Nwankwo went down with a forearm injury. The defense tightened up and started making plays, but it felt a bit like too little, too late.
Coaching and Roster Woes
As the clock ticked down in the fourth quarter, it became clear Colorado has a lot of work to do. Even after stacking the roster with offseason transfers and enlisting a new offensive line coach, Phil Loadholt, the game demonstrated a glaring lack of cohesiveness. With 244 passing yards but only 16 rushing yards for the game, the Buffaloes’ offense continues to be painfully one-dimensional.
Injuries and Ongoing Challenges
Nebraska’s defense had a party in Colorado’s backfield, and it got worse when Sanders took a big hit to the head late in the game and didn’t come back. That’s not great news for the Buffaloes going forward because without a solid line to protect him, the chances of having another rough season loom large. After all, Sanders had already been sacked over 50 times in 2023! Can they keep this up?
Optimism for Nebraska
On the other side, the Cornhuskers are riding high and starting to look like a force to be reckoned with. Coach Matt Rhule appears to have turned a corner, offering hope to Nebraska fans who’ve endured a staggering eight-season bowl drought. It’s been a long road since they last made it to a bowl game, back when they won nine games in a season in 2016.
Looking Ahead
With hopes running high, Nebraska’s fans are eager to see if they can keep it up—especially as their schedule begins to heat up. Colorado, however, may need a miracle to figure out their offensive line problems if they want any shot at victory moving forward. Currently, getting back to bowl eligibility seems like a climb that’s only going to get steeper.
In a sense, this game felt like a déjà vu moment for Buffaloes fans, watching their team struggle against the same issues that have plagued them in past seasons. Whether they can turn things around as the season progresses remains to be seen, but for now, Lincoln is celebrating while Boulder might be biting their nails.
