Lincoln, NE – In front of a roaring Memorial Stadium crowd of 86,906, the Nebraska Cornhuskers showcased their dominance, building an early 28-0 lead en route to a 28-10 victory over the Colorado Buffaloes on Saturday night. This prime-time showdown, broadcast nationally on NBC, marked the Huskers’ 50th all-time win over their former Big 12 rival, improving Nebraska’s record to 2-0.
From the outset, Nebraska’s defense, led by the fierce Blackshirts, set the tone. The Huskers sacked Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders six times and limited the Buffaloes to just 260 total yards. The defense also added a pick-six by cornerback Tommi Hill, who intercepted Sanders in the first quarter and returned it seven yards for a touchdown. A forced fumble by linebacker Willis McGahee IV, recovered by Jimari Butler, sealed the game.
The Huskers’ relentless defense held Colorado to only 16 rushing yards, and it wasn’t until the fourth quarter that the Buffaloes managed positive yardage on the ground, thanks to a late 17-yard burst by Dallan Hayden.
Offensively, Nebraska was equally impressive. Freshman quarterback Dylan Raiola passed for 185 yards, completing 23-of-30 passes. Running back Dante Dowdell led the ground attack with 67 yards and two touchdowns, as the Huskers racked up 149 rushing yards. Despite the offensive firepower, the Huskers protected the football, committing no turnovers throughout the game.
Dominating the First Half The Blackshirts wasted no time asserting their presence. On Colorado’s opening drive, defensive tackle Ty Robinson disrupted Sanders’ rhythm, batting down his first pass and sacking him two plays later. The Buffaloes were forced to punt from their own 12-yard line, setting up Nebraska’s offense with excellent field position.
The Huskers capitalized on their first drive with Dowdell capping off a seven-play, 49-yard drive with a 12-yard touchdown run, putting Nebraska up 7-0.
Colorado’s response faltered as Robinson struck again with another sack, and the Huskers’ defense halted the Buffaloes on 4th-and-1 at the Nebraska 28. Brian Buschini’s 60-yard punt flipped the field, and on the ensuing Colorado possession, Hill intercepted Sanders’ pass and returned it for a touchdown, giving Nebraska a 14-0 lead.
Nebraska added to their lead with Dowdell’s second touchdown of the night, a one-yard plunge, capping a nine-play, 86-yard drive to go up 21-0. With just 40 seconds left in the half, Raiola connected with Rahmir Johnson on an 18-yard touchdown pass, sending the Huskers into halftime with a commanding 28-0 lead.
Second Half Defense Seals the Victory With a comfortable lead, Nebraska’s offense took a conservative approach in the second half, allowing the defense to control the game. Colorado managed a third-quarter field goal and a fourth-quarter touchdown, but the game was never in doubt.
The Huskers’ defense continued to shine, finishing the game with six sacks and 49 yards in tackles for loss. Although penalties hindered both teams, with Nebraska racking up 105 yards in penalties, the Huskers never relinquished control.
Nebraska will look to extend their unbeaten start when they host Northern Iowa next Saturday at 6:30 p.m. in Memorial Stadium, with live coverage on BTN.
Game Summary
Nebraska 28, Colorado 10
Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024
Memorial Stadium (Lincoln, NE)
Attendance: 86,906
Scoring Summary
First Quarter
10:34 – NEB – Dowdell 12 run (Alvano kick), 7 plays, 49 yards, 3:22, NEB 7-0
5:45 – NEB – 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 – Johnson 18 pass from Raiola (Alvano kick), 3 plays, 70 yards, 0:45, NEB 28-0
Third Quarter
10:38 – CU – Mata 27 FG, 8 plays, 49 yards, 2:46, NEB 28-3
Fourth Quarter
8:45 – CU – Wester 5 pass from Sanders (Mata kick), 6 plays, 58 yards, 2:04, NEB 28-10
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