Colorado game offers Nebraska football a prime moment

The Nebraska-Colorado rivalry — and the energy from the fanbases that comes with it — is in full swing. But the emotional side of the matchup is what head coach Matt Rhule is hoping to block out.

“We’re not even in the same conference, so while I know it matters to people and it matters to us and them, we’re going to see where we are,” Rhule said Monday. “I’m just trying to get the football right and nothing else.”

There’s no denying the opportunity in front of the Huskers this Saturday, though.

It starts with a Nebraska fanbase that once grew accustomed to dominating their neighbors from the West but has now gone 14 years without a win over the Buffaloes. Three consecutive matchups have ended in Husker heartbreak, each with its own unique sting, reinforcing the wait for a rivalry win.

Colorado spoiled Scott Frost’s head coaching debut in 2018, injuring quarterback Adrian Martinez before scoring the winning touchdown with just over a minute remaining. Husker fans packed into Boulder in 2019, only to watch Nebraska blow a 17-point lead and Colorado fans storm the field after an overtime win.

The Sea of Red traveled again last September but found themselves completely overmatched on the field. Years of angst and a desire for national relevance played out in the stands as Colorado fans let the Huskers know what they thought of them.

For the 86,000 who’ll pack into Memorial Stadium this weekend, Saturday night’s matchup offers a final opportunity to reverse the tide.

“I think it’ll be rocking,” Rhule said of what he expects for the atmosphere inside the stadium. “… Let’s all be Nebraska nice on Sunday; it should be a loud, loud, raucous atmosphere.”

It’s not just the fans inside Memorial Stadium who’ll be watching. Nebraska is set to host a major recruiting weekend where a win over the Buffs would provide on-field proof of the Huskers’ growth as a program and of the potential to be part of that.

Then there’s the national audience. 8.73 million tuned into last season’s Nebraska-Colorado matchup in what was eventually the 14th most-watched college football broadcast of the season.

Playing in primetime on NBC will expose the Huskers to a similarly large audience — one that Nebraska has the ability to win over.

“People all across the country are going to tune in this week to see this football game and they’ll see our fanbase, they’ll see the class with which we play, they’ll see two great teams compete and they’ll see our campus,” Rhule said. “You have enough games like this and applications start to go up, admissions start to go up and good things start to happen.”

As for how Nebraska can leave its mark on the neutrals? Winning the game should suffice, and it’s a contest that the Huskers enter as favorites.

Colorado, which again rebuilt its roster via the transfer portal in the offseason, may still be gelling as a team after facing a stiff Week 1 test from North Dakota State. The Buffaloes have top-end talent like two-way standout Travis Hunter and quarterback Shedeur Sanders, who they’ll heavily lean upon for offensive production.

A physical, productive Nebraska defensive line stymied Colorado’s run game in 2023, forcing Sanders to throw the ball 40-plus times. That success up front didn’t lead to a Husker win, but it did provide a blueprint for how Nebraska can attack the quarterback this time around.

“He’s the type of player that makes you be a better coordinator because you have to find ways to be creative, find ways to cover, find ways to attack them and find ways to disguise (your coverage),” defensive coordinator Tony White said of Sanders.

Nebraska has its own quarterback who’s capable of big things, too. After a stellar debut against UTEP, Dylan Raiola is set for the biggest test and biggest stage he’s ever played on — but the freshman says it’s “just business as usual.”

Asked earlier in the week about what would be different about playing his first night game, Raiola responded that the sun wouldn’t be out and that he’ll instead rely upon the lights to see.

Raiola’s steady, unbothered attitude reflects what Rhule is hoping to see across the entire roster. Raiola recognizes the history of the rivalry, having been told by his father, Dominic, that the Huskers never lost to Colorado while he was a player.

But for NU’s starting quarterback, it’s just game two of his freshman season.

“I know the rivalry runs deep, but you’ve got to stay focused on the task at hand and can’t get caught up in everything else,” Raiola said. “We’ve just got to worry about playing football.”

As much as the players will try to separate themselves from the outside noise, they too can feel the excitement that’s been growing in Lincoln this week. Jimari Butler said he expects the atmosphere to be “electric,” while Ty Robinson is anticipating a “cutthroat” and “intense” matchup between the old rivals.

Fans have had this matchup circled for months, not only because of the rivalry and bragging rights, but because of what it can do for Nebraska’s 2024 season and the future of the program.

Win on Saturday, and the weekend headlines will proclaim that the Huskers are back on the national stage. A top-25 ranking and continuation of the team’s undefeated record would also be part of the picture — but none of that matters if Nebraska doesn’t show up on the field.

Playing to the standard, as always, is what Nebraska’s head coach expects from his team. Regardless of the history of the matchup, the stakes of the game and the attention around it, nothing has changed for Rhule.

“When we play, we’re worried about us,” Rhule said. “We’re obviously having this opportunity because of Colorado and what they bring, but our fans are here because of us. We’ll play for our fans, our families, each other and the state of Nebraska.”