Shedeur Sanders and Colorado unique challenge for Nebraska

The Buffaloes have a potential first-round NFL Draft pick in quarterback Shedeur Sanders. Travis Hunter and Jimmy Horn highlight the athletes at receiver. CU tries to turn every game into an un-tempo track meet that overwhelms opponents with sheer talent.

Nebraska fell victim in 2023. A year later, the Huskers have another crack at the Buffs. Colorado’s cards remain on the table. NU defensive coordinator Tony White and the Blackshirts know what’s coming. It’s just a matter of execution.

“Whatever coach White calls,” defensive lineman Jimari Butler said, “we (are) just gonna run it to our perfection and play Blackshirt football the way we know we could play it.”

In a 36-14 loss last year, Nebraska’s frequent blitzes sacked Sanders eight times. Colorado led 13-7 midway through the third quarter before the dam burst in the form of 23 points over the last 22 minutes of the game. Sanders threw for 393 yards and two touchdowns in that game.

“He’s the type of player that makes you a better coordinator,” White said.  

Nebraska will spend the week tailoring its practices to what it expects to see Saturday, making it all as familiar and comfortable as possible for when the Buffaloes come to town with their aggressive, field-stretching attack. The scout team that spent the week helping the starters prepare for UTEP’s rapid tempo will have to push the pace again.

“Last week they worked their butt off and gave us (a) great look,” safety Isaac Gifford said.

The differences between the 2023 and 2024 versions of Colorado are subtle. Pat Shurmur is now the offensive coordinator after arriving in Boulder as an analyst and taking over play-calling duties in November. Running back Dylan Edwards transferred to Kansas State over the offseason. Key contributors like Sanders and Hunter remain.

The dynamic was reflected in CU’s Week 1 win over North Dakota State. Sanders threw for a nation-leading 445 yards. Horn and Hunter each caught seven passes for 198 and 132 yards, respectively.

White saw new wrinkles to Colorado’s offense, even if it remained the same at its core. It makes preparation a balance.

“It’s just one game but you kind of get a flavor of what they like to do,” White said. “It goes back to what the quarterback and OC see, how they want to attack. They see cover four, they want to do this. They see one high (safety), they want to do this. They see two, they want to do this and see if those concepts remain the same.”

Sanders wants to primarily deliver the ball. White said, to Hunter, Horn and another receiver, Florida Atlantic transfer LaJohntay Wester, who caught five passes for 58 yards.

“And if you’re overplaying all that stuff,” White said, “then they’ll just run the ball.”

Saturday, Nebraska will benefit from a home crowd that could be loud enough to interfere with Colorado’s cadences and communication. Under the Memorial Stadium lights, an opportunity will play out for the Blackshirts.

NU can move to 2-0 by containing Sanders, Hunter and Co. A quality game would draw an obvious comparison to a season ago and illustrate the Huskers’ progress. Just like Colorado’s offensive approach, it’s directly in front of them.

“It’s a lot of outside noise, and you can kinda get caught into that, but as a defense we always talk about keeping the main thing the main thing,” Butler said. “You are what you put on tape, so we’re going against ourselves and the tape at the end of the day.”