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Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
The Rivalry Continues in Lincoln
This Game and Rivalry History:
This Saturday night Colorado will cross the state line to face neighboring Nebraska, with the Buffs looking to extend their winning streak in this rivalry to four. The game will kick off at 5:30 PM, and both teams will be fighting to move to 2-0. This matchup has a storied history, but the Buffaloes trail the Cornhuskers 21-49-2 all time.
In recent years, Colorado has flipped the script in this rivalry by winning the last three matchups in 2023, 2019, and 2018. Last year, Colorado won handily 36-14 at home, but that score doesn’t tell the entire story. Nebraska played well for the most part, so expect this year’s matchup to be much more competitive, with both teams featuring new faces and what most believe to be improved rosters.
When these teams met a year ago, Nebraska’s offense essentially handed the win to Colorado. The Cornhuskers rushed for over 200 yards but failed to capitalize on drives, suffering multiple fumbles that ultimately cost them the game.
Nebraska also deployed Matt Rhule’s frustrating 3-3-5 defense, forcing Shedeur Sanders to rely on the quick passing game. Colorado’s offense relied on quick reads at the line of scrimmage and Shedeur’s instincts to throw into disguised coverages. Nebraska’s defense held up well in the first half by keeping every play in front of them and utilizing their speed to swarm the ball carrier on runs and short passes.
As the game progressed, Shedeur grew increasingly comfortable picking apart disguised coverages and finding soft spots in the defense’s zone, leading to a 22-point victory for the Buffs. Maybe that continues again in this matchup, although the Buffs might not get so lucky with the Huskers’ litany of mistakes.
What To Look For From The Buffs:
The Buffaloes are coming off a close win at home against North Dakota State, playing below expectations and narrowly escaping with a victory. This past week, the national media has done a 180 in its coverage of the Buffs, leading Colorado to come into Week 2 as seven-point underdogs. The team knows they’ll need to play better this weekend in Lincoln if they want to secure a win in a tough road environment.
This Nebraska defense is designed to take away the deep passing game, so the easiest way to counter it is by running the ball effectively on early downs. Colorado hasn’t shown the ability to run the ball consistently, but they’ll need to try the run game early in this matchup. Without a reliable run game, the offense will heavily rely on pre-snap adjustments at the line of scrimmage to find mismatches. Thankfully, Colorado has playmakers all over the field, which should give Shedeur opportunities to create plays.
Colorado will likely find success through the air in the quick game and occasionally on improvised scrambles. Expect Shedeur to frequently target short hitch routes and utilize wide receiver screens to counter the softer zone coverages. It’s also safe to assume we’ll see more motion and misdirection than usual from this offense, as these will be tools to read the complex coverages Nebraska will have prepared.
After a less-than-ideal performance last week, Colorado’s defense will need better communication in the secondary. The Buffs likely view many of their Week 1 problems as stemming from miscommunication and inexperience. While I don’t expect Colorado to make drastic changes, they will need to contain the quarterback this week. They may send more pressure up the middle using the linebackers, but ultimately, the key will be players executing their assignments. Colorado will look to the safeties again to help in run support and will likely stay in nickel packages for most of the game.
What To Look For From The Cornhuskers:
Nebraska enters this game following a 40-7 win home over UTEP. The Huskers hardly broke a sweat after some early hiccups. This week will be Nebraska’s first true test, especially for true freshman QB Dylan Raiola. The five-star legacy recruit is expected to revitalize that offense after years of poor quarterback play.
Raiola played exceptionally well for a freshman last week, showcasing his arm talent, quick decision-making, and the touch to throw beautiful deep balls down the boundaries. Raiola wasn’t under much pressure last week, which should always be a point of emphasis when facing inexperienced quarterbacks. Colorado can disrupt Raiola’s timing if they’re able to pressure him effectively. That’s easier said that done, but it would go a long way to make a balanced offense a bit more run-dependent.
As for that run game, the Huskers can execute from heavy sets out of the gun. Their rushing attack is a gap-scheme running game that uses a diverse array of plays to move the ball. Expect power, trap, and counter runs from any formation as Nebraska leans on the run game to steamroll opponents late in games. Colorado got pushed around by North Dakota State, but it did improve after halftime, and hopefully the defensive line will be a bit more cohesive in their second game together.
On the defensive side of the ball, Matt Rhule will do his best to slow Shedeur Sanders and the Buffs’ collection of playmakers. Nebraska found success blanketing throwing lanes and they should employ a similar strategy with a few adjustments. One guess is that they will stick more players in the box to disguise coverages and use dummy blitzes to confuse Shedeur and the offensive line. They might also try man coverage with help over the top, as they’re confident they can generate pressure with just three or four rushers.
Players To Watch:
- Nebraska QB Dylan Raiola: The true freshman will need to protect the ball while still taking calculated risks when necessary. Raiola may look and play kinda like Patrick Mahomes, but he lacks experience, and this will be his first matchup against a Power Five program.
- Colorado RBs Dallen Hayden and Charlie Offerdahl: Colorado will look to run the ball early in this game, but if that fails, these players will be crucial in keeping Shedeur upright. Nebraska will try to confuse the offensive line, and I expect Hayden and Offerdahl will be needed not only for pass protection but also as quick checkdown options.
- Colorado LB LaVonta Bentley: Last week, Bentley showed the nation that he has the ability to get downhill in run support and dissect plays quickly. He will need to be gap-sound this week, as Nebraska’s gap-scheme run game will undoubtedly challenge the defense with power run concepts.
Prediction:
Colorado 34
Nebraska 31
by Jacob.Thompson
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