Deion Sanders laments offensive woes as Colorado crash to defeat

Dylan Raiola threw for 185 yards and a touchdown, Nebraska turned a stifling defense into a big early lead and the Cornhuskers beat Colorado 28-10 as Deion Sanders’ offense faltered.

Colorado continues to have issues with the play and discipline of the offensive line. Shedeur Sanders was sacked five times and rushed nine times, and the run game was virtually nonexistent. Linebacker Trevor Woods was also ejected for targeting, a personal foul, roughing the passer and two pass interference flags.

“The way we started out is just not typical of who we are, and we just never got it together,” Deion Sanders said after the game. “Sometimes you have those games.”

Nebraska’s defense was excellent throughout, but this was a worrisome offensive performance for the Buffaloes. They didn’t get a first down until their fifth possession, had minus-two yards in the first quarter and finished with 260. Ty Robinson’s sack forced a three-and-out on Colorado’s game-opening series, and he later blocked Alejandro Mata’s 29-yard field-goal try. The Buffs were also stopped twice on fourth-and-one, and Tommi Hill intercepted Shedeur Sanders’ pass from the end zone for an easy seven-yard pick-six.

“That’s what we wanted to come out with. Dominance,” defenseman Robinson said. “We wanted them to feel us.”

Sanders left the field with two more minutes and was replaced by backup quarterback Ryan Staubb, though Colorado did not say whether their starting quarterback suffered an injury.

Nebraska fans had this game circled on their calendars since last year’s 36-14 loss in Boulder, and the atmosphere of a big game was palpable leading up to kickoff between the old rivals.

Nebraska’s 1994 national championship team and undefeated world boxing champion and Omaha native Terence Crawford led the Huskers onto the field. And while the current program is a far cry from where it was 30 years ago—when Nebraska swept a top-three matchup here en route to Tom Osborne’s first title—there were hints of the past for the Huskers with their pumped-up sellout crowd and stout defense. The student section came running onto the field when the game ended.

The Huskers’ 28-0 halftime lead was their largest since they led 35-7 at Northwestern in 2021. The Buffs had yet to go scoreless in the first half since trailing 35-0 at Oregon last year.

“Protection was an issue,” Deion Sanders said. “You know, I try to be polite and say it, because you know I can say the same thing you did, but if I said it, you’d say I’m throwing my guys under the bus. I’m not doing that at all. Protection was an issue. We’ve got to find a way to prevent that and deal with it better.”

Mata’s 27-yard field goal and Sanders’ five-yard TD pass to LaJohntay Webster pulled the Buffs within 18 midway through the fourth quarter. Sanders was 23 of 38 for 244 yards and Travis Hunter caught 10 passes for 110 yards.

The Buffs’ defense took a big hit in the first half when safety Shilo Sanders was out with an arm injury. Deion Sanders said in his NBC halftime interview that he thought his son had broken his forearm. He had no update after the game.