COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Colorado 36, Nebraska 14
By PAT GRAHAM
Associated Press
BOULDER, Colo. - Shedeur Sanders accounted for three scores, Colorado’s defense forced four turnovers and the 22nd-ranked Buffaloes beat longtime rival Nebraska 36-14 in the home debut of Deion Sanders at sold-out Folsom Field.
After Coach Prime's team was the story of Week 1 with an upset of TCU, the Buffs showed it was no fluke.
Shedeur Sanders threw for 393 yards and two scores, while running for another touchdown. He capped his 6-yard romp with the dance steps his dad made famous during his playing days.
The Buffaloes (2-0) needed a moment to wake up given the early kickoff. But once they did, they were unstoppable. After punting on their first four drives, Sanders and the offense scored on seven of eight possessions to turn the game into a rout. The Buffaloes outgained the Huskers (0-2) by a 454-341 margin.
The fans ran onto the field to celebrate with a second remaining. After a momentary delay, the official announced it was over and more rushed out.
The contest featured two coaches trying to turn around programs that have fallen on lean times. Deion Sanders has elevated Colorado to the point where the Buffaloes had 53,241 fans in attendance - their largest crowd in 15 years - and tickets going for roughly $400. His counterpart, Matt Rhule, is still looking for his first win at Nebraska.
Xavier Weaver hauled in 10 passes for 170 yards and a score, while Jace Feely connected on three field goals.
Shedeur Sanders stayed cool despite being under constant pressure and sacked seven times. He distributed the production, just like he did in a 45-42 win at TCU last weekend.
Tar’Varish Dawson had a big, with a 30-yard touchdown catch and an 8-yard score on a reverse.
The defense held the Cornhuskers in check until Colorado's offense got revved up.
Nebraska quarterback Jeff Sims fumbled two snaps, lost another on a botched handoff and had a pass picked off. He was knocked out of the game in the fourth quarter when he appeared to have his left leg rolled on as he scrambled to make a throw.
Travis Hunter, the versatile cornerback and receiver, rarely left the field. He finished with three catches for 73 yards, while also making four tackles. Hunter played 129 snaps at TCU.
The fans showed up early to get good seats as Folsom Field kicked off its 100th season in electric fashion. The crew for Fox’s “Big Noon Kickoff” was on hand, too, and welcomed Colorado royalty Kordell Stewart and Michael Westbrook to the set. Hall of Fame receivers Michael Irvin and Terrell Owens also were at the game.
BEST SEAT
The seat everyone wanted on the Colorado sideline? The newly unveiled “turnover throne,” of course. Jordan Domineck, Arden Walker and Bishop Thomas recovered fumbles, while Cam’Ron Silmon-Craig had an interception.
THE TAKEAWAY
Nebraska: Nebraska has dropped its last five nonconference road games.
Colorado: The Buffaloes have their first three-game winning streak over the Huskers since the 1950s.
VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS
Colorado athletics press release
September 9, 2023
| Scoring Summary | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Second Quarter | Neb | Colo | |||
| Colo | FG | 4:20 | Jace Feely 31 yard field goal | 0 | 3 |
| Colo | TD | 2:35 | Tar'Varish Dawson 30 yard TD pass from Shedeur Sanders (Jace Feely Extra Point) | 0 | 10 |
| Colo | FG | 0:00 | Jace Feely 32 yard field goal | 0 | 13 |
| Third Quarter | Neb | Colo | |||
| Neb | TD | 9:50 | Jeff Sims 57 yard TD run (Tristan Alvano Extra Point) | 7 | 13 |
| Colo | TD | 6:49 | Xavier Weaver 12 yard TD pass from Shedeur Sanders (Jace Feely Extra Point) | 7 | 20 |
| Colo | FG | 1:20 | Jace Feely 30 yard field goal | 7 | 23 |
| Fourth Quarter | Neb | Colo | |||
| Colo | TD | 10:45 | Tar'Varish Dawson 8 yard TD run (Anthony Hankerson 2pt conversion attempt is NO GOOD) | 7 | 29 |
| Colo | TD | 4:54 | Shedeur Sanders 6 yard TD run (Jace Feely Extra Point) | 7 | 36 |
| Neb | TD | 0:01 | Thomas Fidone II 4 yard TD pass from Heinrich Haarberg (Tristan Alvano Extra Point) | 14 | 36 |
| Team Stats | ||
|---|---|---|
| Nebraska | Colorado | |
| First downs | 15 | 24 |
| Rushing | 10 | 4 |
| Passing | 5 | 16 |
| Penalty | 0 | 4 |
| 3rd Down Efficiency | 4-13, 31% | 9-18, 50% |
| 4th down efficiency | 0-2, 0% | 0-1, 0% |
| Rushes-Yards | 41-222 | 33-72 |
| Passing Yards | 119 | 396 |
| Return Yards | 23 | 14 |
| Completions-Attempts-Int | 11-22-1 | 32-44-0 |
| Sacks-Yards Lost | 3-18 | 8-52 |
| Punts | 4 | 4 |
| Fumbles Lost | 4-3 | 1-1 |
| Penalties - Yards | 6-40 | 9-93 |
| Nebraska Passing | |||||
| Player | Cmp | Att | Yds | TDs | Int |
| J. Sims | 9 | 15 | 106 | 0 | 1 |
| H. Haarberg | 2 | 6 | 13 | 1 | 0 |
| C. Purdy | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Colorado Passing | |||||
| Player | Cmp | Att | Yds | TDs | Int |
| S. Sanders | 31 | 42 | 393 | 2 | 0 |
| R. Staub | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Nebraska Rushing | ||||
| Player | Carries | Yds | Avg | TDs |
| G. Ervin Jr. | 17 | 74 | 4.4 | 0 |
| J. Sims | 10 | 67 | 6.7 | 1 |
| R. Johnson | 11 | 66 | 6.0 | 0 |
| H. Haarberg | 2 | 17 | 8.5 | 0 |
| L. Lindenmeyer | 1 | -2 | -2.0 | 0 |
| Colorado Rushing | ||||
| Player | Carries | Yds | Avg | TDs |
| D. Edwards | 9 | 55 | 6.1 | 0 |
| A. Hankerson | 6 | 26 | 4.3 | 0 |
| C. Offerdahl | 2 | 11 | 5.5 | 0 |
| T. Dawson | 1 | 8 | 8.0 | 1 |
| S. Wilkerson | 1 | 1 | 1.0 | 0 |
| K. Smoke | 1 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 |
| J. Horn Jr. | 1 | -1 | -1.0 | 0 |
| R. Staub | 1 | -12 | -12.0 | 0 |
| S. Sanders | 11 | -16 | -1.5 | 1 |
| Nebraska Receiving | ||||
| Player | Rec | Yds | Avg | TDs |
| B. Kemp IV | 5 | 57 | 11.4 | 0 |
| N. Boerkircher | 2 | 33 | 16.5 | 0 |
| T. Fidone II | 2 | 13 | 6.5 | 1 |
| M. Washington | 1 | 13 | 13.0 | 0 |
| R. Johnson | 1 | 3 | 3.0 | 0 |
| Colorado Receiving | ||||
| Player | Rec | Yds | Avg | TDs |
| X. Weaver | 10 | 170 | 17.0 | 1 |
| T. Hunter | 3 | 73 | 24.3 | 0 |
| J. Horn Jr. | 8 | 64 | 8.0 | 0 |
| T. Dawson | 3 | 41 | 13.7 | 1 |
| M. Harrison | 2 | 25 | 12.5 | 0 |
| D. Edwards | 3 | 8 | 2.7 | 0 |
| A. Hankerson | 1 | 8 | 8.0 | 0 |
| S. Wilkerson | 1 | 4 | 4.0 | 0 |
| W. Gaines | 1 | 3 | 3.0 | 0 |
| Nebraska Interceptions | ||
| Player | Int | Yards |
| Colorado Interceptions | ||
| Player | Int | Yards |
| C. Silmon-Craig | 1 | 3 |
| Nebraska Punting | |||
| Player | Punts | Yards | Avg |
| B. Buschini | 4 | 140 | 35.0 |
| Colorado Punting | |||
| Player | Punts | Yards | Avg |
| M. Vassett | 4 | 153 | 38.3 |
| Nebraska Punt Returns | |||
| Player | Ret | Yards | Average |
| Colorado Punt Returns | |||
| Player | Ret | Yards | Average |
| J. Horn Jr. | 2 | 11 | 5.5 |
| Nebraska Kick Returns | |||
| Player | Ret | Yards | Average |
| R. Johnson | 1 | 23 | 23.0 |
| Colorado Kick Returns | |||
| Player | Ret | Yards | Average |
| Nebraska Missed FG | |
| Player | Length |
| T. Alvano | 45 |
| Colorado Missed FG | |
| Player | Length |
