Sanders laments offensive woes as Colorado crash to defeat

Dylan Raiola passed for 185 yards and a touchdown, Nebraska turned a smothering defensive performance into a big early lead, and the Cornhuskers went on to beat Colorado 28-10 as Deion Sanders’s offense sputtered.
Colorado continue to have problems with offensive line play and discipline. Shedeur Sanders was sacked five times and hurried nine, and the run game was virtually nonexistent. Linebacker Trevor Woods was also ejected for targeting, there was a personal foul, roughing the passer and two pass interference flags.
“The way we started is just not indicative 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 still a worrying offensive performance for the Buffaloes. They didn’t record a first down until their fifth possession, netted 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 later he blocked Alejandro Mata’s 29-yard field-goal try. The Buffs also got stuffed on fourth-and-one, twice, and Tommi Hill picked off Shedeur Sanders’ pass from the end zone for an easy seven-yard pick-six.
“That’s how we wanted to come out. Dominance,” defensive lineman Robinson said. “We wanted them to feel us.”
Sanders left the field with two minutes remaining and was replaced by backup quarterback Ryan Staubb, though Colorado did not say whether their starting quarterback had sustained an injury.
Nebraska fans had this game circled on their calendars since last year’s 36-14 loss in Boulder, and there was a palpable big-game vibe in the lead-up to kickoff between the old rivals.
Nebraska’s 1994 national championship team and undefeated world boxing champion and Omaha resident Terence Crawford led the Huskers onto the field. And though the current programs are far removed from where they were 30 years ago – when Nebraska won a matchup of top-three teams here on their way to Tom Osborne’s first title – there were hints of the past for the Huskers with their amped 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 biggest since it led Northwestern 35-7 in 2021. The Buffs hadn’t been held scoreless in an opening half since they trailed Oregon 35-0 last year.
“Protections were a problem,” Deion Sanders said. “You know, I’m trying to be polite and say it, because you know I can say the same thing you’re thinking, but if I say it, you’d say I’m throwing my guys up under the bus. I’m not doing that whatsoever. Protections were a problem. We gotta figure out a way to prevent that and do a better job with that.”
Mata’s 27-yard field goal and Sanders’ five-yard TD pass to LaJohntay Webster got the Buffs within 18 points 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 went out with an arm injury. Deion Sanders said in his NBC halftime interview that he thought his son broke his forearm. He had no update after the game.