The last time Nebraska
beat an AP Top 25 team was on Sept. 17, 2016, over the No. 22 Oregon Ducks. The
Huskers’ last win over a ranked team on the road was on Nov. 12, 2011, over No.
12 Penn State.
Nebraska had a chance to
break both of these droughts on Saturday against No. 22 Colorado while also
spoiling Deion Sanders’ home debut. But the Huskers came up empty-handed in the
end, losing 36-14.
The turnover battle proved
to be the main reason for the loss, as Nebraska turned the ball over four times
in the game, the same number as in last week’s 13-10 loss to Minnesota.
“We always talk about
‘don’t beat ourselves,’ and protecting the ball is the main key to that,” senior
wide receiver Billy Kemp IV said postgame. “So, like I said, we just have to
keep practicing, and working on protecting the ball.”
The Huskers came out hot
on offense to start the game, moving the ball downfield to the 31-yard line,
including two passes by junior quarterback Jeff Sims for 17 and 21 yards.
However, the drive came to a screeching halt when Sims fumbled the snap,
allowing the Buffaloes to recover the ball at the 35-yard line.
Colorado also moved the
ball well on its first drive, but an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty and
intentional grounding killed it, forcing a punt to give the ball back to
Nebraska. Two three-and-outs by Nebraska and one by Colorado ended the first
quarter 0-0, contrary to how many people thought the first quarter would play
out against a high-powered Colorado offense.
The Huskers would have
forced another three-and-out, but an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on the
sideline after an incomplete pass on third down kept the Buffaloes’ drive
alive. While the Blackshirt defense still forced Colorado to punt, the penalty
gave Nebraska a worse field position with the ball down at the nine-yard line,
which proved costly.
The first play of the drive was a 26-yard run by sophomore running back Gabe Ervin Jr. followed by an 18-yard completion to Kemp IV. Two plays later, Ervin Jr. had another strong run for 13 yards, followed by a six-yard run by junior running back Rahmir Johnson, putting the ball at the 24-yard line.
The Huskers had a scare on third-and-five, when a
snapped ball hit freshman tight end Luke Lindenmeyer who was in motion. Luckily
for Nebraska, Lindenmeyer was able to fall on and recover the ball for the Huskers.
This set up a 45-yard field goal for freshman kicker Tristan Alvano. In just
his second field goal attempt of his collegiate career, he hit the right post
in a critical moment. The miss kept the scoreboard empty at zero.
Even after the
disappointing drive, the Huskers’ defense came up big with another
three-and-out. This was the story of the first half, as the Blackshirts gave
Colorado, who scored 45 points against TCU, problems. However, on the first
play after the punt, Sims fumbled another snap, giving the Buffaloes the ball
on Nebraska’s 19-yard line. Having to go back out on short notice, the Husker
defense forced another three-and-out, resulting in a Colorado field goal to
break the tie.
On the very next drive,
Sims had another miscue, throwing an interception at Nebraska’s 30-yard line,
giving Colorado a short field once again. This time, it was too much for the
Husker defense to handle, as junior Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders threw
a touchdown on the very next play with 2:35 left in the half.
Despite the three
turnovers by Sims in the first half, Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule decided to
keep him in the game.
“There was never a
conversation of putting Heinrich [Haarberg] in,” Rhule said postgame. “I really
have to do a deeper dive to look into sort of everything that happened. But
Jeff would be the first to say that we can’t have that many turnovers.”
After a quick drive where
Nebraska had to punt, the Buffaloes marched down the field and kicked a field
goal with one second left to give themselves a 13-0 lead going into the locker
room. This marked Colorado's first halftime lead over Nebraska since 2004.
Nebraska, after failing to
score in the first half, scored on its first possession of the second half on a
great play call. After only running the ball six times in the first half with
minimal success, Sims broke off his first run of the second for a 57-yard house
call to shorten the deficit to 13-7.
This was a wake-up call
for Colorado. It answered back on the very next drive, marching down the field
75 yards on 10 plays for another touchdown. Sanders hit senior wide receiver
Xavier Weaver to extend the Buffaloes’ lead back to 13 with a score of 20-7.
This marked the start of
23 straight points for Colorado, as they blew open the game for the rest of the
afternoon. While Nebraska did score another touchdown in the closing seconds,
it didn’t affect the outcome, as Colorado won 36-14.
Sims was injured with 9:21
left in the game and didn’t return for the rest of the contest. Rhule said
after the game that it could be a high-ankle sprain, but the team will know
more later.
The Huskers fell to 0-2 with the loss.
Their next chance to grab their first victory under Rhule will be against
Northern Illinois at Memorial Stadium on September 16th.
“Everyone is going to be, as they should, upset and panicked,”
Rhule said postgame. “But we’re better than what we’re showing.”
0 Comments