By Rock Westfall
Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule is engineering what should be an impressive turnaround. The best indicator of Nebraska’s return to prominence will come on September 7 against Colorado. Last year, the Buffs routed the Big Red 36-14 in what should have been a winnable game for Nebraska.
A Mile High Mirage
On September 9, 2023, the Nebraska Cornhuskers entered Folsom Field in Boulder, Colorado, for the highly anticipated FOX Big Noon Kickoff feature game.
Nebraska was coming off a frustrating but encouraging 13-10 loss at Minnesota in a game it should have won. The Huskers had victory in hand late in the fourth quarter before self-destructing in a 13-10 loss in which Minnesota scored ten points in the final 2:21 of the game. Nebraska outgained Minnesota 295-251 but gift-wrapped the game with four turnovers.
Meanwhile, Colorado had a much more joyous opener, winning at TCU 45-42 as 21-point road dogs. That game was also on FOX Big Noon Kickoff and was the headline of the weekend.
Head coach Deion Sanders’ debut was a stunning upset led by his son, QB Shedeur Sanders, passing for 510 yards and four TDs. Colorado’s win over the 2022 national championship game losers gained them the AP national ranking off 22nd in the nation.
At the time, TCU was ranked 17th. But that was based on 2022. The Horned Frogs were to finish 5-7 and out of the postseason. Thus, as was proven at the season’s end, Colorado’s win was overvalued.
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But in Week 2, Colorado was installed as a 2.5-point betting favorite against Nebraska. Anticipation was high for this showdown of former Big Eight and later Big 12 rivals.
Colorado beat 5-7 TCU 5-7 Nebraska 5-7 Colorado St and 3-9 Arizona St. Lost to 3-9 Stanford 😂
NW had a fraction of the talent and none of the hype.
— George (@_jordandharris) March 25, 2024
A Big Red Santa Claus Visits Colorado
At Colorado, Nebraska QB Jeff Sims fumbled two snaps, lost another on a handoff, and threw an interception. Despite all of that, his 57-yard TD run put Nebraska in the game, trailing 13-7 in the 3rd quarter. Ultimately, Sims’ poor performance was the difference in a 36-14 Colorado win.
After beating Nebraska, Colorado reached its peak with an AP ranking of 18th. In Week 3, they barely beat Colorado State in overtime, 43-35. After that, the Buffs won only one of their final nine games.
On the other hand, Nebraska would go on to win five of its next six games after the Colorado loss. But needing only one more win for bowl eligibility, the Huskers went four and out to finish 5-7. Still, by the end of the 2023 campaign, Nebraska was the tougher and more complete team. Colorado was exposed as soft and lacking anything that resembled a defense. QB Shedeur Sanders was battered into submission with no offensive line support.
On "What's Brewing w/@ChancellorBrew1 and @Harrison24a
One thing is certain, #Colorado vs #Nebraska is gonna have some strong emotions going into it from both fanbases!#cfb #football #huskers pic.twitter.com/LLhFLXUztR
— 93.7 The Ticket (@937TheTicket) March 27, 2024
Shedeur’s Indulged Privilege, Louis Baggage & Family Business
Shedeur Sanders finished with 393 yards passing and two TDs against Nebraska. Yet afterward, he moaned about Rhule and some Nebraska players standing in the middle of the Buffaloes logo at midfield before the game. He also said Rhule disrespected his father, Deion, in the offseason by saying that CU was a certain program “with cameras following them around.”
With his post-game antics, Shedeur came off as obnoxiously entitled and unaccountable, especially considering the two coaches spoke well of each other in the week leading up to the game. If Shedeur’s dad was not bothered by Rhule’s light offseason banter, there was no need to clown. But the Golden Rule at Colorado is that Shedeur gets to do whatever he wants.
Shedeur Sanders is, indeed, under his own set of rules. Consider that he and his brother Shilo skipped the first Colorado team meeting of the offseason to take part in Louis Vuitton promo shoots in Paris, France.
The fact that Deion Sanders did not feel the need to reschedule the meeting in an attempt to show respect to the other Colorado players is quite indicative of what the CU program is all about. It’s the Sanders Family Business, and everyone else is just hired help.
Shilo and Shedeur Sanders skipped Colorado's first team meeting of the year.
Instead, they were at Paris Fashion Week to model Louis Vuitton's menswear collection.
WATCH: https://t.co/oEshfl3NKX pic.twitter.com/lTEC7x1xe6
— OutKick (@Outkick) January 17, 2024
A Cultural Clash
Matt Rhule is trying to build Nebraska the old-fashioned way, through recruitment and development. Nebraska ranked 24th for its 2024 recruiting class compared to Colorado’s class rank of 64th. That is because Deion Sanders is using the opposite approach. Colorado placed 2nd in the nation for its 2024 transfer portal ranking. Nebraska ranked 23rd. The Huskers took in six transfers compared to 24 coming into Colorado.
Is Colorado and Deion Sanders trying to take shortcuts for a quick fix in what will be the final season for his sons Shedeur and Shilo? And is Nebraska going to have a more sustainable and less mercenary culture with Rhule’s emphasis on recruiting and development?
Credibility Bowl
Nebraska fans are already chomping at the bit for the September 7 revenge showdown at Memorial Stadium. No two teams could have more opposite philosophies, cultures, and styles of play.
Matt Rhule has raved about how far and fast Nebraska has improved since one year ago. Rhule is working to build a lasting power on a foundation of the game’s old virtues. Rhule will also likely be showing off his prized 5-star recruit, QB Dylan Raiola, who he flipped from Georgia in the recruiting coup of the cycle.
Deion Sanders is attempting to use flash, hype, social media, and the bag to entice mercenary players to help promote the family business, which includes helping his sons get to the NFL, regardless of Colorado’s future.
Of course, the media will be drooling over the Sanders clan with plenty of hype in the week’s leadup to the game. But will Deion Sanders bring a substantive team that has improved toughness, offensive line play, and defensive capability?
Somebody has plenty to prove in Lincoln, Nebraska, on September 7. Who will it be?
Matt Rhule and Husker Nation need this one badly.
I can not wait till Saturday, September 7, 2024 when Colorado comes to Lincoln, Nebraska 🌽🏈☠️ #GBR pic.twitter.com/KgrDXlItKg
— Brian Yeager (@NuHuskersLakers) September 12, 2023
