Colorado vs. Nebraska final score, results: Cornhuskers off to best start since 2016 after silencing Buffaloes

By | September 7, 2024
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The good news for Deion Sanders is his team has played much better in the second half of its first two games this season. For the most part, in-game adjustments are working. 

The bad news is that the second half rarely matters if the first half is a borderline disaster.

That was the case for the Buffaloes in a 28-10 loss to Nebraska on Saturday, with the Cornhuskers pouring on four touchdowns in the first half and never letting Colorado back into the game. Sanders’ squad didn’t find the end zone until the fourth quarter, when it was far too late. 

Colorado struggled in all phases early on; the defense couldn’t stop Nebraska’s rushing attack, while the offense struggled to block and allowed four sacks before halftime. The Buffaloes also missed two field goal attempts to round out the first half shutout.

Colorado’s defense pitched a shutout of its own in the second half, but Nebraska managed the clock well and prevented the Buffaloes’ offense from ever making it a game.

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Travis Hunter racked up 110 yards in the loss, but Shedeur Sanders’ night was marred by an early pick-six. Nebraska didn’t ask QB Dylan Raiola to do heavy lifting with the running game humming right along, but the true freshman avoided turnovers and completed more than 76 percent of his passes.

The Sporting News tracked live scoring updates and highlights from Saturday’s Week 2 game between Colorado and Nebraska. Check out all of the key moments you might have missed.

Colorado vs. Nebraska final score

  Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 F
Colorado 0 0 3 7 10
Nebraska 14 14 0 0 28

Colorado vs. Nebraska results, highlights from Week 2 game

(All times Eastern)

Final: Nebraska 28, Colorado 10

11:15 p.m. — That will do it. Nebraska turns the tables on Colorado after last year’s loss in Boulder and dominates the Buffaloes with a 28-point first half. The Cornhuskers are 2-0 for the first time since 2016.

11:09 p.m. — Colorado’s (likely) final drive ends with a strip-sack of Staub. A fitting end to the night. Look for Nebraska to run out the clock here.

11:00 p.m. — Backup QB Ryan Staub is in the game for Colorado.

10:39 p.m. — There’s the first touchdown of the day for Colorado: a 5-yard completion to LaJohntay Webster. The Buffaloes still trail 28-10.

10:36 p.m. — And now Nebraska loses one of its defenders, with LB Mikai Gbayor called for targeting. Each defense has lost a player to targeting tonight.

10:34 p.m. — A big 21-yard completion to Travis Hunter has the Buffaloes on the edge of the red zone.

10:33 p.m. — A blocked Nebraska punt sets up Colorado with decent field position, but the Buffaloes are still on their own side of the field.

10:26 p.m. — Now Colorado goes four-and-out, with Charlie Offerdahl dropped for a loss on 4th & 1.

End of third quarter: Nebraska 28, Colorado 3

10:16 p.m. — Nebraska’s drive fizzles after a loss by Rahmir Johnson. It’ll be 4th & 14 from the Colorado 40 when the fourth quarter gets underway.

10:11 p.m. — There’s a long-awaited explosive play from Nebraska as Jacory Barney Jr. goes for 21 yards to take the ‘Huskers into Colorado territory.

10:08 p.m. — Nebraska keeps the ball on the ground for four of the first five plays of the drive as Matt Rhule tries to start running down the clock. Raiola has been fine, but he hasn’t been asked to do too much tonight. 

10:01 p.m. — Wow, the call stands and it’s incomplete. Colorado will have to punt down 28-3.

10:00 p.m. — A 24-yard catch by Jimmy Horn Jr. is initially ruled incomplete with Horn out of bounds, but it looks like he got a foot in…this would preserve Colorado’s drive.

9:57 p.m. — Sanders is sacked for the fifth time tonight. It’ll be 2nd & 16, so still time for Colorado to make up the yardage.

9:56 p.m. — A big catch-and-run by Dallan Hayden jumpstarts Colorado’s drive.

9:52 p.m. — Dowdell’s run is all Nebraska gets, as Colorado forces another punt. It’s been a much more disciplined second half for the Buffaloes, but not cashing in with seven points on the last drive was a big setback. 

9:50 p.m. — A bruising run by Dante Dowdell ends in a big hit to DJ McKinney and a first down.

Nebraska 28, Colorado 3

9:46 p.m. FIELD GOAL — Colorado is on the board! 28-3, Cornhuskers.

9:45 p.m. — Trouble for Colorado on 3rd & Goal as Sanders is nearly sacked and then nearly intercepted. The Buffaloes will apparently try a field goal despite the 28-point deficit.

9:43 p.m. — There’s two BIG plays, including a huge completion to Will Sheppard that takes Colorado inside the 10-yard line.

9:42 p.m. — Colorado’s defense has taken a step forward since the first quarter and now forces a punt to start the second half. The Buffaloes will get the ball back looking for big plays.

End of first half: Nebraska 28, Colorado 0

9:15 p.m. — Jace Feely’s attempt at a 61-yard field goal falls short, which is no surprise after the miss earlier in the game. Colorado goes to halftime with a zero on the board.

Nebraska 28, Colorado 0

9:08 p.m. TOUCHDOWN — Everything that can go wrong for Colorado is going wrong. A near-interception ends up in the hands of Nebraska’s Rahmir Johnson for the score, extending the Cornhuskers’ lead to 28. A drubbing.

9:06 p.m. — Colorado LB Trevor Woods is called for targeting and ejected for a hit on Isaiah Neyor. There wasn’t much debate about that one.

9:03 p.m. — Colorado is still forced to punt after Sanders’ third down pass is incomplete.

9:01 p.m. — Wow, what would’ve been Sanders’ fifth sack of the day and a 17-yard loss is erased by an offsides penalty.

8:57 p.m. — Travis Hunter was visibly frustrated earlier as Colorado’s offense struggles to find its footing.

8:54 p.m. — Colorado quickly forces a three-and-out and will have about two minutes to work with here before halftime.

8:48 p.m. — Colorado is forced to attempt a field goal, but it’s BLOCKED. The Buffaloes remain scoreless.

8:48 p.m. — Nebraska has Colorado to 3rd & 6 in the red zone, looking to hold the Buffaloes to a field goal. This could be four-down territory for Colorado, given the score.

8:46 p.m. — Sanders quickly makes up for a false start and then some with a 19-yard completion to Will Sheppard. The Buffaloes look like they’re headed for a scoring drive.

8:43 p.m. — Well, there’s a potential breakthrough. Sanders hits Travis Hunter for 28 yards to finally enter Nebraska territory.

8:40 p.m. — Needless to say, this is a massive drive for Colorado’s offense. There has to be a breakthrough if the Buffaloes want to get back into this game.

Nebraska 21, Colorado 0

8:37 p.m. TOUCHDOWN — Dowdell runs it in again for the touchdown! That’s his second of the day and Nebraska’s third. The Cornhuskers are in full control up 21-0.

8:35 p.m. — Nebraska is heavily leaning on its running game, and Colorado admittedly is starting to slow it down. The Cornhuskers are still picking up enough yardage to keep their drive going.

8:27 p.m. — Sanders is sacked for the fourth time! This time it’s Jimari Butler. Nebraska is getting the ball back.

8:24 p.m. — Colorado finally gets something going with a quick pass to Travis Hunter for a crucial first down.

8:22 p.m. — Tristan Alvano MISSES a 31-yard field goal try, so the deficit remains two possessions for Colorado.

End of first quarter: Nebraska 14, Colorado 0

8:17 p.m. — The Cornhuskers are forced to settle for a field goal try, which will happen at the start of the second quarter. Nebraska is on the verge of a three-possession lead.

8:13 p.m. — Raiola has put a little too much on the last two throws, but a pass interference penalty sets Nebraska up red zone anyway.

8:11 p.m. — Wow, a bomb from Raiola goes through the outstretched hands of Jaylen Lloyd. That would’ve been a backbreaker for Colorado’s defense, which can’t stop the run right now.

8:10 p.m. — Shilo Sanders is back in the locker room but is probable to return.

8:08 p.m. — Colorado goes three-and-out and will punt again. The offense has nothing early on.

8:05 p.m. — Sanders gets taken down for a third time. Colorado needs to adjust quickly before this game gets out of hand. 

Nebraska 14, Colorado 0

8:02 p.m. PICK-SIX — Tommi Hill intercepts Shedeur Sanders and only needs to walk five yards to the end zone! That was a throw Sanders would like to have back. The Cornhuskers lead 14-0.

7:58 p.m. — Nebraska only makes up nine yards on 3rd & 11 and is forced to punt for the first time.

7:57 p.m. — The Cornhuskers aren’t putting too much pressure on Raiola so far, putting a major emphasis on their running game, but Raiola is 5-for-5 passing.

7:53 p.m. — Nebraska comes up with a big stop on fourth down and will be getting the ball back at their own 30-yard line. Here’s a chance for the Cornhuskers to really take control if they can put together a scoring drive.

7:50 p.m. — Sanders is sacked again! The offensive line woes from 2023 are starting to surface again.

Nebraska 7, Colorado 0

7:45 p.m. TOUCHDOWN — And now Dowdell scores! Nebraska is on the board early, already halfway to its point total from last year’s loss to Colorado.

7:43 p.m. — Nebraska picks up back-to-back first downs and is into the red zone. Only Shilo Sanders stood between Donte Dowdell and a touchdown there.

7:42 p.m. — No targeting is called on Bentley, who will stay in the game. Nebraska has a 2nd & 2 coming up here.

7:41 p.m. — LaVonta Bentley is under review for targeting after a hard hit. He would be ejected if the penalty is confirmed.

7:38 p.m. — Sanders is sacked on third down! A monstrous start for Nebraska’s defense, which could give the offense some strong field position here.

7:37 p.m. — Two plays, two incompletions for Shedeur Sanders including a drop by LaJohntay Wester.

7:35 p.m. — We are underway, with Colorado starting out on offense.

7:30 p.m. — Heavy boos for Colorado as Deion Sanders and the Buffaloes come out of the tunnel. These are two programs with a long, long history even if plenty has changed over the decades.

7:20 p.m. — Nebraska has one major advantage it didn’t against Colorado last year. Okay, two: home field and QB Dylan Raiola. Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter might be the biggest names on the field tonight, but Raiola could thrust himself into the national spotlight even more with a big performance.

How to watch Colorado vs. Nebraska

  • Date: Saturday, Sept. 7
  • Time: 7:30 p.m. ET 
  • Location: Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, Neb.
  • Live stream: Peacock, Fubo

Colorado vs. Nebraska will air on NBC on Thursday. The network will broadcast the game from Memorial Stadium in Lincoln beginning at 7:30 p.m. ET (6:30 p.m. local time).

Viewers seeking a streaming option can turn to the ESPN+ or Fubo, which offers a free trial to new users. 

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