Big Noon Live: Colorado pulls away in 4th, routs Nebraska

What would Deion Sanders do for an encore? Merely information his undefeated Colorado Buffaloes to a dominant efficiency over their longtime rivals from Nebraska.

The Buffs — ranked No. 22 after their beautiful upset of TCU in Week 1 — performed host to Matt Rhule’s Cornhuskers on Saturday. And whereas Colorado’s Week 1 sport was a wild score-fest leading to a 45-42 Buffs victory, Saturday’s sport began out as a slugfest. Nebraska’s protection has performed properly within the first half, however Colorado pressured 4 turnovers to take a 13-0 lead.

Colorado wore the Huskers down after the break, nevertheless, pulling away for a 36-14 victory.

Check under for the whole lot to know concerning the matchup, plus stay in-game evaluation from FOX Sports’ Bryan Fischer!

No. 22 Colorado 36, Nebraska 14

POSTGAME NOTES

You couldn’t ask for a greater script to begin the Deion Sanders period at Colorado. Not simply two wins in two video games, however a highway upset of a ranked workforce and a cathartic (and emphatic) 36-14 win over rival Nebraska to kick off a brand new period in Boulder. Come Sunday, these Buffs very probably will likely be inside the highest 20 of each polls in case you can consider it.

With the ultimate rating within the books, listed here are 5 extra postgame ideas from the Big Noon Saturday showcase:

— Shedeur Sanders confronted much more strain in his second begin for Colorado however nonetheless performed turnover-free soccer. Though he did begin just a little gradual, he rebounded by getting right into a groove beginning within the second quarter. He wound up throwing for 393 yards and two touchdowns whereas dashing for an additional on a formidable scramble.

— Last week’s stars Dylan Edwards and Travis Hunter had far quieter video games on offense in opposition to the Cornhuskers, however that did enable for an additional menace to emerge for the Buffs as wideout Xavier Weaver was phenomenal. He led the workforce with 10 catches, recorded 170 yards, and located the top zone as soon as. His capacity to make the most of protection errors down the sidelines makes an already harmful offense that rather more of a menace.

— Nebraska QB Jeff Sims was accountable for each of his workforce’s touchdowns, however principally had a sport to overlook. He turned the ball over 3 times immediately and had his handoff fumbled for a fourth. That simply can’t occur if you wish to win video games in opposition to Power 5 opponents on the highway, and so as to add literal harm to insult, he harm his ankle whereas being tackled late and was changed by each of his backups.

— After all that target operating the ball and attempting to shorten the sport, Matt Rhule’s facet wound up dropping the time of possession battle. That’s what occurs if you flip the ball over 4 instances and convert simply 4 of 15 of your makes an attempt on third and fourth down. OC Marcus Satterfield has to provide you with one thing transferring ahead as a result of Nebraska’s offense has held again a protection that does look like fairly salty if they aren’t worn down by opponents (eight — rely ’em eight — sacks on the day).

— Things are going so properly in Boulder for Coach Prime proper now that the “Big Noon Kickoff” present will likely be headed to a Colorado matchup for the third straight week, forward of the in-state showdown with Colorado State. The Penn State-Illinois contest will stay the featured BIG NOON SATURDAY sport on FOX.

2:45 4Q: Defense a quiet difference-maker

Has to be mentioned, Colorado’s protection has stepped up in an enormous method after permitting greater than 7 yards per carry final week in opposition to TCU. The Buffs have surrendered solely two drives longer than 40 yards, recovered 4 turnovers and compelled two turnovers on downs within the remaining two drives of the fourth quarter. Coach Prime’s offense will get the eye, however Charles Kelly’s protection has been very spectacular in Boulder immediately.

4:54 4Q: Prime Time to rejoice

Nebraska’s protection pressured 4 punts to open the sport. They have proceeded to permit factors on seven of Colorado’s ensuing eight drives, the most recent coming by the use of a Shedeur Sanders scramble to search out the top zone from 6 yards out. The gifted quarterback is as much as 391 yards passing and has three whole TDs to showcase his dual-threat nature within the house debut.

If you’re not a believer in what Deion Sanders has executed with the Buffs thus far this season, unsure what else must be executed to persuade you.

7:57 4Q: Sims leaves with harm

Well, that isn’t the way you wish to see backup QB Henrich Haarberg are available in, as Jeff Sims needed to be carried off by his offensive linemen after struggling an harm to his left ankle. Then, after a tough hit to Haarberg on second down, Chubba Purdy entered because the third QB and had his cross tipped on the line on third down. Nebraska’s offense is far and wide as is, and this uncertainty behind heart isn’t going to assist as they turned the ball over on downs. At this level, we’re approaching the purpose of no return for the guests.

10:45 4Q: Colorado in management

What a play name by OC Sean Lewis, dialing up the reverse at an ideal time. Tar’Varish Dawson had a convoy of Buffs out in entrance of him to escort him to the top zone. Colorado is over the 400-yard mark in whole offense, and has scored on six of its final seven drives to interrupt this one open. There’s nonetheless quite a lot of time left on the clock, nevertheless it positive feels prefer it’s late early out in Boulder.

14:54 4Q: Turnovers proceed to plague Huskers

Ten drives, 4 turnovers for Nebraska. Nothing extra you possibly can say apart from yikes. Gabe Ervin Jr. will get the credit score on that fumble for the Huskers after not grabbing onto the handoff, however QB Jeff Sims did appear to short-arm it a bit as an alternative of placing it proper in his operating again’s intestine. Matt Rhule must be getting quite a lot of grey hairs from all these psychological errors

1:20 3Q: Huskers maintain Buffs to FG

MASSIVE win for Nebraska’s protection holding CU to only a subject objective on that drive after the Buffs acquired into place because of Dylan Edwards’ 34-yard sprint. As dire as issues have been for the Huskers, they nonetheless have an opportunity to chop it again to a one-score sport with an honest drive developing.

6:49 3Q: Buffs have the reply

Colorado has had a number of huge performs come when Nebraska has gone with that cover-2 look and introduced strain — with Buffs QB Shedeur Sanders effortlessly connecting on the rail shot down the sidelines within the newest drive. 

Xavier Weaver’s 41-yarder on third-and-long performed an enormous function in formulating a solution to that earlier Sims landing. And Sanders in the end struck from 12 yards out, scrambling to his left to search out him extensive open ultimately zone. Credit freshman tailback Dylan Edwards for stepping up and going low to take out an oncoming rusher on the play, too.

09:50 3Q: Nebraska is on the board!

I suppose that’s the reason Jeff Sims stays in at quarterback. His 57-yard landing run off the keeper retains Nebraska on this one and makes it a one-score sport following the journey to the top zone.

Give additional credit score on that play to wideout Marcus Washington, who took the nook guarding him out of the play and blocked the security that was the one Buff in between Sims and 7 factors.

HALFTIME NOTES

Colorado’s first 4 drives of the primary half: Twenty-four performs, 50 yards and 4 punts. Three drives since Jeff Sims’ second fumble? Ten performs, 86 yards and 13 factors. It actually appeared just like the Buffs discovered a little bit of rhythm offensively as issues wore on, however QB Shedeur Sanders has to proceed to be affected person transferring ahead as Nebraska retains dropping eight into protection with nearly each drop-back. Still, it’s sufficient to offer the Buffs their first halftime lead over Big Red since 2004.

Other ideas on the break:

— Will we see a QB change for Nebraska? Jeff Sims is a good 6-of-10 for 71 yards passing, however he’s fumbled twice and thrown an terrible interception. Heinrich Haarberg did appear to have his helmet on late within the second quarter, so it’s doable he or fellow backup Chubba Purdy wind up seeing a while after coaches regroup within the locker room.

— Both groups would like to run the soccer, however neither have been in a position to thus far. Gabe Ervin Jr. is as much as 73 yards on the bottom, however most of that got here on one 26-yard scamper that was one of many workforce’s two performs over 20 yards thus far. Against a line of defense they need to be capable of push over, the Huskers are averaging simply 3.2 yards per carry thus far. The drawback for the house facet is that they’re doing even worse at 1.3 YPC whereas additionally seeing their offensive line quit 4 sacks.

— Freshman Dylan Edwards was seemingly all over the place in opposition to TCU final week however has been held in verify immediately. He’s had simply 5 touches for a grand whole of two whole yards — but stays the workforce’s main rusher at halftime. Travis Hunter is equally having a little bit of a quiet outing thus far, being focused simply 5 instances and knocking down two catches for 33 yards on offense. He has recorded simply two tackles on protection.

— Nebraska received the time-of-possession battle by simply over six minutes, however they did so with an offense that was unable to complete any form of drive. Of the seven instances they trotted onto the sector, they turned it over 3 times, had three punts and doinked a subject objective try. That’s not going to chop it in opposition to anyone, a lot much less a ranked opponent on the highway.

Halftime: Colorado leads 13-0

The Buffs added three extra factors because the second quarter clock ran out, incomes the prospect thanks partially to the nifty footwork of Travis Hunter.

2:43 2Q: Defense → offense, Colorado leads 10-0

Weeeeeelllllp. Jeff Sims’ third turnover of the day comes on an terrible interception and the Buffaloes take benefit straight away with a landing cross from Shedeur Sanders to a large–open Tar’Varish Dawson. Given the struggles NU has proven offensively thus far, the ten factors on the board for the Buffs may properly do it immediately except there’s a QB change.

04:20 2Q: Fumble units up Buffs for 3-0 lead

Will we see Chubba Purdy in some unspecified time in the future immediately? If Jeff Sims can’t even deal with the snap correctly, maybe so. The quarterback’s second turnover of the day winds up gifting Colorado the primary factors of the day after Jace Feely knocks it house from 31 yards out. The Buffs don’t have so much to rejoice on offense by averaging 2.6 yards per play, however not less than they’ve one thing on the scoreboard in what has rapidly turn into a really Big Ten-esque sport thus far.

6:54 2Q: Upright will get in method of a Nebraska lead

Give partial credit score to Luke Lindenmeyer for Nebraska even having a possibility to doink it off the uprights on that drive, as he recovered the fumble that he created by having the snap go off his hip. Still, it was a waste of their second journey into Colorado territory, arrange largely by Gabe Ervin Jr.’s 26-yard run. NU has had 4 drives, they usually’ve gone fumble, punt, punt, and missed subject objective. That’s not the way you beat a ranked workforce on the highway, even when the protection is taking part in properly.

12:06 2Q: Shedeur Sanders has been sacked 4 instances!

The Blackshirt protection is getting extra strain on Shedeur Sanders than TCU ever did final week. The Huskers have already got 4 sacks on the day, they usually’ve pressured a number of of his 12 cross makes an attempt to be rushed or thrown away. That’s protecting Matt Rhule’s crew within the sport thus far, however they’ll’t maintain the Buffs down all sport lengthy in the event that they doesn’t get some manufacturing out of their very own offense.

End 1Q: Still scoreless … who will crack first?

As a lot as Nebraska’s focus is on operating the ball, that’s beginning to play into Colorado’s fingers defensively. The Cornhuskers have transformed simply considered one of their 4 third-down makes an attempt and have confronted a median of 8.8 yards to go. RB Gabe Ervin Jr. has notched 25 yards on the bottom, however he’s labored to earn each inch with contact coming proper on the line fairly a bit.

5:31 1Q: Buffs slowed by errors

Just a little little bit of the whole lot for Colorado on its opening drive, however the penalties and psychological errors are what is going to drive Deion Sanders up a wall. Credit to his quarterback for making some performs, as Shedeur Sanders made some spectacular throws and used his legs successfully, particularly one on third all the way down to Travis Hunter early, nevertheless it simply wasn’t sufficient to search out some factors. The Blackshirt protection is actually seeking to be fairly bodily with their counterparts in black shirts.

10:53 1Q: Nebraska’s drive stopped!

As anticipated, Nebraska is milking the clock and taking each snap all the way down to underneath seven seconds on the play clock — their first eight performs lined simply 38 yards however ended up taking 4:51 off the sport clock. Still, the Cornhuskers’ opening drive resulted in catastrophe as QB Jeff Sims merely dropped the snap, resulting in a Colorado fumble restoration. Matt Rhule is aware of the signal-caller has probably the most upside of anyone on the roster behind heart however at what level do these turnovers result in a change?

PREGAME NOTES

Big Noon is as soon as once more Prime Time as Deion Sanders tries to guide Colorado to a 2-0 begin in 2023 and a 3rd straight win over vaunted rivals Nebraska for the primary time since 1958. Just earlier than kickoff arrives for Big Noon Saturday’s marquee matchup, listed here are 4 issues to regulate within the sport:

— Nothing will decide the final word final result on this contest greater than the tempo at which it is performed. Buffs offensive coordinator Sean Lewis likes to go as quick as doable to maximise the workforce’s talent place gamers (and decrease the time his offensive line has to maintain a clear pocket) however you simply know that new Cornhuskers coach Matt Rhule goes to wish to make this a slog from begin to end. The guests from the Big Ten are prone to revert to Nineties kind by operating the ball after which operating it some extra on prime of taking part in some salty protection. That places added strain on CU to attain as a lot as they’ll when it has the ball.

— The play of Jeff Sims stays crucial to Nebraska’s possibilities on the highway. He has probably the most profession turnovers of any lively Big Ten participant and coughed up the ball down the stretch within the loss to Minnesota final week. He’s proven he is usually a harmful runner (19 carries in Week 1) however must be extra conscious of defenders attempting to take the ball away if his facet goes to have an opportunity to make issues fascinating in opposition to the Buffs.

— Naturally, Travis Hunter’s snap rely goes to be carefully watched by nearly everyone following that masterful two-way efficiency in opposition to TCU within the opener. It can be barely surprising if he matches the 145 snaps from final week, however you possibly can in all probability see him make an outsized affect on offense and protection even when he’s not on the sector as a lot for this one. The Cornhuskers’ receivers don’t have the power to create a lot separation, so Colorado coaches might place a little bit of a premium on Hunter taking part in extra offensively to see if he can discover the top zone a couple of extra instances with the ball in his fingers.

— Quarterback Shedeur Sanders appeared extraordinarily poised in opposition to the Horned Frogs and thrived on discovering the open receiver when pressured. He was 8-for-13 for 163 yards and two scores when TCU acquired to him final week and that might result in the Blackshirts on the opposite facet immediately taking part in rather less aggressive and dropping extra gamers into protection as a option to frustrate the younger signal-caller. Sometimes that results in impatient throws as you attempt to make one thing occur, so will probably be fascinating to see if Sanders can stay calm within the pocket even when his first few reads are lined.

PREGAME SCENE

What makes Coach Prime so good?
 

Two of Colorado’s stars chime in …

Win or lose, Colorado gamers are dressed for fulfillment

The Buffaloes arrived on the scene Saturday wearing fits designed by Deion Sanders and from Michael Strahan’s personal menswear line.

Here we go!

Coach Urban Meyer is joined by former Colorado QB Kordell Stewart and Michael Stewart to interrupt down the Buff’s playbook.

Even Snoop Dogg is getting in on the Colorado motion.

Coach Prime has arrived.

A throne match for a “Prime Time” king.

It’s corny, and just a little impolite, however …

FOX analyst and former Colorado Buff Joel Klatt talks about being house and all of the love from Buff followers! 

What a begin in Colorado!

Hometown love

Denver native and former NBA all-star Chauncey Billups is right here for the “Prime Time” impact!

Buffs stroll it out

Sanders leads his workforce via a sea of supportive followers forward of immediately’s matchup.

FOX Sports’ Michael Cohen is on-site, documenting the large day in Boulder.

PREGAME NUMBERS TO KNOW

510: Passing yards QB Shedeur Sanders had in his Colorado debut — probably the most at school historical past, and probably the most of any QB of their school soccer debut since 2000.

.824: Winning share for Colorado head coach Deion Sanders, via 34 video games, which at present provides him the very best successful share of any lively head coach.

4: Touchdowns scored by Buffaloes RB Dylan Edwards in his debut — the primary true freshman since Marlon Mack in 2014 to have that many of their debut.

181: Total dashing yards (on 37 carries) Nebraska had in Week 1 in opposition to Minnesota: QB Jeff Sims (91); RB Gabe Ervin Jr. (55); RB Anthony Grant (27). 

3: Georgia Tech switch Sims had three interceptions in his Nebraska debut, and one passing TD. 

2-14: Nebraska’s document in one-score video games over the past three seasons.

[More numbers to know for Week 2 games]

PREGAME READING

Week 2 wagering: Chris “The Bear” Fallica shares his predictions from all the highest video games, together with Nebraska-Colorado. Read extra.

Colorado’s gamers are receiving prime-time teaching: Much consideration has been paid to the Colorado gamers who burst on the scene in Week 1, however FOX Sports’ Bryan Fischer explains why we should not overlook the teaching improve that Deion Sanders has delivered to the Buffaloes. Read extra.

Can Travis Hunter sustain this tempo?: According to the University of Colorado, two-way star Travis Hunter performed in 86% of his workforce’s snaps within the Buffs’ Week 1 win over TCU. Remarkably, each he and his coach Deion Sanders consider he can deal with the workload because the season continues. “It’s enjoyable,” Hunter mentioned of pulling double obligation. “It’s onerous in your physique, however that is what you bought therapy for.” Read the complete story from Laken Litman.

Speaking of Hunter … How does Colorado’s multi-talented phenom examine to different two-way stars of the final 30 years? We break it down right here, with a listing that is perhaps extra intensive than you thought!

The Pac-12 is shockingly deep: FOX Sports analyst Joel Klatt explains why the Pac-12 is the deepest convention within the nation, primarily resulting from a group of top-tier quarterbacks that spreads properly past reigning Heisman winner Caleb Williams. Read extra.

Is Colorado about to showcase one more breakout star?: NFL Draft analyst Rob Rang thinks so, and he explains who it may very well be whereas revealing the prospects scouts will zero in on in Week 2. Read extra.

Talent evaluators chime in on Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter: What do the consultants say about Colorado’s stars? RJ Young has the story.

Bonus studying!

Quinn Ewers is looking for consolation exterior his consolation zone: Outside the “Big Noon” slate, the most important sport Saturday will happen in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, the place the No. 3 Crimson Tide play host to the No. 11 Texas Longhorns. For the Longhorns to take the following step on the nationwide stage, their quarterback believes he must turn into a extra vocal chief. Publicly, this doesn’t look like a pure transfer for the gifted QB, however behind the scenes, his teammates inform a unique story. FOX Sports’ Laken Litman has the story.

How good is Caleb Williams?: Heisman winners do not at all times stay as much as the hype on the following stage, however FOX Sports’ Bucky Brooks explains why USC’s star quarterback is primed to be an NFL star. Read extra.

Bryan Fischer is a school soccer author for FOX Sports. He has been overlaying school athletics for almost twenty years at retailers corresponding to NBC Sports, CBS Sports, Yahoo! Sports and NFL.com amongst others. Follow him on Twitter at @BryanDFischer.

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