Like It or Not, You’ll Want to See It

The Colorado Buffaloes and the Nebraska Cornhuskers are gearing up for a highly anticipated rematch this Saturday, set for 7:30 p.m. ET on NBC. Last year, Colorado triumphed over Nebraska with a convincing 36-14 victory at home, a game marked by intense rivalry feelings and a passionate display from players and fans alike.

As both teams prepare for this year’s showdown, Colorado head coach Deion Sanders has expressed a shift in his message regarding the rivalry, particularly in relation to Nebraska’s coach, Matt Rhule. “I have a ton of respect for Matt Rhule,” Sanders stated at a recent news conference. “He’s in − I call it our class of coaches. We all took on a tremendous task that year along with several others.” His remarks indicate a mutual respect that has developed despite last year’s tensions surrounding their teams.

This evolving dynamic is notable considering the prior friction. Last year, Shedeur Sanders, Deion’s son and the Buffaloes quarterback, voiced his frustration with Rhule, particularly after the latter stood on Colorado’s midfield logo prior to the game. Rhule’s comments that seemed to question Sanders’ approach of building his roster through transfers rather than developing high school recruits also contributed to the narrative. Despite these past grievances, both coaches are now emphasizing their professional camaraderie.

Despite the apparent shift in tone, the rivalry remains fiercely intense for many players on both sides. Rhule recently shared an anecdote about an encounter he had while skiing in Colorado, where an interaction with a fan emphasized the strong emotions tied to college football rivalries. “It’s great to play it,” Rhule commented, referring to the relevance of such rivalries in modern college athletics.

The game is expected to be a high-energy event, with Colorado practicing under simulated crowd noise in preparation for the deafening atmosphere of Memorial Stadium, which will host about 90,000 fans. “It’s a bigger game because it’s rivalry week,” said Colorado offensive lineman Justin Mayers. “We want to attack every game like it’s rivalry week.”

This showdown not only continues a long-standing rivalry that dates back to their days in the Big Eight Conference, but it also marks the final game in a four-game series that has seen Colorado dominate with a 3-0 record over the last several years. The memory of Nebraska’s 1994 national championship team, which included the only loss that Colorado faced that season, adds another layer of significance to the event as alumni from that significant team return to honor their legacy.

While Sanders and Rhule maintain a respectful demeanor toward each other, the underlying rivalry remains palpable. Colorado holds a recent record of success against Nebraska, but they are acutely aware that past results don’t guarantee future outcomes. The all-time series still favors Nebraska, with a record of 49 wins, 21 losses, and 2 ties.

On the field, Colorado comes in after a thrilling season opener where Shedeur Sanders shined, throwing for significant yardage and connecting with two-way star Travis Hunter for three touchdown passes. Hunter’s remarkable performance displayed what many consider to be an essential chemistry between the two players, yet questions linger over whether that level of execution will sustain through the rigorous demands of the season. Following a shaky defensive performance and inconsistent management last season, the Buffaloes aim to refine their game ahead of this pivotal matchup.

On the other side, Nebraska is led by freshman quarterback Dylan Raiola, who flaunted his skills in a recent win against Texas-El Paso. Raiola threw for 238 yards and two touchdowns, displaying promise in Rhule’s quest to turn the program around after a challenging previous season. “They have a freshman quarterback that had a pretty good day last week,” commented Sanders. “But we gotta do what we do. We gotta go in there and do what we’re capable of doing.”

As Saturday approaches, both teams are ready to put their game plans to the test in what promises to be an electrifying atmosphere defined by fierce competition and deep-rooted rivalry.

Source: USA Today