Maybe Nebraska is just that good. I mean head coach Matt Rhule was 10-4 and 11-3 in his third year at his previous two stops, Temple and Baylor, and this is his third year at Nebraska. That along with the good fortune of having QB Dylan Raiola, the son of a cornhusker All-American center Dominic Raiola and nephew of the current offensive line coach, withdraw his commitment to Georgia and sign with Nebraska. Is it possible that the Colorado tire fire last week wasn’t as bad as it looked? In spite of their 28-9 win on the road against Colorado State this past Saturday I think I’ll still wait a while to jump back on the band wagon.
After their completely non-existent ground game of last week Colorado was able to produce enough of one to help keep the defense honest enough for Shedeur to only get sacked once as well as connect on over 70+% of his throws for 310 yards and 4 TD’s—two each to the brilliant two-way player Travis Hunter and Senior WR Lajontay Wester who combined along with Will Sheppard and Jimmy Horn Jr for 263 of the Buffaloes 310 yards in the air on 29 receptions. Colorado State’s Sophomore QB Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi connected on 22-of-39 for 209 yards and 2 interceptions while on the ground the Rams rushed 31 times for 131 yards and 1 TD by Freshman RB Justin Marshall.
Colorado State got the early lead with a field goal on their second possession of the game to go up 3-0. The Buffaloes missed a field goal of their own to tie the game but would score early in the 2nd Qtr on a Shedeur Sanders’ TD pass to LaJohntay Wester to take the lead 7-3 and then again, after holding Colorado State to a three-and-out, on a second connection between Sanders and Wester to go up 14-3 at the break. Starting a quadruple possession of mistakes by both teams, the Buffaloes would score again early in the 3rd Qtr on another Sanders’ pass—this one to Travis Hunter—after an interception deep in the Colorado State red zone to go up 21-3. Once again setting the Buffaloes up to increase the lead, the Rams would fumble the ball on their next possession at the end of a 16 play 82 yard drive just four yards shy from scoring, but Colorado would return the favor by fumbling the ball themselves four plays later only to pick off a Colorado State pass four plays after that on their own 45 yard line. Five plays later with the help of two Buffalo penalties Sanders would hit Travis Hunter with a 21 yard TD pass—his second of the day to go up 28-3. Colorado State would close the gap on a six play 75 yard drive and Justin Marshall TD run to make it 28-9 after a failed two-point conversion but then fumble the ball away again after holding to a turnover on downs.
It was a sloppy and undisciplined game for both sides—Colorado hit with 12 penalties for 115 yards and the Rams with 10 for 94 yards to go along with their four turnovers, two fumbles lost and two interceptions—one picked off by Travis Hunter and both leading to Buffalo TD’s. Colorado heads back to home to Boulder to host Baylor this next Saturday.