Fast Five: Keys For Buffs Vs. Huskers

BOULDER — One thing is certain: the Colorado Buffaloes won't be a complete unknown Saturday to their opponent.

Unlike the season opener, when Deion "Coach Prime" Sanders' Buffs dealt No. 17 TCU a 45-42 loss on the road, the visiting Nebraska Cornhuskers will have a very good idea of what Colorado can do. They have had plenty of film to watch and digest (and more than likely a few sleepless nights to go with those film sessions).

The question now is whether the Huskers will have any more success in stopping the Buffs when the two kick off the 100th year at Folsom Field in a nationally televised 10 a.m. game (Fox).

The Buffs became the talk of the college football world last week when they unveiled a high-octane offense that produced 565 yards, including 510 yards and four touchdowns off the arm of quarterback Shedeur Sanders and four touchdowns from freshman running back Dylan Edwards.

Matt Rhule's Huskers, meanwhile, continued to add to a sad storyline that has hounded them for years. A late lead against Minnesota melted away and NU lost, 13-10, on a last-second field goal — handing Nebraska its 14th one-score loss since the start of the 2021 season.

But as everyone knows, funny things happen in rivalry games and a sold-out, raucous Folsom Field crowd will be in a frenzy for this one.

For what it's worth, the Buffaloes have won the last two against their one-time Big Eight and Big 12 rivals (2018 and 2019). But those games will have absolutely no bearing on Saturday's affair, as both programs have new head coaches and both are aiming to reverse a long string of unsuccessful seasons.

Still, it's no secret the Buffs and their fans would like nothing more than to rub the Huskers' nose in the dirt again. What will it take for Colorado to make it three in a row over NU?

Glad you asked. Our weekly fast five:

1. Stop the run. The guess here is that Nebraska will attempt to pound away on the ground and shorten the game. They know CU's offense can't score from the sidelines, and the Huskers' best bet to keep Sanders and Co. on the bench will be to move the sticks with the run game and keep the clock moving.

Nebraska did have some success on the ground against Minnesota, rushing for 181 yards on 37 carries. Colorado, meanwhile, wasn't great against the run at TCU, yielding 262 yards to the Frogs' rushing attack.

But the Buffs need to stop NU on first and second down and put the Huskers into some third-and-long situations. If they can do that, it will force Nebraska to go to the air.

Which brings us to …

2. Win the turnover battle. Nebraska lost last week's game because the Huskers couldn't take care of the ball. NU lost one fumble and quarterback Jeff Sims threw three interceptions.

The Buffs, meanwhile, made their 2-1 edge in takeaways count in a big way. CU had two interceptions deep in their own territory, both of which ended potential TCU scoring drives.

A couple more of those takeaways would go a long way in keeping momentum on their side.

3. Get on the scoreboard early. When the Buffs took their opening possession last week and marched 73 yards to the end zone, it cast a seed of doubt in the Horned Frogs.

Colorado needs the same kind of early punch Saturday.

The Huskers are already reeling. Their confidence is shaken. If the Buffs can hammer home a couple long scoring drives early, Nebraska will be on its heels, the crowd will be at a fever pitch and momentum could find a permanent home on the CU sidelines.

4. Keep mistakes to a minimum. The Buffs were fairly good in this department last week. They had just one turnover (a fumble) and committed just six penalties for 35 yards, a reasonable number.

But they also allowed a field goal to be blocked and gave up an 86-yard kick return that led to a TCU touchdown — both special teams mistakes that can be prevented.

Colorado needs to not hand the Huskers any freebies. Those kinds of mistakes can be momentum-turning moments and CU can't afford to take control and then let Nebraska back in the game with some silly mistakes.

5. Continue to play with abandon. One of the more impressive aspects of CU's play last week was the Buffs' ability to shake off adversity and respond.

TCU took the lead three times in the second half — and every time, Colorado responded. The Buffs didn't panic, didn't blink, didn't let the situation affect their play.

Instead, they played as if they knew they were going to come back. They made big play after big play and when crunch time arrived, they were ready, first with a long touchdown drive, then a game-clinching defensive stop.

That's the kind of confidence and swagger that makes a difference. The Buffs put that swagger on full display for the nation last week.

They have another chance to do it against the Huskers.