Playing in front the largest crowd Folsom Field has seen in 15 years (53,241), quarterback Shedeur Sanders eventually found his rhythm while the Colorado defense applied pressure to send Nebraska packing and give the Buffs their second victory, 36-14.
Sanders didn’t repeat another 500-yard passing game, but he didn’t need to Saturday as it was the defense’s turn to make a statement as the Buffs (2-0) forced four turnovers to stifle the Cornhuskers (0-2).
In that regard, coach Deion Sanders’ team surprised yet again with the national spotlight shining upon it, dominating on both sides of the ball this week.
Once offensive coordinator Sean Lewis got a better grasp on what he was up against, Shedeur Sanders was rolling as he completed 31 of his 42 passes for 393 yards and 2 touchdowns.
WR Tar’Varish Dawson Jr. emerged on offense with 3 catches 41 yards and a touchdown along with an 8-yard rushing touchdown, and the passing game in general remained highly-successful.
Xavier Weaver was the primary target this week, catching 10 passes for 170 yards and a TD to post his second 100-plus yard game in as many weeks. Two-way star Travis Hunter had 3 catches for 73 yards, and Dylan Edwards led the running backs with 9 carries for 55 yards.
But again, the defense made itself the story this week.
After hanging on in that 45-42 shootout win over TCU last week, the Buffs befuddled Nebraska quarterback Jeff Sims all game as he completed just 9 of 15 passes for 106 yards, 0 TDs and 1 INT. He did rush for 67 yards and a TD on 10 attempts, but he also lost two costly fumbles.
The teams had combined for either a turnover, punt or missed field goal on the first nine series of the game before the Colorado defense gave the Buffs a jolt of momentum when Jordan Domineck recovered a fumbled Nebraska snap at the Huskers’ 19.
The Buffs only managed a field goal out of that opportunity, but with the first points of the game they never looked back.
Three players later, Cam’Ron Silmon-Craig — making his first start for the Buffs — intercepted Sims to give Colorado possession at the Nebraska 30-yard line. And on the next play, Sanders connected with Dawson for a touchdown and a 10-0 lead.
Jace Feely tacked on a 32-yard field goal at the end of the first half, after an efficient scoring drive in the final 49 seconds led by Sanders completions to Hunter (22 yards), Weaver (12) and Horn (10), to make 13-0 at halftime.
Sims got Nebraska on the board with a 57-yard touchdown run early in the third quarter, but that was really the only defensive lapse for Colorado and the offense answered right back as Sanders led another touchdown drive as Weaver hauled in a 41-yard reception and then a 12-yard touchdown to make it 20-7.
Taijh Alston played a key role in the Buffs pass rush with 1.5 sacks while Domineck had 2.5 tackles for loss.
Overall, from front to back the Buffs defense produced a much better showing than in Week 1 holding the Huskers to 341 yards of total offense — compared to the 541 yards TCU tallied last week.
Scoring summary
First quarter
Second quarter
CU: Jace Felly 31-yard FG, CU 3-0
CU: Tar’Varish .Dawson Jr. 30-yard pass from Shedeur Sanders (Jace Feely PAT), CU 10-0
CU: Jace Feely 32-yard FG, CU 13-0
Third quarter
Nebraska: Jeff Sims 57-yard rush (Tristan Alvano PAT), CU 13-7
CU: Xavier Weaver 12-yard pass from Shedeur Sanders (Jace Feely PAT) CU 20-7
CU: Jace Feely 30-yard FG, CU 23-7
Fourth quarter
CU:Tar’varish Dawson 8-yard rush (2-pt pass failed), CU 29-7
CU: ShedeurSanders 6-yard rush (Jace Feely PAT), CU 36-7
Nebraska: Thomas Fidone 4-yard pass from Heinrich Haarberg (Tristan Alvano PAT), CU 36-14
Turning point
Cam’Ron Silmon-Craig’s interception late in the second quarter came just three plays after the Buffs turned that Nebraska fumbled snap into the game’s first points, and with good field position again Colorado capitalized on the next play on Shedeur Sanders’ 30-yard touchdown to Tar’Varish Dawson to make it 10-0.
At that point, Colorado had all the momentum and never looked back.
Silmon-Craig got the start at nickel in place of injured Myles Slusher and made the most of it with 3 tackles and that pivotal interception.
But Silmon-Craig isn’t new to making big plays for a Deion Sanders team. He was a first-team All-SWAC selection last season when he had 63 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, a fumble recovery and 2 interceptions.
This was his sixth career interception.
What it means …
It means Deion Sanders and Co. earned a few more believers — as he likes to say — Saturday.
This is Colorado’s first 2-0 start since 2020 and incredibly the Buffs have already surpassed the win total from last season’s dismal nadir.
The Buffs look like a legitimate bowl team, which would be the program’s first since 2020 and just the second in seven seasons.
Up next is a home game against an 0-2 Colorado State team that has been blown out by Sacramento State (41-10) and Washington State (50-24).
Meanwhile, Shedeur Sanders deserves to be in the early Heisman Trophy discussion. Of course, Colorado will have to keep winning for him to have a chance in the end, but his performance has put him in that mix early on. Sanders has completed 77.5 percent of his passes for 903 yards, 6 TDs and 0 INTs through two games and has a rushing TD as well.
Colorado stat leaders
Passing
Shedeur Sanders: 31 of 42 for 393 yards, 2 TDs, 0 INT
Rushing
Dylan Edwards: 9 carries for 55 yards
Anthony Hankerson: 6 carries for 26 yards
Tar’Varish Dawson: 1 carry for 8 yards, TD
Receiving
Xavier Weaver: 10 catches for 170 yards, TD
Travis Hunter: 3 catches for 73 yards
Jimmy Horn Jr: 8 catches for 64 yards
Tar’Varish Dawson: 3 catches for 41 yards, TD
Defense
Omarion Cooper: 6 tackles
Shilo Sanders: 5 tackles
Travis Hunter: 4 tackles, 1 PBU
Jordan Domineck: 4 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, 1 fumble recovery
