LINCOLN, Neb. – After his team faced a disappointing 28-10 defeat against Nebraska, Colorado football coach Deion Sanders attempted to find a silver lining:

He noted that they managed to win the second half, making it 10-0.

“I’m truly excited,” Sanders expressed post-game. “When situations like this arise, it’s essential to identify something positive to motivate the team. I am genuinely pleased with the performance in the second half.”

This perspective contrasts with the troubling continuity of issues still plaguing the Buffaloes, despite making significant roster changes for the second year running.

∎ Last season, they allowed an alarming number of quarterback sacks, ranking second in the nation with 56. They added six more to that tally on Saturday.

∎ The Buffaloes ranked last in the nation for rushing yards per game last year, averaging only 68.9. This Saturday, they posted a mere 16 rushing yards from 22 attempts.

∎ With 107 penalties last season, they also ranked high in this department. They incurred nine more penalties this game, costing them 104 yards.

Is he worried about these persistent issues?

“Yes,” Sanders acknowledged, again highlighting the positives from the second half. “I wish I could share that we kept the score down in the second half for weeks. Those are the challenging moments I would have preferred to face last year. Now we need to tackle the first half effectively. There’s always room for progress.”

Colorado’s Additional Challenges

This year, Colorado’s offense was expected to be dynamic, showing potential in their opening game, a close win against North Dakota State, 31-26.

So, why did they struggle so much against Nebraska’s defense?

“I don’t know,” Sanders admitted. “If we had the answer, we would have adjusted sooner. We just couldn’t get it going until it was too late.”

After dominating the initial half, Nebraska took a commanding 28-0 lead by halftime. The Cornhuskers (2-0) focused on running down the clock in the second half, particularly in the third quarter, where they used 9:30 of the total 15 minutes.

Quarterback Shedeur Sanders, coach Deion’s son, completed 23 of 38 passes for 244 yards and one touchdown. However, he was sacked twice within his first four plays and threw an interception that was returned for a touchdown in the first quarter. By the game’s end, the Buffaloes had converted merely four of 14 third downs.

Like his father, Shedeur was hesitant to discuss the ongoing blocking challenges.

“I’m not quite sure,” he said, “I haven’t seen the film yet.”

He acknowledged that the team was prepared, but the reality of playing in front of a packed crowd of 86,906 at Memorial Stadium hit hard.

“Maybe as a team, we just weren’t prepared,” Shedeur reflected.

Deion Sanders on Matt Rhule

Last year, both Deion and Shedeur Sanders had “personal” conflicts with Nebraska’s coach Matt Rhule prior to their game.

Fast forward one year, Deion referred to Rhule as a “great guy” and made comments post-game that might not sit well with Colorado fans who hold strong animosity towards rival Nebraska.

“If we were going to get beaten, I’m glad it was by him, a God-fearing man,” Deion expressed.

Last season, the Buffs had a disappointing 4-8 finish under Coach Prime after starting off with 3-0, including a home victory over Nebraska, 36-14. Now, they sit at 1-1, gearing up for their next game against Colorado State next Saturday.

“Every team has off days,” Deion Sanders remarked. “We just had one of those games, and that was the day for us. No excuses, though.”

What Matt Rhule Thought of Deion Sanders’ Team

Nebraska’s freshman quarterback Dylan Raiola went 23 for 30, throwing for 185 yards and a touchdown, while running back Dante Dowdell contributed with two rushing touchdowns.

This marks Nebraska’s strongest start at 2-0 since 2016, when they ended the season at 9-4.

“Colorado is an excellent team,” Rhule stated. “They will make significant waves in the Big 12. Defending against number five (receiver Jimmy Horn Jr.), number twelve (two-way player Travis Hunter), and number two (Shedeur Sanders) means you are up against some of the best players. Their defense is incredibly active and aggressive.”

Hunter expressed frustration during the game, securing 10 catches for 110 yards and making three tackles on defense. Horn managed only three catches for 26 yards after a powerful opener with seven receptions for 198 yards.

Deion Sanders’ Takeaway from the Game

How Colorado responds to this setback will prove crucial. Will they plummet like last year, finishing with eight losses from their last nine games? Or will they bounce back and claim victory against their in-state rival next Saturday?

“We must learn to manage pressure,” Deion Sanders said.

It’s not just about the defense putting pressure, but also the “pressure of the game, the pressure of the moment,” as Deion Sanders put it.

“I want to see how we all react to challenges,” he added.

This concern is particularly relevant for the offensive line, which Colorado revamped this season with new transfers and freshman tackle Jordan Seaton, who is regarded as the top offensive line prospect in the country. Sanders was cautious with his remarks regarding their performance on Saturday.

“We had issues with our protection,” Sanders remarked. “I’m trying to express this in a measured way because I could echo what you’re thinking, but if I say it outright, people might think I’m throwing my players under the bus,” he clarified. “That’s not my intention at all. We need to address protection issues and improve on that.”

Follow reporter Brent Schrotenboer @Schrotenboer.