Red and gold. Black and blue. It doesn’t matter what colors they wear now; when the Nebraska Colorado football game kicks off, it’s about a deep-seated, multi-generational dislike that feels like a family feud gone wrong. If you walked into Memorial Stadium in Lincoln during the 2024 matchup, you felt it. The air was heavy. Not just from the September heat, but from decades of baggage.
Most people look at the scoreboard and see a 28-10 victory for the Huskers. They see Matt Rhule getting a signature win. They see Deion Sanders looking frustrated on the sidelines. But that’s just the surface level. To actually get what’s going on here, you have to look at the "culture war" that’s been brewing between these two programs for years. It's basically a clash of identities.
Why the 2024 Nebraska Colorado Football Game Felt Different
For years, Nebraska fans have been waiting for "the moment." You know the one. That specific game where the program finally stops tripping over its own feet and starts looking like a powerhouse again. Honestly, the last decade has been a series of "almosts" and "what-ifs" for the Huskers. Between 2016 and 2023, Nebraska was statistically the unluckiest team in college football, losing more one-score games than anyone should have to endure.
Then came the 2024 Nebraska Colorado football game.
This wasn't just another non-conference matchup. Colorado had won three straight in the series. They had the "Coach Prime" hype train at full steam. Shedeur Sanders was being touted as a top NFL pick, and Travis Hunter was doing things on the field that didn't seem humanly possible. But when the whistle blew, Nebraska didn't play like a team haunted by their past. They played like a team that was tired of being the punchline.
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The Huskers jumped out to a 28-0 lead by halftime. Read that again. Twenty-eight to nothing. The stadium was so loud you could feel the concrete vibrating under your feet. It wasn't just a lead; it was a statement.
The Raiola Factor and the Blackshirt Revival
Let’s talk about Dylan Raiola. The kid is a true freshman, but he carries himself like a ten-year vet. He didn't need to throw for 500 yards to win this game. He just needed to be efficient. He finished 23-for-30 with 185 yards and a touchdown. Most importantly? Zero interceptions. Compare that to Colorado's offensive line struggles, where Shedeur Sanders was sacked five times and pressured basically every time he dropped back to pass.
But the real story was the Nebraska defense. The "Blackshirts" were back in a way that felt authentic. They held Colorado to just 16 net rushing yards. Sixteen! You can't win football games if you can't run the ball, and Colorado found that out the hard way. The Huskers' defensive front, led by guys like Ty Robinson and Nash Hutmacher, lived in the Buffaloes' backfield.
A Rivalry Born from Spite
If you ask a Nebraska fan about Colorado, they’ll probably mention Bill McCartney. Back in the early 80s, McCartney took over a struggling Colorado program and decided they needed a rival. He picked Nebraska. At the time, Nebraska was the big dog of the Big Eight, and they didn't really think twice about Colorado.
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It was sort of like a little brother trying to pick a fight.
But then Colorado got good. Really good. The 1990s were a bloodbath between these two. You had the "Game of the Century" vibes every November. Even after Nebraska moved to the Big Ten and Colorado headed to the Pac-12 (and now the Big 12), that tension never evaporated. It just went dormant.
The Modern "Culture War"
When Deion Sanders arrived in Boulder, he brought a specific type of flash. Transfer portals, Louis Vuitton luggage, and a heavy social media presence. Matt Rhule, meanwhile, is building Nebraska with a "brick by brick" mentality—focusing on developmental players and a physical, old-school style.
The Nebraska Colorado football game became the ultimate test of these two philosophies. Is it better to build through the portal and star power, or through the trenches and continuity? For one night in Lincoln, the trenches won.
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- Nebraska's Rushing Attack: Dante Dowdell hammered the ball for 74 yards and two scores.
- The Luck Factor: Rahmir Johnson caught a touchdown pass after a Colorado linebacker literally bobbled the ball into his hands. Sometimes, the "Husker luck" actually goes the right way.
- Discipline Issues: Colorado was flagged for multiple personal fouls and targeting. Nebraska had its own penalty issues (12 for 105 yards), but they weren't the "game-killing" kind.
What Most People Get Wrong About This Series
A lot of national media pundits like to say this rivalry is dead because they aren't in the same conference anymore. They're wrong. If you think it's dead, try wearing a Buffaloes hat in the Haymarket district on game day. Or try being a Husker fan in Boulder.
The Nebraska Colorado football game is about more than just a win or a loss; it’s about regional dominance. It’s about who owns the plains. Nebraska leads the all-time series 50-21-2, but those three losses in a row leading up to 2024 really stung the Lincoln faithful. Breaking that streak was a massive psychological hurdle for Matt Rhule's program.
Actionable Insights for the Future
If you're following these teams, here is what you need to watch for in the coming seasons:
- Nebraska's Identity Shift: The 2024 win wasn't a fluke. It was a blueprint. Look for Nebraska to continue recruiting heavy on the defensive line to maintain that "Blackshirt" dominance.
- Colorado's Protection Problem: Until the Buffaloes can protect their quarterback, they will struggle against elite pass rushes. If you're betting on or following CU, keep a close eye on their offensive line recruitment and portal additions.
- The Quarterback Trajectory: Dylan Raiola is the face of the Big Ten's future. His development over the next two years will determine if Nebraska returns to the national title conversation.
- Scheduling: These teams won't play every year, but the games that are scheduled are "must-see" TV. Check the future non-conference slates; these matchups are often booked years in advance.
The 2024 Nebraska Colorado football game proved that while the players change and the coaches move on, the intensity of this rivalry is permanent. It’s ugly, it’s loud, and it’s exactly what college football should be.
To stay ahead of the curve, keep an eye on the weekly Big Ten and Big 12 injury reports leading up to these high-stakes non-conference games. Often, the winner is decided by who is healthier in the trenches, not who has the flashier players on the outside. Watch the tape of the 2024 game again—focus on the line of scrimmage. That’s where the game was won, and that’s where the future of this rivalry lies.