The air in Lincoln was different that night. You could feel it in the concrete of Memorial Stadium.
When the Nebraska vs Colorado football game kicked off in September 2024, it wasn't just another non-conference matchup. It was a pressure cooker. For years, the Huskers had been searching for an identity, while Colorado—led by the inescapable gravity of "Coach Prime" Deion Sanders—had become the loudest show in sports.
Nebraska won that game 28–10. It wasn't even as close as the score looked.
Honestly, the second half felt like a formality. Nebraska’s defense, the legendary "Blackshirts," looked like the units from the Tom Osborne era. They swarmed Shedeur Sanders, sacking him six times and forcing a pick-six early on that basically sucked the oxygen out of the Buffaloes' sideline. It was a statement.
The Bad Blood is Real
This isn't some manufactured media rivalry. It’s deep. It’s decades of "I hate you" passed down from grandfathers to grandsons in the Midwest and the Rockies.
Historically, Nebraska has dominated, leading the all-time series 50–21–2. But in the modern era, things got weird. Before the 2024 thumping, Colorado had actually rattled off three straight wins against the Big Red. That didn't sit well in Lincoln.
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When Matt Rhule took over at Nebraska, he knew he wasn't just hired to win games; he was hired to win this game. He and Deion Sanders are opposites. Rhule is the builder, the guy who talks about "process" and "culture" in a way that feels almost old-school. Sanders is the disruptor, the portal king who turned a 1-11 team into a global brand overnight.
Dylan Raiola and the New Era
The 2024 game was the official arrival of Dylan Raiola.
The kid came in with the Mahomes-style hair and the #15 jersey, and for the first time in a decade, Nebraska fans didn't feel like they were waiting for the other shoe to drop. He went 23-for-30 for 185 yards and a touchdown. It wasn't a "heisman" stat line, but he was efficient. He was calm.
Compare that to the chaos on the other side.
Colorado’s offensive line was, frankly, a disaster. Shedeur Sanders spent most of the night running for his life. Travis Hunter did his thing—catching 10 passes for 110 yards—but one superstar can't block five angry defensive linemen. Nebraska's Dante Dowdell pounded the rock for two touchdowns, and the game was effectively over by halftime when the score was 28–0.
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Why the 2025 and 2026 Landscape Changes Everything
We are now in 2026, and the fallout of those meetings is still shaping how these two programs recruit.
The Nebraska vs Colorado football series is on a bit of a hiatus now, as the two schools aren't scheduled to play again for a while. This "cooling off" period is actually making the rivalry more intense on the recruiting trail. Because they aren't settling it on the field, they're settling it in the living rooms of five-star recruits in California and Texas.
Nebraska has used the 2024 win as proof of concept. They've told recruits: "See? The flashy stuff doesn't win in the trenches." Meanwhile, Colorado has leaned even harder into their Big 12 identity, trying to prove they can survive a schedule without a target on their back every week from Big Ten powerhouses.
What Most People Get Wrong
A lot of national pundits thought this rivalry died when Nebraska left for the Big Ten and Colorado went to the Pac-12 (and now back to the Big 12).
They were wrong.
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The geographical proximity—the "I-80 rivalry"—means these fanbases interact constantly. When the game returned in 2018, it reignited a fire that never really went out. It’s about more than just a win-loss record. It’s a clash of cultures.
- Nebraska: Red, tradition, sell-out streaks, power running, and a defense that wants to suffocate you.
- Colorado: Black and Gold, high-flying offense, social media presence, and a swagger that irritates traditionalists.
Actionable Insights for Fans
If you’re following the trajectory of these two programs, keep your eyes on these specific markers:
- Watch the Trenches: Nebraska proved that if you can't protect the QB, you can't beat them. Colorado’s 2025 recruiting class focused heavily on offensive linemen for this exact reason.
- The Portal vs. High School: Rhule is building through high school recruiting with a splash of portal talent. Sanders is still portal-heavy. The long-term winner of this rivalry will likely be decided by which philosophy holds up over four seasons.
- Ticket Markets: Even when they aren't playing each other, keep an eye on secondary market prices for their biggest games. The "Sanders Effect" is real for revenue, but Nebraska's "Loyalty Effect" keeps their floor much higher.
The 2024 chapter of Nebraska vs Colorado football gave the Huskers their mojo back. It humbled a Colorado team that thought they could skip the "rebuilding" phase. But in college football, the pendulum always swings.
Don't be surprised if the next time these two meet, the stakes are even higher. For now, the bragging rights stay in Lincoln.