For the Colorado Buffaloes, who coach Deion Sanders, rivalry week in college football has begun early as they get ready to play the Nebraska Cornhuskers in Week 2.
Following a week of inspirational speeches from Sanders to his players, Colorado crushed Nebraska 36-14 in the second week of the previous season. Sanders described the match from the previous season as “personal” in the lead-up, citing a rumored dig from Rhule a few weeks earlier. Sanders showed respect for the head coach of the other team this time around.
“Matt Rhule is someone I greatly admire,” Sanders declared, as reported by ESPN. “I refer to him as a member of our class of coaches. Along with several others, including [Arizona State] coach Kenny Dillingham, we all had an extremely difficult test last year. We seem to be a fraternity, then. I therefore support the group of head coaches that were appointed that year.”
For the record, Rhule has made no disparaging remarks against Sanders or his agenda. When Rhule rejected the notion of having cameras follow the program around, drama became the talk of social media. The unsolicited nature of it generated a social media response from Sanders’ fans and Colorado’s fan base.
Tension between the two teams existed before the game began because the Cornhuskers had positioned themselves on Colorado’s midfield emblem. QB Shedeur Sanders threw his watch in the face of a Cornhusker during the altercation; as the season went on, it became a defining moment.
After defeating Nebraska in the previous season, Sanders remarked, “The coach said a lot of things about my pops, about the program, but now that he want to act nice — I don’t respect that because you’re hating on another man, you shouldn’t do that.” “It was simply that their program and they were no longer respected at all. I enjoy playing against their DC, but since you humiliated us initially, there isn’t any respect between us.”
On September 7, at 7:30 p.m. Eastern time, Colorado and Nebraska will square off on NBC.
Colorado Receives Bulletin Board Material from Nebraska LB Sanders Shedeur.
When a reporter likened true freshman quarterback Dylan Raiola to Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders, Nebraska linebacker Mikai Gbayor shot back. When he hinted that Raiola might be in for a big game on Saturday against the Buffaloes, he went all in. The Week 2 matchup is a replay of the tense game in Boulder, Colorado, from the previous season, when the Buffaloes defeated Nebraska, 36-14.
Against Colorado last season, Gbayor made his first career start and racked up a career-high six tackles.
Gbayor remarked, “You can’t compare Dylan and Shedeur Sanders.” “Avoid doing that. Dylan has changed as a guy. The manner in which he plays and attacks the field.”
Raiola was regarded as the program’s savior and entered high school as a five-star recruit by most. Before Cornhuskers head coach Matt Rhule pulled off a huge recruiting victory by flipping him, he was initially committed to Georgia. The fan base is of the opinion that the young passer will be the one to return the team to its former standing as a consistent Big Ten contender. When he plays under the spotlight against the Buffaloes on Saturday, only time will tell.
Sanders, on the other hand, requires little introduction. The Colorado quarterback began the 2024 season with 445 yards, four touchdowns, and an interception in a victory over North Dakota State. The previous season, he threw for 3,230 yards, 27 touchdowns, and three interceptions.
After throwing for 393 yards and two touchdowns in the team’s previous encounter, it’s hardly surprising that Sanders has the Cornhuskers’ interest. Following the game, he gained notoriety for criticizing Rhule during a widely shared press conference.
Sanders said at the time, “The coach had a lot to say about my dad and our program, but now he wants to act nice — I don’t respect that because you shouldn’t be putting another man down.” He added, “It was just that their program lost all respect. I enjoy playing against their defensive coordinator, but since they disrespected us from the start, there’s no respect between us.”
The seven sacks Nebraska registered on Sanders during that game are their only bright spot. Rhule’s team has a far greater chance of winning if they can prevail in the trenches once more since they have a competent quarterback and can play at home.
