Coach Prime and Deion Sanders might be trouble for Matt Rhule and Nebraska Saturday. If I said that one week ago many of you would have laughed at me. After all, Sanders rolled into Boulder and fired the entire Colorado Buffaloes team. Then he brought in 87 new players from the transfer portal and freshman enrollees. And half of those new kids arrived AFTER the spring game. Even if the players turned out to be good, they had never taken one snap together in a live game. Football takes time and practice to gel 11 players into a cohesive unit. Surely Colorado would be hard pressed to improve on their one win record from a year ago.
Nope.
Coach Prime, armed with his son Shedeur Sanders at quarterback and his other son Shilo Sanders at safety, buzzed into TCU and showed the NCAA champion runner-ups they meant business. Shedeur threw for a Colorado record 510 yard and 4 touchdowns, including the game winner with 4:25 left. Not bad for his first Power 5 football game. Brother Shilo added 10 tackles on the defensive side of the ball.
When the dust settled, Colorado had 4 receivers with more than 100 yards on their way to a 45-42 victory.
Oh, and let’s not forget 5 star transfer Travis Hunter. Coach Prime brought him from Jackson, and he plays BOTH wide receiver and defensive back and had over 100 yards receiving and hauled in an interception.
Finally, brother Shilo added 10 tackles on the defensive side of the ball.
Nebraska, on the other hand, was excited about the season and new head coach Matt Rhule. Previous coach Scott Frost had gone 5-22 in one score games during his tenure. Surely, Rhule would fix all of that. Until he didn’t. Not yet, anyway.
The Huskers opened the season with a 13-10 loss t0 Minnesota in a game they flat out gave away at the end. Dreams of heading into the Michigan game with a 4-0 record with Colorado, Northern Illinois, and Louisiana Tech coming up on the schedule are out the window. Even a 3-1 record looks challenging because Colorado is not who we thought Colorado was. Right?
If Coach Prime Deion Sanders and Colorado has a weakness, it could be defending the run.
TCU rushed for 262 yard and scored 42 points. Nebraska’s run game is its strength. If QB Jeff Sims can take care of the ball, he’s a pretty solid runner in the Huskers option attack. But he can’t do it all. Running back Gabe Irvin rushed for 55 yards vs Minnesota, but he averages 8 yards per carry! So, logically they should give the ball to him more.
So, Coach Prime Deion Sanders might be trouble for Nebraska. But here’s the bottom line:
If the game is high scoring, the Buffs will be 2-0. If it is low scoring, Matt Rhule and the Huskers get their first win.
Best Names in College Football
Kool-Aid McKinstry (CB, Alabama)
(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Not just a fun name. He is considered to be a top cornerback prospect in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Storm Duck (CB, Louisville)
(Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)
Originally he transferred to Penn State, but after Spring Ball he then transferred to Louisville.
Shitta Sillah (DE, Boston College)
(Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
Played one game last year, then had season ending surgery.
Boobie Curry (WR, Buffalo)
(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Made Sauce Gardener’s list for Sauciest names in college football. The Thai Curry sauce.
Major Burns (S, LSU)
(Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
Third season with LSU. Major is majoring in Sports Administration.
Squirrel White (WR, Tennessee)
(Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images)
Not his ‘real’ name. Nickname originated from his great grandmother, who called him “Squirrel” as an infant after he moved simultaneously with a squirrel in her garden.
Kavosiey Smoke (RB, Colorado)
(Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
Since everyone pronounces his first name wrong, he’d rather people just call him ‘smoke’.
Tiger Shanks (OL, UNLV)
(Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Tiger Shanks is Canadian. Has a sister named Maria.
Power Echols (LB, UNC)
(Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
Living up to that name. Honorable Mention All-ACC (2022)
