LINCOLN, Neb. — Colorado fell behind early and couldn’t make up the difference in the second half Saturday as the Buffaloes dropped a 28-10 decision to Nebraska at Memorial Stadium.

Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders’ Buffs fell to 1-1 while Nebraska ended a three-game losing streak to Colorado and improved to 2-0.

The Buffs trailed 14-0 after the end of the first quarter after the Huskers put together a long scoring drive and then reaped a 7-yard interception return for a touchdown.

Both teams missed field goals in the second quarter but the Huskers manufactured an 86-yard scoring drive to go up 21-0 with 6:44 to play in the quarter, then drove 70 yards for another touchdown with 40 seconds left in the period to take a 28-0 lead at the break.

But CU’s defense stiffened in the second half and shut the Huskers out while the Buffs scored 10 points. Colorado finally got on the board with a field goal early in the third period, then added a 58-yard touchdown drive midway through the fourth quarter to cut the deficit to 28-10.

That, though, ended the scoring for the evening as the Buffs suffered their first loss of the season.

Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders had a tough night, finishing 23-for-38 for 244 yards, one touchdown and an interception. He was sacked five times and did not play on CU’s last series as backup Ryan Staubfinished the game. Travis Hunter had 10 catches for 110 yards and LaJohntay Wester had four catches for 20 yards, including his first touchdown as a Buff.

CU’s rushing attack again struggled, finishing with just 16 yards on the ground on 22 carries. That number was inflated by six Nebraska sacks for 41 yards.

The Huskers outgained the Buffs 334-260, finishing with 185 yards passing and 149 on the ground. Colorado finished with two turnovers and for the second week in a row, CU’s defense did not record a takeaway.

The Buffs also came up short on two more fourth-and-1 attempts — they missed one last week against North Dakota State — but finally converted a fourth down try late in the game.

“We just never got it going until it was too late,” Coach Prime said. “It  seemed like we just never got it going. Protections were a problem. We got to figure out a way to prevent that and do a better job with that.”

HOW IT HAPPENED: Nothing went right for the Buffs in the first half.

After Colorado went three-and-out on its first possession — which included the first of four first-half sacks of QB Sanders — the Huskers drove 49 yards for their first touchdown.

Colorado then missed a big opportunity after Jimmy Horn Jr. returned the ensuing kickoff 61 yards to the Nebraska 37-yard line. The Buffs went for it on fourth-and-1 but Charlie Offerdahl was stopped for a 2-yard loss and the Huskers took possession.

“We got to figure out a way to have some type of running game,” Coach Prime said.

CU’s defense then forced a punt, only to see NU punter Brian Buschini drop the ball at Colorado’s 2-yard line.

Then came a rare mistake from QB Sanders, who tried to connect with Drelon Miller in the right flat. Instead, NU’s Tommi Hill read the play perfectly, picked off the pass and danced into the end zone with a 7-yard return and 14-0 Nebraska lead.

The Buffs finally got a break after punting the ball away on their next possession. A Nebraska drive stalled at the CU 14-yard line and a 32-yard field goal try was no good.

But Colorado punted again on its next possession and the Huskers answered with a nine-play, 86-yard scoring drive that was aided by two CU penalties. Dante Dowdell scored from 1 yard out to give NU a 21-0 lead.

“We should be able to move the ball on anyone,” Coach Prime said. “We should be able to protect with the experience that we have offensively, and we just couldn’t get it going today. We had some spurts and some great moments but the way we started is just not indicative of who we are, and we just never got it together.”

The Buffs finally found some offense on their next possession. Sanders completed four passes for 62 yards and CU drove to the Nebraska 12. But the drive stalled after two incompletions and an Alejandro Mata field goal try was blocked as the Buffs came up empty.

Colorado then failed to move the ball again after a Nebraska punt, giving the ball back to the Huskers with 1:25 on the clock. NU then marched 70 yards in just 45 seconds for a touchdown, again aided by two big CU penalties, including one for targeting on linebacker Trevor Woods.

The Buffs’ bad luck continued on the NU scoring play. CU linebacker LaVonta Bentley had a great chance at an interception, but instead tipped the ball to NU running back Rahmir Johnson, who scampered into the end zone with an 18-yard touchdown and 28-0 Nebraska lead with 40 seconds left in the half.

“When something like that happens, you just gotta take your hat off,” Coach Prime said. “That stuff just doesn’t normally happen. That was crazy. That was a heck of a play. Bentley did a great job, broke on the ball, did everything you’re supposed to do but secure the catch.”

The Buffs finally got on the board early in the third quarter. CU’s defense came up with a stop to open the half and Colorado’s offense then drove 49 yards inside the NU 10.

The drive stalled but CU still reaped a 28-yard Mata field goal to make the score 28-3 with 10:38 left in the third period.

Colorado’s defense then came up with three straight stops, the third of which finished with a blocked punt by BJ Green II. That gave CU possession at its own 42 and the Buffs finally found the end zone six plays later.

Dallan Hayden ran for 17 yards to start the drive before Sanders connected with Travis Hunter for a 21-yard gain. Following a Nebraska penalty, Sanders threw 5 yards to Horn, then 5 yards to Wester for a touchdown and CU cut the deficit to 28-10 with 8:45 still to play.

But that was as close as the Buffs could come. After a long NU drive stalled and ended in a punt, Colorado backup Staub entered the game as QB Sanders went to the locker room.

“We just wanted to make sure we get him checked out,” Coach Prime said. “Now you are looking forward to next week. This week, that was over. By the time he got out of the game, it was a wrap. So we wanted to make sure he’s going to be OK.”

TURNING POINT: After the Buffs forced a Nebraska punt in the first quarter, CU took possession trailing just 7-0. But on the first play of the drive, Sanders’ pass was intercepted and returned for a touchdown, giving the Huskers the momentum they needed to build their 28-0 halftime lead.

KEY STATISTICS: Colorado again struggled on the ground, finishing with just 16 yards rushing … The Buffs gave up six sacks while not recording one of their own … CU was 1-for-3 on fourth-down conversion tries … The Buffs did not have a defensive takeaway for the second straight week.

WHAT IT MEANS: Colorado has plenty of work to do before next week’s rivalry game at Colorado State.

NEXT UP: The Buffs continue their road trip rivalry swing with a trip to Fort Collins next Saturday for a 5:30 p.m. game against Colorado State (CBS).

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Story by Neill Woelk, Contributing Editor for CUBuffs.com. Content courtesy of the University of Colorado at Boulder.