When Nebraska traveled to Colorado in Week 2 of the 2023 season, it was one of the premiere matchups of the early season despite both teams coming off losing seasons.
The draw was two high-profile head coaches in new jobs — Pro Football Hall of Famer Deion Sanders at Colorado and former Baylor and Carolina Panthers head coach Matt Rhule at Nebraska.
Colorado won, 36-14, in Boulder, Colorado, and the two teams re-match in 2024 on Sept. 7 in Lincoln, Nebraska, is one of the most interesting early-season games in the entire country, according to Bleacher Report.
From Bleacher Report: “On one hand, you have Deion Sanders. He'll attract eyeballs, naturally. For me, though, this is about the resumption of a classic Big 12 rivalry for programs that are trying to regain national relevance. Colorado is back in its former conference with slightly rising expectations, while Nebraska is poised to unveil true freshman Dylan Raiola at quarterback.”
The quarterback battle is going to be a draw in itself — Raiola was the top-ranked quarterback in the Class of 2024 and Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders is projected as a first-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.