Live updates: Deion Sanders, Colorado host Nebraska football in home opener
Kevin Lytle
The rivalry is back!
A sold-out Folsom Field awaits for an early-morning hotly contested battle between two longtime foes.
The Nebraska and Colorado football teams have played each other 71 times, but not quite like this. Deion Sanders has brought "Coach Prime" mania to Boulder and has CU in the top-25 after one game.
Saturday's rivalry game is on the huge stage, with a 10 a.m. local time kickoff as part of FOX's Big Noon broadcast.
How it happened
A look at CU's win over Nebraska
3 takeaways:Deion Sanders, Colorado football fly past Nebraska for 2-0 start
Final
Colorado 36, Nebraska 14
Nebraska scores a late TD but the Buffs cruise.
Inside Deion Sanders mania
A look at what the scene in Boulder was like for the home opener for Deion Sanders:
Lytle:Deion Sanders-mania hits Colorado football in full-force for opening home game party
Shedeur Sanders runs for a TD
The Shedeur Sanders show continues as he runs for a 6-yard TD.
Colorado has blown the doors off Nebraska and leads 36-7 with 4:54 to go.
Sanders is 31-42 for 391 yards passing and has three total TD's.
He hit his dad's famous celebration dance after the score.
Another CU touchdown
It's all Buffs now as Tar'Varish Dawson runs in for an 8-yard score on an end-around for his second TD of the day.
CU goes for 2 and Sanders makes a sensational scramble and throw but it hit the ground.
Buffs lead 29-7 with 10:45 to go.
End of third quarter
Colorado 23, Nebraska 7
Nebraska ball 1st and 10 at CU's 47 to begin the fourth quarter.
Colorado adds three more
CU grows the lead to 16 with a 30-yard field to make it 23-7 with 1:20 left in the third quarter.
Considering Nebraska's offensive struggles, the Buffs should be home free for a 2-0 start.
Colorado touchdown
Shedeur Sanders and the Buffs respond to the Nebraska touchdown with an efficient drive. CU goes 75 yards in 10 plays, with Sanders hitting Xavier Weaver for a 12-yard TD with a bullet pass.
It's now 20-7 Colorado with 6:49 left in the third quarter.
Sanders is now 22-32 for 251 yards and two touchdowns.
Touchdown Nebraska
Jeff Simms makes it happen with his legs, racing down the sideline for a 57-yard touchdown.
All of a sudden the game is in the balance again with CU's lead down to 13-7 with 9:50 left in the third quarter.
The Wu-Tang Clan and Terrell Owens
There are tons of celebrities hanging around for Prime-mania, including the Wu-Tang Clan and Terrell Owens in the house.
Halftime
Colorado 13, Nebraska 0
CU's Jace Feely hits a 22-yard field goal as time expires to give the Buffs a 13-point lead at half.
CU is out-gaining Nebraska 150-144 at half, but the Cornhuskers have turned the ball over three times.
Shedeur Sanders is 14-21 for 134 yards and a touchdown. Jeff Simms has been responsible for all three Nebraska turnovers and is 6-10 passing for 71 yards.
Another turnover and a Colorado TD
Nebraska QB Jeff Sims continues to be error-prone, throwing an interception to Colorado's Cam'Rom Silmon-Craig.
It set CU up and this time the Buffs took advantage with a 30-yard TD pass from Shedeur Sanders to Tar'Varish Dawson.
It's now 10-0 CU with 2:35 until half.
Colorado takes the lead
Jace Feely hit a 29-yard field goal with 4:20 until half to give CU a 3-0 lead on Nebraska.
Nebraska's Jeff Sims fumbled a snap for a second time, leading to a turnover with CU in prime scoring position.
While the Buffs couldn't turn it into a TD, it is worth the lead.
Nebraska clangs a post
Nebraska had the first real scoring opportunity of the game, but a 45-yard field goal attempt from Tristan Alvano hit the right upright and fell out.
Still 0-0 with 6:54 to go until half.
CU ball at its own 27.
Quiet first quarter
After one quarter: Nebraska 0, Colorado 0
There have been five accepted penalties and both teams are under 70 yards of total offense. Nebraska will punt from its own 27 to open the second quarter.
Is that a throne on the Colorado sideline?
Yep, sure is!
The first Ralphie Run of 2023
The stadium went nuts as Ralphie made her first run of 2023!
Not much Nebraska red
The last time Nebraska played in Boulder the stadium was roughly 65% red.
Not today. There are certainly a number of Nebraska fans around, but Buffs did a pretty decent job keeping them out of making it a Folsom takeover.
Travis Hunter quickly a fan-favorite
CU's new do-everything star Travis Hunter quickly became a fan-favorite in Boulder.
Huge Big Noon crowd
The scene around the stage for the Big Noon Kickoff show was one of madness. Before 7 a.m. a DJ had club-style music blaring as students partied.
The crowd swelled and fans surged to a back entrance near the stage when word spread that Deion Sanders was coming through.
"I've got goosebumps," Matt Leinart said as the show began.
Attention like never before for Colorado
Colorado's media relations team says this is the game with the most media credentials issued in CU history.
There are more than 800 media credentials issued, according to Brian Howell of the Boulder Daily Camera.
A busy Saturday morning on Big Noon Kickoff
The 10 a.m. kickoff means an early morning on campus. Here's a look at the schedule:
- 5 a.m.: Big Noon fan pit opens at Farrand Field
- 6 a.m.: Parking lots open
- 7 a.m.: Pregame tailgate at Big Noon site begins
- 8 a.m.: Big Noon Kickoff goes live
- 8 a.m.: Deion Sanders live on FOX from the Big Noon Kickoff show
- 8 a.m.: Folsom Field gates opens. Fans are encouraged to enter by an hour before the game.
- 10 a.m.: Kickoff
What channel is Nebraska vs. Colorado on?
- TV channel: FOX
- Streaming: FoxSports.com/live (here's how to stream it live)
- Contract dispute: DirecTV and Nexstar, which owns many local FOX affiliates including in Colorado, are in a contract dispute, leaving viewers unable to watch the game. DirecTV customers in Colorado will be unable to access FOX.
Buffs quickly into top-25
Colorado's stunning 45-42 win at then-No. 17 TCU stunned the college football world and propelled the Buffs into the rankings:
More:Deion Sanders, Colorado football enter top-25 rankings
Follow sports reporter Kevin Lytle on Twitter and Instagram @Kevin_Lytle.