Dropped snaps and handoffs: Nebraska football’s miscues lead to loss at No. 22 Colorado

BOULDER, Colo. — Nebraska football’s losing streak against ranked teams continues as the Huskers fell 36-14 to No. 22 Colorado on Saturday.

NU has now fallen to 22 straight top 25 teams, dating back to 2016. The Huskers’ last win was against No. 22 Oregon, which was also the last time Nebraska beat a nonconference Power Five team.

While the Husker defense held strong through the first half, the story of those opening quarters was Husker quarterback Jeff Sims. He fumbled two snaps, threw a late-half interception that led directly to a Buffaloes 30-yard touchdown and ran just six times for a net of minus-4 yards. 

But on Nebraska’s first possession of the game, the Huskers moved downfield with finding Nate Boerkircher over the middle for 17 yards and Billy Kemp on a catch-and-run gain of 21. Facing a third and 10 from the edge of field goal range at the CU 31-yard line, Sims fumbled a snap scooped up by Buffs D-lineman Arden Walker.

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Thus began a 12-play, 30-yard drive for Colorado beset with penalties both ways. Colorado overcame an unsportsmanlike-conduct flag but followed with consecutive completions to keep possession. CU later was set to try for a fourth and 5 from the NU 36 before a false start on linebacker Javin Wright extended the trek.

The flag ultimately didn’t hurt — Nick Henrich bagged a 13-yard sack of Sanders on intentional grounding and CU punted without another first down.

Both sides then went three and out — NU linebacker Mikai Gbayor’s in-space tackle for loss of speedy Colorado running back Dylan Edwards got the Huskers off the field.

Two more traded punts followed. The Nebraska defense — kept on the field by a questionable sideline unsportsmanlike conduct penalty — rose up for consecutive sacks from Lenhardt and Henrich. The latter ended an extensive sequence as Nebraska blanketed CU receivers and Sanders scrambled around.

Nebraska’s offense then scrapped another scoring opportunity after six runs and a pass moved the Huskers from their own 9 to the Colorado 24. A fumbled snap on the motion man squashed a third-and-5 chance. Then freshman kicker Tristan Alvano booted a 45-yard field-goal try off the right upright as a flurry of gold rally towels waved their approval from the stands.

After another CU punt, Sims fumbled a shotgun snap to set up the Buffs at the Nebraska 19. The defense held — safety Omar Brown charged Edwards in the flat to force a key incompletion on second down — and the hosts knocked through a 31-yard field goal for a 3-0 edge.

Sims’ first interception came shortly after as he threw short on a sideline try to Thomas Fidone corralled by CU’s Cam’Ron Silmon-Craig. On the next snap Sanders lofted a deep ball to wideout Tar’Varish Dawson into the end zone as Folsom Field roared.

Another NU punt, then Colorado quickly moved downfield on completions of 28, 12 and 10 yards. Kicker Jace Feely knocked through a 32-yard field-goal at the horn, sending the Buffs into the intermission with a 13-0 lead.​

To start the second half, it appeared the Huskers defense was going to get off the field quickly, pushing the Buffs back into a 3rd and 15 situation but Sanders evaded a couple pass rushers and found Travis Hunter down the right sideline for a big gain.

However, the defense held strong in its own territory once again as Omar Brown Jr. shoved Jimmy Horn Jr. out-of-bounds on 4th and 3 to turn CU over on downs. 

After being sacked on the Huskers’ first possession of the second half, Jeff Sims found a running lane down the right side and scored a 57-yard touchdown run.

The Buffaloes would respond quickly, however, with a 10 play-75 yard drive that included a 41-yard connection on 3rd and 10 from Sanders to Xavier Weaver — who ran right past cornerback Tommi Hill along the sideline. 

Sanders would then find Weaver in an open space among NU’s zone coverage for a 12-yard score to put CU back up 13. 

Jeff Sims threw arguably his best pass of the afternoon over the middle to Alex Bullock who couldn’t come up with it and Nebraska was forced to punt again. 

Javin Wright exploded through the Colorado line and hit the throwing arm of Sanders as he released the ball, but Dylan Edwards was somehow able to track down the high-lofted throw. Edwards then broke off his best run of the game for 34 yards then Weaver caught a 19-yard pass to bring CU into the red zone. 

However, despite a Malcolm Hartzog pass interference penalty in the end zone, a Riley van Poppel sack and great coverage forced the Buffs to settle for another Feely field goal. 

The Huskers took over on their own 25, but a false start by Marcus Washington sent them to the 20. But that didn’t stop NU. Sims ran for 17, then threw for 16 to Boerkircher as time expired in the third quarter.

But on the first play of the fourth a fumble credited to Ervin was recovered by Colorado’s Bishop Thomas. An unsportsmanlike conduct by Shilo Sanders pushed the Buffs back 15 yards.

John Bullock stopped Hankerson’s run at no gain, but Sanders immediately fired a 12-yard pass to Weaver for a first down, that turned to a first and 15 after a false start on CU’s Jack Bailey. A two yard gain by a Hankerson run was followed by a 12 yard pass (Sanders to Horn). An unnecessary roughness penalty by CU’s Landon Bebee send the Buffs back 15, which was immediately erased by a 17-yard pass to Weaver for a Colorado first down. Two plays later the Buffs had another first down and then another one on the next play. The Buffs scored on the next play on an eight-yard run by Dawson. The Buffs went for two and, after a review, the conversion was no good. An unsportsmanlike penalty on Shedeur Sanders also cost the Buffs a 15-yard penalty.

Rahmir Johnson immediately took control on the next drive, running for gains of nine and six yards for a first down. A Jeff Sims scramble added four more, but on an incomplete pass on the next play, Sims was injured and had to be helped off the field.

Backup quarterback Heinrich Haarberg killed in for Sims, immediately rushing for 10 yards and a first down. Ervin followed that with a run for one and a pass from Haarberg to Kemp was incomplete.

Nebraska’s other backup Chubba Purdy then replaced Haarberg and had his first pass — intended for Josh Fleeks — broken up by Travis Hunter.

On fourth and nine, the Huskers went for it as Haarberg, back in the game, threw an incomplete pass and NU turned it over on downs.

Colorado began to try to run down the clock, but that didn’t stop their explosiveness. Edward ran for seven and a loss of one before Sanders fired off a pass to Weaver for 37 yards.

The Huskers responded by Jimari Butler sacking Sanders for a loss of 10, but that didn’t stop the Buffs.

Sanders threw a 16-yard pass to Michael Harrison before scrambling up the middle for a six-yard touchdown. 

Trailing 36-7, Nebraska couldn’t gain any momentum. Rahmir Johnson ran for 11, but a Haarberg pass went incomplete. A no-gain run by Johnson was followed by a nine-yard pass from Haarberg to Fidone, setting up fourth and one. But a run by Johnson failed to gain the one yard, and the Huskers turned it over on downs again. 

The Buffs continued to run out the clock, but on the fifth play of the drive a sack by AJ Rollins forced a fumble that Nebraska’s Sua Lefotu.

Starting on their 43-yard line, a Haarberg pass intended for Washington went incomplete. Haarberg ran for seven, then Johnson for 44. Johnson then had two runs each for one-yard gains. Then Haarberg threw a four-yard touchdown pass to Fidone and Alvano’s kick was good, making the final score 36-14. 

The Huskers moved to 0-2 on the season, while the Buffs are 2-0.

Photos: Nebraska football takes on No. 22 Colorado

Nebraska’s Jeff Sims (7) hands the ball off to Nebraska’s Gabe Ervin Jr. (22) in the Nebraska vs. Colorado football game at Folsom Field in Boulder on Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023.

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Nebraska’s Gabe Ervin Jr. (22) gets away from Colorado’s Omarion Cooper (3) in the Nebraska vs. Colorado football game at Folsom Field in Boulder on Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023.

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Nebraska’s Jeff Sims (7) is brought down by Colorado’s Leonard Payne Jr. (55) in the Nebraska vs. Colorado football game at Folsom Field in Boulder on Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023.

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A Nebraska fan wearing a No. 3 jersey is surrounded by celebrating Colorado fans following a Buffalo touchdown in the Nebraska vs. Colorado football game at Folsom Field in Boulder on Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023.

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Nebraska’s Jeff Sims (7) keeps his knee off the field in the Nebraska vs. Colorado football game at Folsom Field in Boulder on Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023.

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Nebraska’s Tristan Alvano (30) and Nebraska’s Nouredin Nouili (63) watch a missed field goal attempt by Alvano in the Nebraska vs. Colorado football game at Folsom Field in Boulder on Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023.

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Colorado’s Charlie Offerdahl (44) celebrates a missed Nebraska field goal attempt in the Nebraska vs. Colorado football game at Folsom Field in Boulder on Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023.

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Colorado’s Devee Harris (33) is called for taunting after getting in the face of Nebraska’s Jeff Sims (7) in the Nebraska vs. Colorado football game at Folsom Field in Boulder on Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023.

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Nebraska’s Ben Scott (66) is called for unsportsman-like conduct after shoving Colorado’s Devee Harris (33) after he was taunting Nebraska’s Jeff Sims (7) in the Nebraska vs. Colorado football game at Folsom Field in Boulder on Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023.

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Nebraska’s Kai Wallin (93) can’t catch up to Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders (2) in the Nebraska vs. Colorado football game at Folsom Field in Boulder on Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023.

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Nebraska’s Ben Scott (66) and Colorado’s Amari McNeill (88) go face-to-face in the Nebraska vs. Colorado football game at Folsom Field in Boulder on Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023.

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Nebraska’s Nick Henrich (3) throws the bones in the Nebraska vs. Colorado football game at Folsom Field in Boulder on Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023.

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Nebraska’s Blaise Gunnerson (97) goes after Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders (2) in the Nebraska vs. Colorado football game at Folsom Field in Boulder on Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023.

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Nebraska’s Billy Kemp IV (1) and Nebraska’s Grant Tagge (56) walk off the field in the Nebraska vs. Colorado football game at Folsom Field in Boulder on Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023.

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Nebraska’s Malcolm Hartzog (13) leaps on Colorado’s Xavier Weaver (10) in the Nebraska vs. Colorado football game at Folsom Field in Boulder on Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023.

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Nebraska’s Jeff Sims (7) looks to pass the ball in the Nebraska vs. Colorado football game at Folsom Field in Boulder on Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023.

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Nebraska’s Gabe Ervin Jr. (22) runs with the ball in the Nebraska vs. Colorado football game at Folsom Field in Boulder on Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023.

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Colorado’s Tar’Varish Dawson (6) and Colorado’s Van Wells (55) celebrate a touchdown catch by Dawson in the Nebraska vs. Colorado football game at Folsom Field in Boulder on Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023.

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Nebraska’s DeShon Singleton (8) and Nebraska’s Quinton Newsome (6) react talk after a Colorado touchdown in the Nebraska vs. Colorado football game at Folsom Field in Boulder on Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023.

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Colorado’s Travis Hunter (12) runs with the ball in the Nebraska vs. Colorado football game at Folsom Field in Boulder on Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023.

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Nebraska’s MJ Sherman (48) brings down Colorado’s Jimmy Horn Jr. (5) in the Nebraska vs. Colorado football game at Folsom Field in Boulder on Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023.

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Nebraska’s Malachi Coleman (15) takes the field for warm-ups ahead of the Nebraska vs. Colorado football game at Folsom Field in Boulder on Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023.

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Colorado head coach Deion Sanders walks amongst his players ahead of the Nebraska vs. Colorado football game at Folsom Field in Boulder on Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023.

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Nebraska’s Gunnar Gottula (77) warms up ahead of the Nebraska vs. Colorado football game at Folsom Field in Boulder on Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023.

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Leona Rhule, Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule’s daughter, watches the Huskers take the field for warm-ups ahead of the Nebraska vs. Colorado football game at Folsom Field in Boulder on Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023.

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Nebraska’s Jeff Sims (7) takes the field for warm-ups ahead of the Nebraska vs. Colorado football game at Folsom Field in Boulder on Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023.

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Elijah Malesa, of Omaha, cheers as the Huskers take the field for warm-ups ahead of the Nebraska vs. Colorado football game at Folsom Field in Boulder on Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023.

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Nebraska’s Elliott Brown (41) jogs onto the field ahead of the Nebraska vs. Colorado football game at Folsom Field in Boulder on Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023.

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From left, Trevor Simmons, Tobi Moore, Nathan Gaunt and Anna Kerege take in the stadium ahead of the Nebraska vs. Colorado football game at Folsom Field in Boulder on Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023.

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Janisa Shaffer, a Colorado freshman communications major, enter the stadium ahead of the Nebraska vs. Colorado football game at Folsom Field in Boulder on Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023.

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Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule takes the field for warm-ups ahead of the Nebraska vs. Colorado football game at Folsom Field in Boulder on Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023.

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Stadium seats await fans ahead of the Nebraska vs. Colorado football game at Folsom Field in Boulder on Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023.

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Husker fans arrive ahead of the Nebraska vs. Colorado football game at Folsom Field in Boulder on Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023.

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