NU STAR
All-everything defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh sure showed up to play in his final regular-season game. Colorado held him largely in check statistically, as Suh collected five tackles to go with two quarterback hurries. But for a guy who’s made his mark this year with the extraordinary, Suh changed the game in the second half in the traditional manner for a player at his position. As CU gained momentum, he regularly flushed Tyler Hansen from the pocket and clogged the middle. His 17-yard sack late in the third quarter essentially took Colorado points off the board.
HIGHLIGHT
Safety Matt O’Hanlon stemmed Colorado momentum with an interception of Hansen, returning it 20 yards for a touchdown. The pick-six came on the CU possession after the Buffs got untracked offensively, driving 67 yards for a TD to cut the Huskers’ lead to 14-7. Nebraska then went three and out and punted to the Buffs before the third-down interception return — on which Suh and Cameron Meredith delivered key blocks.
BUSTED PLAY
Suh usually shows up elsewhere for Nebraska, but the big man dropped an interception and missed his chance to sack Hansen on the same third-quarter series. Suh briefly had the pick in his mitts on a second-down deflection by Jared Crick. Five plays later, the senior broke through pass protection and launched his body at Hansen, but the QB evaded Suh and scrambled to complete a 9-yard pass to Demetrius Sumler. Hansen then threw a TD pass to Scotty McKnight to make it 21-14.
OUR TAKE
The Blackshirts don’t want to talk about it, but the long season is taking its toll. NU surrendered 403 yards, a season high, and two pass plays of longer than 50 yards while playing its eighth straight game without a break. Before Friday, the Huskers had allowed just two offensive plays of 50 yards all season. The pass rush still looks a step slower than six weeks ago, and Friday marked the second time in three games Nebraska held its foe without a first down in the first quarter before things opened up in a significant way.
— Mitch Sherman
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