The general attitude of the program has changed. The last five years under Scott Frost was a frustrating experience. It seemed like there was always an excuse and never a solution. Seeing a head coach accept responsibility for a loss after the Minnesota game was a breath of fresh air. There were still dumb penalties and four turnovers, but it looked different.

I would get ready for a heavy dose of the run game. Nebraska will want to try and slow Colorado down, which means ball control. Get ready for a blast from the past because Nebraska will be running the option and power football. Jeff Sims, Gabe Ervin and Rahmir Johnson will all be a threat in the ground attack. In the pass game the focus will be on Billy Kemp and Thomas Fidone. The WR/TE combo did not record a catch in last Thursday’s loss, and Matt Rhule was unhappy about it. They’ve been a focal point of the offense all offseason, and they’ll need to make plays on Saturday for Nebraska to compete in this game.

If they can run the ball. If Nebraska can play old-school football, bleed the clock, and limit the Buffloes offense’s number of touches, then I think the Huskers have a shot.

If Colorado can get the tempo cranked up on offense, then Nebraska could be in trouble. The Huskers are running a 3-3-5 defense, and there has been a learning curve. They’ll need to force mistakes, or the Buffs could run up and down the field.

Nebraska and its fans still feel a bit like an outsider in the Big Ten. Part of that is the team hasn’t been very good for a decade, but it also is an odd fit. For example, the conference has tried forcing certain rivalries, such as Iowa, Wisconsin and Minnesota. But to be perfectly honest, Nebraska still views Oklahoma, Colorado and Kansas State as its rivals. The money from the Big Ten was too difficult to give up, and Nebraska was frustrated with the direction of the Big 12. The head says the Big Ten was the right move, but Nebraska’s heart will always be in the Big 8/12.