We all know at this point that Deion Sanders and the Buffs are all about the glam and bring with them the rowdy side of CFB. Dan Lanning had put it best when he noted that Deion Sanders and his boys “play for clicks”. It’s the culture at Buffs that most people cannot tolerate or handle and Matt Rhule is another one of those people. The entire Colorado vs Nebraska rivalry goes way back. Both teams have faced each other more than 70 times and last season’s 36-14 domination probably still pokes Rhule in the wrong way. However, during the Monday press conference, Rhule showed respect for Deion and his team’s culture when he noted that the Buffs had a “competitive culture”.

So, it’s not a surprise that during the Week 2 CU football conference on September 3rd, Deion Sanders reciprocated the same tone while talking about Rhule and the Cornhusker’s rivalry. “I have a ton of respect for Matt Rhule. He did a phenomenal job. I love what he has accomplished,” Deion noted. We all know that Deion and Rhule follow way different methods back at their camp. Rhule keeps it traditional and peaceful and Coach Prime brings in the heat.

So when both the teams face off on Saturday, it would be quite the clash of cultures. Rhule did make a nod to the Nebraska fans by urging them to keep it loud and fun during the game. But the surprising part is that he won’t be utilizing any new tactic to face off against Deion. If you have followed the Cornhuskers season opener, then you probably know why Rhule doesn’t need a new plan to deal with Colorado. The Miners game was a mammoth win for Rhule at 40-7 and much of the credit has to be given to his QB Dylan Raiola.

The dude managed to lock in 2 TDs during the game and ran for around 238 yards. To say that Raiola turned the Cornhuskers offense around would be an understatement. The entire O-line was suffering back in 2022 and had allowed more than 100 QB hurries during the season. That number fell to the low 70s when Raiola got on the team. The insane part is that the O-line stepped up and matched Raiola’s speed and talent and that is what landed Rhule the massive season opener win. And this is what raises major red flags for Deion and his boys.

When will Deion Sanders’ O-line step up?

Matt McChesney back on September 3rd raised a very important question that Deion Sanders needs to focus on. “Um, when do you think the rest of the offense catches up and matches those?” Matt had remarked while talking with Deion Sanders Jr. regarding the Buffs O-line. Shedeur Sanders, Travis Hunter, and Jimmy Horn Jr. played on a completely different level during the game against NDSU.

Shedeur locked in 4 TDs, Hunter had a solid run while on the offense and Horn managed to secure a TD by catching a 69-yard pass from Shedeur. While Jordan Seaton and Tyler Brown gave the much-needed pressure from the O-line, the rest of the boys were just not there. We saw how easily NDSU QB Cam Miller got through the O-line. And if Deion wants his team to win against the Cornhuskers, this is something he needs to fix. The Cornhuskers will do anything to drag the match to the midfield, where the Buffs suffered the most during the NDSU game. Rhule will not make it easy because he will exploit the leaky offense. So, let’s hope for the best as the Buffs prep up to hit the turf on Saturday.