The Colorado Buffaloes narrowly escaped with a win over North Dakota State in Week 1, but their upcoming schedule remains challenging.
For Week 2, they’ll travel to Lincoln to face their major rival, the Nebraska Cornhuskers. Although there haven’t been as many verbal exchanges as last year, there have still been some comments from both sides.
Nebraska linebacker Mikai Gbayor kicked things off with a warning earlier in the week, and now Colorado receiver Jimmy Horn Jr. has joined the conversation. Speaking to the media on Thursday, Horn made it clear that he and his fellow receivers have taken note of Gbayor’s remarks and are prepared to test him and Nebraska’s defense on the field.
“I’ve seen some of their interviews, so I’m aware of what’s been said,” Horn Jr. told reporters. “My receivers and I are on the same page. We know what’s at stake.”
Horn’s comments were in response to Gbayor’s declaration that he intends to be particularly physical and that it will take more than one player to slow him down. Gbayor also indicated that Colorado won’t have an easy time against them and wished them luck in trying.
“Hit them hard from the start,” Gbayor said on Tuesday. “I’ll be sprinting down on kickoff. They’re going to need two guys to block me. I want them to be aware of that. That’s how we’re approaching this.”
“Any team coming in here thinking they can just run over us or that it will be easy—good luck. I wish them the best.”
Despite being in their second year at their respective programs, both Colorado head coach Deion Sanders and Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule have emphasized the significance of this rivalry to their teams. Horn echoed this sentiment on Thursday.
“I can tell our team is taking this rivalry very seriously,” Horn Jr. said. “There’s a lot of history, and we need to represent the CU logo with pride. Nebraska is a big rival, and we’re not going to take it lightly because we know they’re not coming to play around.”
In their 2023 matchup, the Buffs defeated Nebraska 36-14, and there was a notable pre-game incident where Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders reacted to Nebraska standing on Colorado’s logo, including his memorable watch flex.
Horn will look to build on his impressive Week 1 performance, where he recorded seven catches for 198 yards and a touchdown.
According to ESPN, Nebraska is favored by a touchdown with a 60.4% chance of winning this game.
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