The Zeitgeist List · Rivalries

Nebraska-Colorado

Colorado21-49-2Nebraska
Regional Program II#94 of 138–National Program I#37 of 138▲
See both programs’ full 91-year Zeitgeist History, side by side →

Nebraska leads the all-time series 49-21-2. They've met 72 times since 1902. Nebraska once took 18 straight.

Current season

Vegas win totals and transfer-portal swing right now, plus what fans are actually saying — not history, this year.

Colorado
Transfer portal
-1
portal net points (weighted) · raw ledger: +27
What fans are saying · coaching decision
One fan believes the coaching staff is making poor in-game decisions
this dumbass coaching staff has genuinely made me lose brain cells. what in the fuck was that timeout
Verified verbatim
Nebraska
Win total
8.5
Vegas over/under
Transfer portal
+1
portal net points (weighted) · raw ledger: -2
What fans are saying · recruiting result
One fan believes Nebraska's recent recruits should be performing better than they are
Yup. Nebraska blows out pretty much any state in the area in recruiting. Unfortunately so many of those recruits either don't pan out or leaves for one reason or another.
Verified verbatim

Stature & the series, 1902–2024

Both programs’ standing over time, each line named at its end, with every meeting beneath — read down to see who was bigger and who won. (Stature is each program’s season-by-season standing on the Zeitgeist List, 1936–present — one score blending on-field performance, program achievement, and roster talent.)

program stature over timeColoradoNebraskaevery meeting (bar height = margin; dark: Colorado won, gray: Nebraska won)192019401960198020002020

The identity war

Colorado has been the more pass-heavy program more often than not.

Across 23 seasons of real play-level data (2004–2026), Colorado led 13 and Nebraska led 10.

more passmore runColoradoNebraska2004200620082010201220142016201820202022202420262023Colorado 21.7 ptsColorado won 36-142011Colorado 20.5 pts2014Colorado 16.8 pts
Source team_season_stats (CFBD season totals) · pass rate = passAttempts ÷ (passAttempts + rushingAttempts)

The biggest win was Nebraska by 59 in 1981. The biggest crowd, 89,853, was in 2018.

The coaching duels

Bill McCartney vs Tom Osborne3-9-1
Eddie Crowder vs Bob Devaney1-9
Dallas Ward vs William Glassford3-3-1
Bill Mallory vs Tom Osborne0-5
Gary Barnett vs Frank Solich2-3
Everett Grandelius vs William Jennings2-1

The draft ledger

Every NFL Draft pick either program has produced since the modern era began, decade by decade.

Draft picks
152-217
Nebraska leads
1st-rounders
23-26
Since
1967
First CFBD-carried draft class
ColoradoNebraska
1960s4-6
1970s39-48
1980s14-34
1990s46-48
2000s26-41
2010s15-28
2020s8-12

Best picks, either side

1984Irving Fryar Wide Receiver · New England PatriotsRd 1, pick 1#1 overall
2025Travis Hunter Cornerback · Jacksonville JaguarsRd 1, pick 2#2 overall
1974Bo Matthews Running Back · San Diego ChargersRd 1, pick 2#2 overall
1984Dean Steinkuhler Offensive Tackle · Houston OilersRd 1, pick 2#2 overall
2010Ndamukong Suh Defensive Tackle · Detroit LionsRd 1, pick 2#2 overall
1991Bruce Pickens Defensive Back · Atlanta FalconsRd 1, pick 3#3 overall
1995Michael Westbrook Wide Receiver · Washington RedskinsRd 1, pick 4#4 overall
1991Mike Croel Linebacker · Denver BroncosRd 1, pick 4#4 overall

Recent meetings

2024Nebraska28-10
2023Colorado36-14
2019Colorado34-31Nebraska — decided by 3
2018Colorado33-28
2010Nebraska45-17
2009Nebraska28-20
2008Nebraska40-31
2007Colorado65-51
2006Nebraska37-14
2005Nebraska30-3
2004Colorado26-20
2003Nebraska31-22
2002Colorado28-13
2001Colorado62-36

Every meeting since 2018, play by play

Each line is Colorado’s chance to win through that meeting. Colorado is 2-0 in the meetings since 2018 that were still close in the fourth quarter. The loudest meeting for fans was 2024: roaring.

2024Nebraska 28-10Colorado lost 10-28 at Nebraska. Chance to win started at 33%, low under 1%, high 33%.Roaring
2023Colorado 36-14Colorado won 36-14 vs Nebraska. Chance to win started at 51%, low 45%, high better than 99%.Roaring
2019Colorado 34-31Colorado won 34-31 vs Nebraska. Chance to win started at 35%, low 2%, high better than 99%.
2018Colorado 33-28Colorado won 33-28 at Nebraska. Chance to win started at 38%, low 13%, high better than 99%.
““Shaedur usually protects the football” Yeah because he takes sacks unless it’s wide open but that’s not an option there”
A Nebraska fan

Meetings with their own story page

4 meetings in our archive, 2018 to 2024.