Live updates and highlights from Folsom Field in Boulder

First quarter

(6:04 p.m.) Ralphie rocks. But even SHE’S not feeling it tonight. Made it to about the 45, did a tame turn, and then BOOKED it to the trailer. Saving it for Baylor. — SK

(6:04 p.m.) Run Ralphie Run. More like Jog Ralphie Jog. At her current size and endurance, she is more adorable than powerful. — Troy Renck

Game predictions

Troy Renck, columnist: The Buffs possess a talent edge, and will get nitromethane fuel boost from the rowdy crowd. All eyes will be on the bodyguards for quarterback Shedur Sanders. Will they keep him upright? Will CU commit to the run to provide the offensive line help against a relentless rush? The Bison will look to shorten the game with a physical ground attack, the blueprint Georgia Tech followed in tripping up Florida State last Saturday. In the end, it will be greasy, but not an upset. Colorado 33, NDSU 25

Sean Keeler, columnist: Plenty of seats available, kids. Can’t promise how good those seats are, mind you. Students swarmed in en masse at about 5:25 local time. Imagine, given Thursday rush hour on I-25 and the Turnpike, we’ve probably got a “Dodgers crowd” situation. We’ll see if the Buffs give them enough cause to leave early, too. Still think we’ve got a Bison cover, and a Shedeur drive late to win it. Colorado 35, NDSU 28

Pre-game updates

Diamond vision (6 p.m.): Thoughts on new scoreboard in the south end zone: Definitely bigger and better. — Matt Schubert

On the Hunt-er (5:58 p.m.): We’re about to get us some fully healthy Travis Hunter football. Buckle up, this is going to fun. — Matt Schubert

Little Fargo birdie tells me (paraphrasing) 5:57 p.m.: Locals have some worry about the NDSU secondary’s ability to cover … well, just about everybody in a CU jersey running routes. The Buffs’ new OL? Let’s just say they’re much, much, much less worried. We’ll see. — SK

All Blacks (5:50 p.m.): Call me crazy, but I would NEVER ditch the gold helmets if I were CU. They are just too good. That said, these all-black uniforms were definitely not geared toward middle-aged dopes like myself. — Matt Schubert

Upper deck open (5:48 p.m.): At the very least, the students have shown up (as they always do). I have a sneaking suspicion this will not end up as a sellout — a first in the Prime Era for CU. But don’t take that as an indictment. It’s just really hard to fill this stadium on an early evening weekday game. — Matt Schubert

New threads 👀#GoBuffs pic.twitter.com/HlM50gijyO

— Colorado Buffaloes Football (@CUBuffsFootball) August 29, 2024

Take a closer look 🥶#GoBuffs pic.twitter.com/ILzT6MSXzm

— Colorado Buffaloes Football (@CUBuffsFootball) August 29, 2024

It’s finally game day!
We’re starting the season welcoming some future Buffs!💛🖤
Chief Jokerst and Deputy Chief Heyart hope everyone has a safe and fun evening at Folsom Field!#gobuffs pic.twitter.com/qyz5MTT3Fg

— CU Boulder Police (@CUBoulderPolice) August 29, 2024

CU Buffs vs. Nebraska: Must reads

CU Buffs QB Shedeur Sanders enters senior season with potential to leave historic legacy

For Shedeur Sanders, last year stood as a convincing opening statement.

The quarterback started with a record-setting performance in an upset road win against TCU. A couple of weeks after that, he led a last-second, 98-yard TD drive to eventually beat rival CSU in double OT. And even when CU’s wheels fell off, he still showed mettle, flashed several well-timed watch-flexes and played hurt, until he couldn’t anymore.

Now, it’s time for Sanders’ closing arguments in black and gold starting with Thursday’s opener against North Dakota State at Folsom Field. And if the team plays better around the senior this fall, it could be historic.

“If (the offensive line) can protect him, this young man may put up one of the great seasons in college football history,” predicted CU play-by-play man Mark Johnson. “(Darian) Hagan is at the top as national champ, and Kordell (Stewart) is up there too, but Shedeur is going to put himself in the conversation as the greatest Colorado quarterback if he has another season like he did last year.”

Sanders, who missed the final six quarters of 2023 with a back fracture, is healthy again. The Buffs retooled their offensive line with transfers and the top high school left tackle in the nation, Jordan Seaton. Read more…

Mark Johnson, beginning third decade as voice of CU Buffs football, talks rodeo injury and faith

Mark Johnson is back in the booth for his third decade as CU’s play-by-play man, but it’ll be a while until he’s back in the saddle.

The cowboy who wears many hats as a broadcaster, outdoorsman and minister fractured his pelvis a month ago in an injury during team roping practice. The incident came on July 30, Johnson’s 57th birthday, and he’s been slowly rehabilitating since.

“The saddle horn hit my pelvic bone and popped my pelvis,” Johnson said. “They call it the open book — it just popped wide open. My first thought was, ‘That didn’t feel good.’ My second thought was, ‘I’ve lost my legs,’ which meant I couldn’t ride because I couldn’t squeeze the horse anymore. So I pushed myself off, went down, and broke some ribs on my right side.”

Johnson is now back on his feet, albeit with the aid of a walker or crutches. He has titanium screws and a plate in his pelvis, and doctors tell him it’ll be another few weeks before he can walk by himself, four months before he can get back on a horse, and about 10 months until he can go back to team roping. Read more…

Keeler: Deion Sanders’ CU Buffs look smart. Tough. Fast. But are they disciplined?