Here are the grades coming out of the Huskers’ win over Colorado.

As seen by the nice runs from Dante Dowdell and Rahmir Johnson on the opening drives and Nebraska’s ability to convert key short-yardage situations on its second touchdown drives, NU had a clear physical advantage in the trenches.

Did the Huskers run it enough? It’s hard to argue with a 28-0 halftime lead, though.

Nebraska has terrific blocking tight ends and a good blend of power pull, zone and bendback runs.

It may need a little more commitment and aggression.

It’s better to be lucky than good, and, a few times, quarterback Dylan Raiola got fortunate with his throws, particularly one that looked like a late second quarterback interception and turned into a 18-yard touchdown to Rahmir Johnson when Husker back somehow popped the ball free of a CU defender and came up with up the pigskin.

Raiola’s 36-yard throw to Jaylen Lloyd, which also set up a touchdown, was a bit of a “500” ball that Lloyd successfully tracked.

The Huskers relied on their share of tunnel, bubble and traditional screens against CU’s rush.

CU’s first rush attempt of the game came on a fourth-and-short, which Nebraska stuffed for a stop.

From there, the Buffaloes, falling behind by three scores midway through the second quarter, didn’t have the luxury (or the offensive line) to run the ball much against the Huskers, who are not going to be significantly challenged by an opposing run game until at least Illinois or more likely Rutgers.

CU had -17 yards at halftime due to sacks, but the backs only had seven yards on four carries.

NU grabbed its first pick six since 2019 when Tommi Hill stepped in front of an ill-advised Shedeur Sanders and skipped seven yards for a touchdown.

The Huskers’ pass rush, without bringing any extra guys in the first quarter, overwhelmed CU’s front and made Sanders’ life hard.

Just 19 minutes into the game, NU already had four sacks of Sanders.

The Huskers mixed up their pressures — twice they brought five on CU’s best drive of the first half and forced incompletions — but generally had a terrific plan for keeping Sanders from backpedaling or moving across the field to find open receivers.

Incredibly impressive when the game was in the balance.

CU receiver Jimmy Horn nearly busted the game’s opening kickoff, then did it for real after NU’s first score, popping a return 61 yards before kickoff specialist John Hohl hauled him down. The Huskers’ defense rebuffed Colorado’s scoring effort, but not a good look. Better look: Brian Buschini’s 60-yard punt that put the Buffaloes at their own 2. Bad look: Tristan Alvano missed a chip-shot field goal. Good look: NU defensive tackle Ty Robinson – a monster in this game – blocked CU’s chip-shot try, too. Bad look: Letting a kickoff drop at the 17. Good look: Smothering CU’s punt return game. A mixed bag.

Pour one out for that perfect play call from NU offensive coordinator Marcus Satterfield, even if it didn’t result in a touchdown when he sent Lloyd in motion, turned that motion into a wheel route that left Lloyd wide open — before he dropped a slightly overthrown pass from Raiola.

NU defensive coordinator Tony White called a fine game, but the credit there goes to the relentless effort of his players.

The Huskers handled timeouts better than Colorado’s Deion Sanders, who let valuable seconds tick off the first half clock with three timeouts in his pocket, denying his guys a realistic chance at a field goal.

Nebraska stewed a year waiting for this game — don’t doubt how much it meant after last year’s mess in Boulder — and against a cocky, chippy, hard-hitting Colorado squad, NU punched often and with force.

The Huskers had miscues — too many holding penalties on perimeter plays, too many errors on special teams — but their effort, with an electric crowd, delivered a memorable, kickstart kind of victory.

It didn’t look perfect, but felt terrific all the same.