LINCOLN, Neb. — All Deion Sanders could do was stare ahead in stunned silence.

Colorado’s LaVonta Bentely had an interception in his hands — until he didn’t. On what could’ve been a big play in the other direction, the veteran linebacker saw a pass from Nebraska quarterback Dylan Raiola slip out of his arms and into the arms of Cornhuskers receiver Rahmir Johnson, who walked into the end zone for his team’s fourth touchdown of the first half.

If there was one play that summed up the Buffaloes’ 28-10 loss on Saturday night, it was that one. It was just that kind of night for Coach Prime and his team.

“When something like that happens you gotta take your hat off and say, ‘Oh lord, it’s not our day baby,’” Sanders said postgame. “That was crazy.”

Despite a much improved second half, CU couldn’t overcome the 28-0 halftime deficit and the program’s three-game winning streak against its most bitter rival was snapped in front of 86,906 people on a beautiful night in Lincoln.

“The positive thing is the way we competed in the second half,” Coach Prime said. “We had no give up, no quit in us whatsoever. We’ve gotta do a better job offensively, as far as protection.”

After an explosive Week 1 performance, the CU offense looked a lot like the unit that struggled in games like Oregon and Washington State last fall.

“I have no idea,” Sanders said when asked why the Buffs struggled to move the ball consistently. “If we would’ve known that answer, we would’ve responded quicker. It seemed like we never got it going, until it was too late. Protection was a problem.”

Quarterback Shedeur Sanders was sacked six times in the game and finished the game on the sideline as backup Ryan Staub was sent into the game for the Buffs’ final offensive possession after Shedeur was “dinged up” by a Nebraska hit that was called for targeting in the fourth quarter.

Shedeur finished 23-for-38 passing for 244 yards, one touchdown and a crucial pick-six in the first quarter that gave the Huskers an early 14-0 lead.

Backed up in his own end zone, Sanders threw the ball toward freshman wide receiver Drelon Miller and Nebraska cornerback Tommi Hill jumped the route and walked into the end zone for the score.

“It was just a rookie mistake, honestly,” Shedeur said. “It’s the small things like that that just can’t happen. We just gotta bounce back from it and learn from that situation.”

The offense never really rallied from that moment. Shedeur found wide receiver LaJohntay Wester for his first touchdown as a Buff, but it was too little, too late — even with the second half shutout from the defense.

“Nebraska’s got a great d-line,” Shedeur said. “Simply, that’s what it was.”

Shilo Sanders was also banged up in the game, suffering a forearm injury that caused him to head to the locker room in the first half. He did not return and Coach Prime was unsure of the extent of the injury.

Coach Prime wasn’t all negative after the game and felt like his team has plenty of positives to take into a second straight rivalry game next week at Colorado STate.

Defensive coordinator Robert Livingston seemed to make another round of halftime adjustments that worked wonders. Even if Nebraska wasn’t as aggressive, the Buffs defense still allowed just 121 yards in the final 30 minutes.

“We had no give up, no quit in us whatsoever,” Coach Prime said.

The Buffs have seven days to figure out how to turn their second half positives into the first half of the Rocky Mountain Showdown.

“We gotta be able to handle pressure,” Coach Prime said. “Everybody wanna be him until it’s time to be him.”