Last updated: November 1, 2026
The Colorado vs Nebraska rivalry once owned the day after Thanksgiving: from 1996 through 2010 the teams met on Black Friday 15 straight years, with Nebraska winning the first five by a combined 15 points. There is no game in 2026 and none on the schedule, but with Black Friday approaching, here is the history of a rivalry both fan bases still talk about.
Quick summary
- Nebraska leads the all-time series 50-21-2.
- The teams played every year from 1948 through 2010, including 15 straight Black Friday games from 1996 to 2010.
- Nebraska won 11 of those 15 Black Friday meetings.
- The last meeting was September 7, 2024, a 28-10 Nebraska win in Lincoln; no future games are scheduled.
Colorado vs Nebraska Series at a Glance
- All-time record: Nebraska leads 50-21-2 (73 meetings)
- First meeting: November 17, 1898, Nebraska 23, Colorado 10 (Boulder)
- Annual era: every year from 1948 through 2010
- Last meeting: September 7, 2024, Nebraska 28, Colorado 10 (Lincoln)
- Trophy: none today; a mounted bison head called “Mr. Chips” was exchanged from 1951 until 1962
- Future games: none scheduled
Details are from the Colorado-Nebraska series history. The bison-head exchange ended in 1962, when Colorado’s Heart and Dagger Society lost the trophy and could not present it after a Nebraska win.
The Black Friday Era, 1996-2010
When the Big 12 formed in 1996, the game moved to the Friday after Thanksgiving. The first five Black Friday games all went to Nebraska by five points or fewer, before Colorado broke through.
- 1996: Nebraska 17, Colorado 12 (Lincoln)
- 1997: Nebraska 27, Colorado 24 (Boulder)
- 1998: Nebraska 16, Colorado 14 (Lincoln)
- 1999: Nebraska 33, Colorado 30, OT (Boulder)
- 2000: Nebraska 34, Colorado 32 (Lincoln)
- 2001: Colorado 62, Nebraska 36 (Boulder)
- 2002: Colorado 28, Nebraska 13 (Lincoln)
- 2003: Nebraska 31, Colorado 22 (Boulder)
- 2004: Colorado 26, Nebraska 20 (Lincoln)
- 2005: Nebraska 30, Colorado 3 (Boulder)
- 2006: Nebraska 37, Colorado 14 (Lincoln)
- 2007: Colorado 65, Nebraska 51 (Boulder)
- 2008: Nebraska 40, Colorado 31 (Lincoln)
- 2009: Nebraska 28, Colorado 20 (Boulder)
- 2010: Nebraska 45, Colorado 17 (Lincoln)
The annual series ended when Nebraska joined the Big Ten in 2011.
Games That Define the Rivalry
1986: Colorado ends the streak
Colorado beat No. 3 Nebraska 20-10 in Boulder, ending an 18-game losing streak against the Huskers and turning a lopsided series into a real rivalry.
1990: McCartney’s last win
Colorado beat No. 3 Nebraska 27-12 in Lincoln on the way to a repeat Big Eight title. It was Bill McCartney’s final win over Nebraska.
2001: 62 points
Colorado beat No. 2 Nebraska 62-36 in Boulder, with running back Chris Brown scoring a school-record six touchdowns, the signature game of the Black Friday era.
2023 and 2024: the revival
Colorado won 36-14 in Boulder in Deion Sanders’ first season, and Nebraska answered with a 28-10 win in Lincoln a year later, a game Nebraska controlled defensively.
Recent Results
- 2024: Nebraska 28, Colorado 10 (Lincoln)
- 2023: Colorado 36, Nebraska 14 (Boulder)
- 2019: Colorado 34, Nebraska 31, OT (Boulder)
- 2018: Colorado 33, Nebraska 28 (Lincoln)
Where Things Stand in 2026
Colorado plays in the Big 12 under Deion Sanders, now in his fourth season, and Nebraska plays in the Big Ten under fourth-year coach Matt Rhule. With different conferences and no game scheduled, the Colorado vs Nebraska rivalry lives on in memory and in the hope of another home-and-home series.
🗳️ Vote: Make your prediction for Cincinnati vs. Colorado (Nov. 21) and Iowa vs. Nebraska (Nov. 28) on RallyFuel
Could the rivalry return?
The 2018-19 and 2023-24 home-and-home series proved both fan bases still show up: Colorado won three of those four games, including an overtime thriller in 2019, before Nebraska’s 2024 win. Non-conference scheduling is now shaped by playoff formats and conference slates, but a future series would draw instant interest in Boulder and Lincoln. Until then, Black Friday belongs to other rivalries, and fans of both schools are left with the memories of the 15-year run.
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FAQ
Who leads the Colorado vs Nebraska series?
Nebraska leads 50-21-2 all time.
Do Colorado and Nebraska play in 2026?
No. The teams last met in 2024, and no future games are scheduled.
Why did Colorado and Nebraska play on Black Friday?
When the Big 12 formed in 1996, the game moved to the Friday after Thanksgiving, where it stayed through 2010.
What was Colorado’s biggest win in the series?
The 62-36 win over No. 2 Nebraska in 2001 is the most famous, with Chris Brown scoring six touchdowns.
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