Hints of fall and a border rivalry that played out annually in November gathered early on a sunny September afternoon. A slow, anxious Saturday buildup to a notable fork in the road for two programs with coaches in their second years.

A Nebraska student wore a red T-shirt with “Pee On Deion” written in white block letters as a group of teenage boys giggled. Tailgating in the surrounding areas began long before morning temperatures rose above 70 degrees. Red balloons — a longtime Husker tradition that is now making a comeback for big games — floated in the concourses.

The skies were clear for an electric game between Nebraska and Colorado that could be one of the best college football games of the weekend. NBC will televise the game, marking the first time the Huskers have appeared on the network in a home game since beating Oklahoma 21-9 on Thanksgiving Day 1965 to cap an undefeated regular season. NU’s Memorial Stadium also was on NBC for the 1953 season opener against Oregon, in the Big Red’s first-ever nationally televised game.

The turf field prominently debuts the logo of Nebraska’s name-image-likeness collective — 1980 Nebraska — between the 20- and 30-yard lines on the northwest and southeast sides. A 398th consecutive sellout has already been updated on the façade in the upper east balcony.

Colorado is bringing its own juice. Safety Shilo Sanders walked the sideline during warmups, as a camera and smartphone captured the moment from multiple angles. Former defensive line star Warren Sapp — now a senior quality control analyst at CU — helped lead the warmups. The Buffs are also making unofficial history by bringing along a traveling locker room DJ — known professionally as DJ Fa’Dorah — who began hosting home games and events for the program last season under coach Deion Sanders.

Still, playing home to Nebraska and its 85,000-plus capacity will present a different challenge than most attendees have seen — or felt. Colorado played away games at TCU (53,294), Oregon (59,889), UCLA (71,343), Washington State (27,869) and Utah (51,595) last year. Quarterback Shedeur Sanders, star receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter and others were at Jackson State in 2022 and never faced a hostile environment with a capacity of 52,000 or more.

» Nebraska’s pregame availability report is about as clean as it gets. The only player listed is senior linebacker Javin Wright, who remains out with an unspecified health issue but who coach Matt Rhule said this week received positive news for a potential return sooner rather than later.

» The game offers NU the chance to publicly recognize multiple teams and individuals. The 1994 national football championship will be honored with its own Tunnel Walk before the game. Former coach Frank Solich will be recognized in the first quarter, while the Nebraska volleyball team that won the 2023 Big Ten title will follow in the second quarter.

» World boxing champion Bud Crawford walked onto the field for the match, along with several of his title belts. The Omaha superstar and avid sports fan served as inspiration for Husker coach Matt Rhule earlier this week, who noted that he wanted his team to approach the Colorado match the way Crawford approaches his title fights.