COLLEGE FOOTBALL : Nebraska Looking Like a Special Team : Big Eight: Dixon’s 68-yard punt return is key to a 21-point first quarter as Cornhuskers hold off Colorado, 21-17.

Maybe it was the thin air that made Tom Osborne giddy.

Moments after his sixth-ranked Nebraska team had improved to 8-0 with a 21-17 victory over No. 20 Colorado on Saturday, the ever-cautious Cornhusker coach allowed himself a bold look into the future.

Asked if this year’s team was capable of winning the national championship--it would be Nebraska’s first since 1971--Osborne said, “We have a chance for sure. This is a better team than we’ve had in a while.”

On Saturday, his resourceful Cornhuskers did what they had to do despite losing quarterback Tommie Frazier and running back Calvin Jones for parts of the game because of injuries.

Corey Dixon stunned Colorado with two big plays in the first quarter, a 68-yard punt return and a 60-yard touchdown reception, helping the Cornhuskers take a 21-3 lead.

Jones scored twice for Nebraska (4-0 in the Big Eight), which used a powerful defense to keep the Buffaloes at bay until the closing minutes.

Colorado, held to 18 yards in its first five series of the second half, awoke with an 80-yard, 15-play touchdown drive. Rashaad Salaam, who rushed for 165 yards, scored on a one-yard run up the middle with 2:54 left.

The Buffaloes (4-3-1, 2-1-1), who insisted during the week they wouldn’t play for a tie, chose a kick instead of a two-point conversion, making the score 21-17.

Colorado’s defense held, sacking the injured Frazier on third down and forcing a punt. Kordell Stewart completed a 13-yard pass to tight end Christian Fauria to reach the Nebraska 40, but cornerback John Reece made a diving interception, snuffing the comeback bid with 1:21 to go.