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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.

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From Associated Press

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.

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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.

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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.

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