Sometimes, the past doesn’t stay in the past. Especially not when 86,000-plus fans are booing you into a deafening stadium… and you’re the rival team that embarrassed them 36-14 just a year ago. That was the vibe when Colorado walked into Memorial Stadium in Lincoln to face Nebraska in the 2024 season—fresh off the drama and fireworks from their previous clash.

In 2023, things got spicy. Matt Rhule’s Huskers sparked a fire by standing on the Buffaloes’ logo during pregame warmups. Colorado saw it as blatant disrespect—and made Nebraska pay with a beatdown win. But in 2024, the revenge plot flipped. Nebraska came back swinging, handing Colorado a 28-10 loss that stung far deeper than the scoreboard showed. While Shedeur Sanders stormed off the field postgame without shaking hands—clearly frustrated and even blaming his O-line—one Buffs player handled it differently. Travis Hunter.

Hunter, the two-way phenom who’s played in some of the wildest college football atmospheres in the country, had nothing but praise for Nebraska after that 2024 game. And on May 25th, he said it loud and clear. During an Instagram video shared by Huskers OLB coach Phil Simpson, Hunter was asked a straight-up question: Who was Colorado’s toughest opponent? His answer came quick—no hesitation. “Our toughest opponent. I ain’t gonna lie, I already know my answer. It’s definitely Nebraska.”

He backed it up too. “Bro, that stadium was rocking! That stadium was crazy,” Hunter said, visibly reliving the moment.

Earlier, on his own show, fresh off the loss, he even expressed his respect for the Huskers. “Nebraska is a good team. They beat us fair and square. And we just gotta come out and do better. We gotta play Colorado football and that’s not Colorado football.” He even noted that “the environment was top 10 … I couldn’t even think to myself how loud it was.”

Hunter balled out that night—hauling in 10 catches for 110 yards, including a dazzling 28-yard highlight grab. But his efforts weren’t enough. Nebraska’s defense was locked in. They held the Buffs to just 244 passing yards, never letting Colorado get in rhythm. Hunter knew it—and he wasn’t shy about giving credit where it was due.

That’s when Coach Phil Simpson decided to keep the energy rolling. Just a few hours after Hunter’s praise lit up social media, Simpson fired off a short but powerful four-word reply on Instagram: “NO PLACE LIKE NEBRASKA 🌽🌽🌽”

Simpson knows the noise. Phil Simpson isn’t just some social media-savvy coach. He knows exactly what Hunter meant when he praised Memorial Stadium. Back in 2023, Simpson was part of Nebraska’s defensive staff as a quality control coach. He left briefly for Florida State, where he worked as a senior defensive analyst, before making his return to Lincoln in 2025.

And during Simpson’s first stint, the Huskers ranked top 15 nationally in rushing defense, total defense, and scoring defense. He’s seen how Memorial Stadium shakes. He’s heard the crowd’s roar. And he’s helped coach a unit that feeds off that chaos. That’s why Simpson’s four-word response hit differently—it wasn’t just a caption. It was a mic drop.

Let’s talk about that stadium, though.,,,

A stadium that breathes football

Memorial Stadium in Lincoln is more than just a place to play football. It’s a living, breathing monument to Nebraska pride. Opened in 1923, the venue was originally built to honor Nebraskans who served in the Civil, Spanish-American, and World Wars. The words of philosopher Hartley Burr Alexander still echo from the stadium walls, reminding fans of courage, honor, and the fierce spirit of competition.

But history’s only part of the story. Saturdays in Lincoln? That’s when things come alive. Nicknamed “The Sea of Red,” the place becomes a wall of noise and energy—packed with the most loyal fanbase in the sport.

By 2024, Nebraska had crossed 400 straight sellouts, holding the longest streak in NCAA history. That doesn’t just happen anywhere. That’s Husker dedication. Outside the gates, there’s a plaque that says: “Through these gates pass the greatest fans in college football.” And honestly? Hunter would probably agree.

Even beyond football, Nebraska fans bring the heat. In 2023, they packed 92,003 fans into Memorial Stadium—not for football, but for a women’s volleyball match. A record-setting moment that proved the entire state rallies behind anything Husker-related.

ESPN’s Chris Fowler once summed it up perfectly: “Memorial Stadium represents the qualities that make our state and our university great: unity, grit, teamwork, determination.”

And now? Nebraska’s about to raise the bar even higher. This week, Athletic Director Troy Dannen gave fans a sneak peek at the stadium’s new upgrades. Posting fresh photos on X, he showed the ongoing construction that’s already stirring up hype for the season.

One of the biggest changes? The video board. Out go the old panels—in comes a brand-new, high-res, ultra-bright screen that’ll light up game day like never before. Every replay. Every highlight. Every pump-up moment will look sharper, clearer, and more cinematic.

But that’s not all.

The practice fields next to Memorial Stadium are also getting overhauled. Right now, the grass is being stripped down and rebuilt completely. When it’s done, the team will train on a world-class surface that mimics game conditions. It’s all about giving the Huskers every edge, from practice to Saturdays.

And inside the stadium itself? New turf. Bolder colors. Eye-popping red end zones that scream Husker pride. There’s even buzz that the program may return to natural grass in the coming years—a nostalgic touch that could align with the program’s deep-rooted traditions. It’s clear: Nebraska is building on its legacy for an even grander future.