LINCOLN — The last time Joe Broekemeier played in a competitive football game, George W. Bush was in the middle of his first term as president, Twitter wasn't around and Frank Solich was the head coach of the Nebraska football team.

“It's been a long time,” Broekemeier said Friday after finishing with the first three catches of his Husker career in NU's 45-17 win.

Try eight years. When the senior out of Aurora hauled in a 5-yard pass on Nebraska's opening possession, it was the first time he made a contribution in a football game since 2002 — his freshman year in high school.

Broekemeier battled injuries the following two seasons and elected not to play his senior year of football to focus on baseball. After spending three seasons on the NU baseball team, Broekemeier gave up the sport because of an arm injury.

He joked with friends who were football players that he'd join them. He never expected anything like Friday.

Offensive coordinator Shawn Watson said the 6-foot-4, 210-pound Broekemeier earned his time on the field with his work throughout the week.

“He's been nicked up, but we've seen these flashes of him in practice,” Watson said. “In the last two weeks he's been lights out in practice, and we thought he deserved an opportunity to play. That's how impressive he's been in practice.”

Broekemeier also had catches of 12 and 17 yards. Only two Huskers, fellow wide receiver Brandon Kinnie and tight end Kyler Reed, had more grabs Friday.

But that first one is the one he'll remember.

“I was just glad I didn't drop it,” Broekemeier said. “It happened fast. It was really quick, but it was a lot of fun.”

While he says it will be “crazy” to see his name in the Nebraska statistics, he admits he'll be looking for it.

“I'll have to,” Broekemeier said with a smile.

Henery ties points mark

John Papuchis takes it one step further when asked if Alex Henery will be viewed as one of the better players to ever strap it up at Nebraska.

“I think he's going to be one of the great ones when you look back,” NU's special teams coach said.

It's hard to argue that after Henery tied the mark for the most career points by a Husker Friday with a fourth-quarter extra point. The senior out of Omaha Burke is now even with former NU and NFL kicker Kris Brown.

“I think when you look at a program like Nebraska,” Papuchis said, “I think it kind of speaks for itself.”

In true Henery fashion, he shrugged off most of the attention, calling the accomplishment “cool.”

And how would he like to break the mark in next week's Big 12 championship or the bowl game that follows? A point after touchdown or a field goal?

“I don't know,” he said. “Either one.”

Playing time for Robinson

Nebraska was finally able to get some work for third-team I-back Dontrayevous Robinson after it built a comfortable third-quarter lead.

The sophomore entered on the Huskers' third possession of the second half. Robinson would finish with a career-high 55 yards on 13 carries, and also caught an 8-yard pass.

Coming into Friday, Robinson had 11 rushing attempts all season and none since the Kansas State game Oct. 7.

NU plays turnover-free

The Huskers had their third turnover-free game of the season. It previously happened against Kansas State and Missouri.

Nebraska came into the game at just plus-one in turnover ratio, eighth in the Big 12.

The Huskers' only fumble Friday came when quarterback Cody Green bobbled a first-quarter snap and recovered the loose ball. It was only the second time all season they had fewer than two fumbles in a game, but bumped their overall total to 36.

Colorado threw two interceptions and lost a fumble Friday.

Inspired defense

Defensive coordinator Carl Pelini gave an inspiring speech to his unit Thursday night, words that aided the Blackshirts as they readied themselves for Friday's game.

Secondary coach Marvin Sanders called it “one of the best talks” he's ever heard.

“He talked about the situation, where if a guy put a gun to your head, you would probably be a little frightened,” Sanders said. “But if he put that gun up to your child's head, you'd step in front of it and be brave. And that was because of the love you have for your child.

“He talked about having that type of love for your teammates, be ready to stand in front of that bullet this week and come together. I think our guys heeded that message.”

The Nebraska defense forced three turnovers and allowed just 262 yards during the Huskers' win.

Husker rooting for OU

Several Nebraska players said on Friday that they had no preference which team from the South Division advances to face NU next Saturday in the Big 12 championship game.

Not Kyler Reed.

The sophomore out of Shawnee, Kan., wants to play Oklahoma.

He missed the Huskers' 10-3 win against the Sooners last year with an injury and understands the history of the NU-OU series.

“It's a team I've always wanted to play against,” Reed said. “We've already played Oklahoma State. It would be kind of a classic end for us in the Big 12.”

Reed said he knows OU freshman receiver Justin McCay, also from suburban Kansas City. And Reed, born in 1990, has watched tape of old games.

“I know a little bit about it,” said Reed, who caught two touchdown passes against Colorado Friday. “I think it would be great. I know the significance of the game.”

Buffs end on league skid

Colorado finished its 15 seasons of Big 12 football with a 60-60 record.

The Buffaloes now have lost a school-record 17 consecutive road games, including their final 13 conference games away from Folsom Field — both school records.

It was also only the fifth time in the past 23 seasons that the Buffaloes didn't beat at least one ranked team. CU was 0-3 against ranked opponents this year.

McKnight tops CU mark

Wide receiver Scotty McKnight became just the 10th player in NCAA history to catch at least one pass in every game in his career.

In his final game for the Buffaloes, McKnight finished with three catches for 10 yards but became the school's all-time leader in receptions with 215. He's third on the all-time yardage list behind Michael Westbrook (2,548) and Rae Carruth (2,540).

Hand for band

Not only did Nebraska fans applaud the Colorado players and coaches as they left the field after the final Big 12 game for both schools, but a large group also cheered on the CU band at the end of the game.

— Nick Rubek, Rich Kaipust, Jon Nyatawa, Mitch Sherman and Steve Beideck

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• Video: NU coach Bo Pelini after the NU-Colorado game:



• Video: Highlights from the Nebraska-Colorado game:



• Video: Postgame analysis with Jon Nyatawa:



• Video: NU's Rex Burkhead at the postgame press conference:



• Video: NU's Cody Green at the postgame press conference:



• Video: NU's Dejon Gomes at the postgame press conference:



• Video: Ndamukong Suh sees his jersey retired:



• Video: NU-Colorado sights and sounds: