Deion Sanders and No. 23 Colorado Set to Face No. 17 BYU in the Alamo Bowl
The Alamo Bowl is shaping up to be one of the premier college football matchups outside of the College Football Playoff, as Deion Sanders and the No. 23 Colorado Buffaloes prepare to take on the No. 17 BYU Cougars.
BYU’s Remarkable Turnaround
While Colorado’s rise to prominence under Coach Prime has garnered plenty of headlines, BYU’s resurgence in its second season in the Big 12 is equally impressive. Under the leadership of head coach Kalani Sitake, the Cougars soared from a 5-7 record last year to a stellar 10-2 finish, marking their first double-digit win season since 2001. Key highlights of BYU’s season included a road victory over CFP-bound SMU and a dominant 38-9 win against Kansas State. However, narrow losses to Kansas and Arizona State by a combined nine points derailed their playoff hopes.
Historical Context
The Buffaloes and Cougars have faced off just 12 times in history, with only two meetings since 1947. Colorado holds the edge in the all-time series with an 8-3-1 record. However, BYU won both encounters during the 1980s, including a memorable 20-17 victory in the Freedom Bowl, featuring a showdown between Colorado’s Eric Bieniemy and BYU’s Heisman-winning quarterback, Ty Detmer.
How to Watch the Alamo Bowl
- Date: Saturday, Dec. 28
- Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
- Location: Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas
- TV: ABC
- Live Stream: Fubo (Free Trial Available)
Colorado vs. BYU: Key Storylines
Hunter’s Farewell Performance
Travis Hunter, Colorado’s do-it-all superstar, will play his final game for the Buffaloes after a historic season. The Heisman Trophy winner tallied 90 receptions, 1,100 yards, 14 touchdowns, four interceptions, and 15 pass breakups. Hunter is the first defender to win the Heisman since Charles Woodson in 1997, solidifying his legacy in college football.
Unusual Conference Clash
This year’s Alamo Bowl presents a rare scenario: two teams from the same conference squaring off. This unique situation stems from lingering conference realignment contracts, requiring legacy Pac-12 schools to fulfill obligations tied to Pac-12-affiliated bowl games. Future bowl alignments will shift as conferences finalize new agreements, but for now, fans get an intriguing Big 12 showdown in San Antonio.
Strength vs. Strength
The game promises a thrilling battle of BYU’s elite defense against Colorado’s high-powered offense. The Cougars, under second-year defensive coordinator Jay Hill, led the Big 12 in defensive metrics, allowing just 317 yards per game and 4.9 yards per play. They were particularly dominant against the pass, surrendering only 11 touchdowns while racking up 20 interceptions. Meanwhile, Colorado boasted the conference’s top passing offense, averaging 327 yards per game and ranking second in yards per attempt (8.6).
With two dynamic teams and plenty of storylines, the Alamo Bowl is set to deliver a memorable clash in San Antonio.