Alamo Bowl – No. 17 BYU – Setting the Standard

Colorado continued its 20-year drought without a bowl victory, and its continued misery in San Antonio, with a 36-14 loss to No. 17 BYU in the Alamo Bowl. The Colorado defense held the Cougars to 331 total yards, but the Buff offense was held to 210 yards of total offense – including two total yards rushing – as CU quarterback Shedeur Sanders was harassed all night.

The Cougars used a combination of offense (quarterback Jake Retzlaff completed 12-of-21 passes for 151 yards), defense (BYU sacked Sanders four times, with two interceptions) and special teams (including a 64-yard punt return for a touchdown by Parker Kingston), to dominate the Buffs. It was 10-0 after the first quarter, then 20-0 at halftime, with the Buffs gaining two consolation passing touchdowns (a 43-yarder to Travis Hunter; a two-yarder to tight end Sav’ell Smalls), to keep the final score from being even more lopsided.

Overall, the 2024 Colorado football team exceeded the expectations of pretty much everyone who doesn’t have an office or a locker in the CU Champions Center.

Las Vegas set the bar at 5.5 wins for the season. The Big 12 media picked the Buffs to finish 11th.

Now, even after 36-14 a blowout loss to BYU in the Alamo Bowl, leaving CU with a five-game losing streak in bowls, a 20-year drought since the Buffs’ last bowl victory, and an 0-4 all-time record in San Antonio, there are positives to consider.

Don’t get me wrong, losing another bowl game – and another Alamo Bowl – in embarrassing fashion, is not to be discounted. The deficits along CU’s offensive line, from failing to generate a rushing attack to failing to protect the quarterback, were again painfully obvious. CU hasn’t won a bowl game since 2004, and has now been mauled in three straight Alamo Bowls.

It sucks.

Buff fans are licking their wounds after another disappointing postseason effort, but those wounds will heal.

For only the second time in the past 20 seasons, there is reason to believe that the CU program is not only good … but has the ability to stay that way.

Entering the 2024 season, Buff quarterback Shedeur Sanders was listed as one of the top quarterbacks in the nation, and a likely first round NFL Draft pick. Despite having been on the CU campus for only one season, Sanders was already setting numerous school records.

As the 2024 season unfolded, Sanders continued to set new standards for excellence at Colorado.

Game Day! … Daily Camera – Five Cougars to Watch … Neill Woelk’s Keys to the Alamo Bowl … *Coach Prime/Coach Sitake Alamo Bowl Press conference* … Jimmy Horn grateful for first bowl game: “I cherish this. I’m just ready” …

Former Buff Dylan Edwards leads Kansas State over Rutgers in Rate Bowl … Where are they now? How former Buffs fared in 2024 at their new schools …

The Alamo Bowl represents CU’s 31st all-time bowl appearance … CU is 8-3-1 all-time v. BYU … The Buffs have out-gained the Cougars this season – by two yards …

Notre Dame wasn’t a great team in 1994, but it was fitting that Coach Mac would go out against the Irish … Buffs dominate the Fiesta Bowl, with Kordell Stewart, Rashaan Salaam, and Michael Westbrook going out in style …

BYU has a very solid offense, with a running quarterback which could pose problems for the CU defense … Which team will be better prepared? Which team wants a bowl win more? Which team needs it more? … Let’s find out …

Will CU’s defense, without Nikhai Hill-Green, be able to handle BYU’s dual-threat quarterback? … Will there be a hangover for the Buffs after Travis Hunter’s magical week? … Can the Buffs bring home win No. 10, finally defeating the “River Walk Curse”? … Let’s find out …