Convention foes No. 17 BYU and No. 23 Colorado will sq. off on Saturday night time within the Alamo Bowl in San Antonio.
The Cougars (10-2) and Buffaloes (9-3) as soon as had their sights set on a Massive 12 Convention championship recreation look and a berth within the School Soccer Playoff.
However late-season losses dashed these desires, and within the period of mega conferences, the uncommon intra-conference bowl recreation will pit groups that did not play within the common season.
One other rarity is the dearth of gamers opting out to forestall harm. Colorado has taken out incapacity insurance coverage to safeguard Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter and quarterback Shedeur Sanders.
In its newest NFL mock draft, CBS Sports activities had Hunter going No. 2 to the New England Patriots and Sanders going No. 3 to the Las Vegas Raiders, who would want to commerce as much as purchase that decide.
Sanders accomplished 74.2 p.c of his passes for 3,926 yards, 35 touchdowns and solely eight interceptions. Hunter not often took a snap off, doubling as a large receiver on offense and a cornerback on protection.
Hunter has declared for April’s NFL draft and had 92 catches for 1,152 yards, 14 receiving touchdowns and a speeding rating. He had 4 interceptions, 11 passes defended and 31 tackles at cornerback.
“Colorado has a ton of expertise in all three phases,” BYU coach Kalani Sitake stated. “I feel a variety of credit score goes to the offense for the Heisman Trophy winner (Hunter), Shedeur and the remainder of the crew. However we’re excited, they’re an entire crew and we’re excited in regards to the matchup.”
The remainder of the crew Sitake referenced consists of second-leading receiver LaJohntay Wester, who caught 70 passes for half of one mile and 10 touchdowns, and Will Sheppard, who had 617 yards and 6 TDs.
Colorado was 4-8 final 12 months in coach Deion Sanders’ first season on the helm.
Freshman receiver Drelon Miller got here on late within the season with two touchdowns within the Buffaloes’ final three video games and is a part of a youth motion that has Deion Sanders excited.
“We’ve some younger expertise right here that is going to assist this program tremendously,” stated the elder Sanders, who has the Buffaloes in simply their third bowl recreation previously 17 seasons. “When these (younger) guys walked on the sector, you felt their presence and so they needed us to know that they belong. And it was phenomenal. I do not need to throw names out, however we acquired some expertise.”
A 9-0 begin had the Cougars rise to No. 6 within the Week 11 CFP rankings, however back-to-back losses to Kansas and eventual Massive 12 champion Arizona State knocked them out of a shot within the convention title recreation.
Jake Retzlaff led the BYU turnaround — the Cougars had been 5-7 final season — with 2,796 passing yards and 20 passing touchdowns. Chase Roberts was his prime goal with 51 catches for 843 yards and 4 scores.
Darius Lassiter racked up 679 receiving yards and 4 touchdowns, however he’ll sit out the primary half of the Alamo Bowl after an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty within the second half of the Cougars’ final recreation of the common season.
“To flip it and switch it round, what they’ve completed this season is no surprise given who their coach is,” Deion Sanders stated. “(Sitake is) man with an important crew and I am keen on him.”
–Area Stage Media