No. 17 BYU took on No. 23 Colorado Saturday night in the Alamo Bowl but you wouldn’t have known the Cougars were playing if you were just a casual football fan.
During the 3-hour primetime game, ABC/ESPN broadcasters Dave Pasch and Dusty Dvoracek couldn’t stop talking about Colorado, even when the Buffs were getting thrashed 27-0 midway through the third quarter.
Yes, it was expected that Colorado would get a lot of air time with “Coach Prime,” his son Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter — the 2024 Heisman Trophy winner. Both players deserve their time as they are expected to go Top 3 in the NFL Draft next April.
No. 17 BYU Crushes No. 23 Colorado 36-14 — Here’s All The Reactions
However, for the sake of BYU and college football fans everywhere, at least mention the Cougars and give them the respect for coming out and dominating a Buffs team that they tied with for the Big 12 title. The Cougars were picked to finish 13th in the Big 12 preseason rankings and also boast the first-ever Jewish quarterback to start at BYU. The Cougars had plenty of great storylines that the announcers could have talked about, but unfortunately for college football fans, the announcers only focused on Colorado.
With weeks to prepare for the bowl game and a Top 25 matchup — Colorado was only favored by three points — you would think the broadcast crew would put together enough content to highlight both teams, no matter how the game went for either side.
But as the great Lee Corso would say, “not so fast my friend.”
BYU Proves Playoff Worthy In Alamo Bowl Win, Social Media Talks Playoff Snub
The funniest part of the entire broadcast was when BYU was leading Colorado, 33-7 with 10 minutes to go in the fourth quarter, and the announcers shared some hilarious insight during player meetings with the broadcast crew. BYU center Connor Pay knew the announcers would talk ad nauseum about Colorado, so as he walked out of the interview, he turned around and said to them, “talk about BYU just a little bit… would ya.”
Apart from that insight and a video of Pay sitting on the bench with BYU up by 26, the ESPN announcers didn’t talk about BYU much at all.
This wasn’t lost on Pay who heard about the one-sided broadcast.
The senior tweeted after the game: “Haven’t watched the broadcast version, but from what I’m hearing it didn’t work. I did my best guys I’m sorry. lol.
This should be a case study for all broadcasters of what NOT to do. Give the dominating/winning teams the respect they deserve.
did ABC/ESPN even consider BYU talking points/inside story coverage prior to the broadcast? Serious question.
— Brandon Gurney (@BrandonCGurney) December 29, 2024
"He walked up out of [the production meeting] and said to us, 'Talk about BYU just a little bit, would you?' Well, we're talking about [Connor Pay], and we're talking about BYU now. I'm sure the fans in Provo would love us to talk about BYU the whole night…" – Dave Pasch. pic.twitter.com/iC6GPxbseZ
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) December 29, 2024
It was borderline hilarious to have them quote you about giving BYU more love
And then promptly went straight back to talking about Colorado again— What the freak is wrong with people? 🇺🇸🛩️🏀⛳️ (@aopaderf) December 29, 2024
🤣🤣🤣
Sad that ESPN doesn’t have any BYU content. Weeks to prepare for both teams and all we get is 3-hours of Sanders and Hunter. Net t surprised, but disappointment. Give some respect to BYU and Sitake. #BYUvsCOL #BYUvsCU #Big12FB #CFB #GoCougs #GoBuffs https://t.co/q7oS1kQVUK
— Justin Giles (@JustinGiles_) December 29, 2024
“Shadeur Sanders, Shadeur Sanders, Shadeur Sanders, Travis Hunter, Shadeur Sanders, Deion, Shadeur Sanders, Travis Hunter, Shiloh Sanders, Shadeur Sanders, Travis Hunter” –@DavePasch pic.twitter.com/jxDKGBQUUN
— Boney Fuller (@boneyfuller) December 29, 2024
Every prepackaged segment ABC / ESPN prepared for the Alamo Bowl was focused on Colorado. Virtually no stats, graphics, tapes, etc for BYU. Really embarrassing from a production standpoint.
— Diggin’ Brigham (@DigginBrigham) December 29, 2024
This broadcast crew was NOT prepared for BYU to play well 🤣
— Jonny Linehan (@jlinehan9) December 29, 2024
At some point these Alamo Bowl commentators will start talking about BYU, right? 🤷🏽 Maybe after the two minute timeout? They obviously didn’t spend much time researching the BYU players. Now they know! #GoCougs
— Mark Comer (@mark_comer_) December 29, 2024
Hans it was the most one sided broadcast that I’ve ever watched it was awful.
— Blue Beard (@EarlKyle2) December 29, 2024
Can’t imagine watching this as a BYU fan when 80% of the broadcast is about CU and the rare occasion they talk about BYU it’s about how they lost two games down the stretch. @DavePasch should be ashamed of himself.
— Vance de Lafayette (@altparlay) December 29, 2024
That's why we changed to watching the TV but listening to byuRADIO tonight.
— Dr. Andrew (@Andrew_Waugh50) December 29, 2024
Find someone that loves you like these announcers love a Colorado team losing by 3 scores.
— 〽️ vs Everybody (@LBitter) December 29, 2024
Did you notice that during the entire game breaks they only interviewed Coach Prime and not the coach of the winning team
— Shellone2010 (@shellone2010) December 29, 2024
It would be nice if the @ABC / @espn announcers could say something about the team up 29 points in the fourth quarter…
(That's @BYUfootball in case any of you forgot who Colorado is playing)
— Stephen Richer—MaricopaCountyRecorder (prsnl acct) (@stephen_richer) December 29, 2024
if I were a @BYUfootball fan I would be a totally irritated by this broadcast. They have talked nonstop about Coach Prime, Saunders, Travis Hunter, and the future of Colorado football. While BYU has gotten a little bit of love, not nearly what it should’ve been. They DOMINATED pic.twitter.com/DExAX1pZok
— John Cranham (@johncran11) December 29, 2024
Hey @espn I know it’s the “Deion Bowl”
But why don’t we interview the coach that’s WINNING the game 20-0?
— Cam (@cthuey1) December 29, 2024
I’m sorry but the broadcast for BYU vs CU by @DustyDvoracek and @DavePasch has been so bad. They literally couldn’t care less about CFB, the actual Teams seasons or the future. They only cared about 2 Colorado players the entire game. Never seen it so blatant like this.
— GT GOLD/WHITE (@collegespu) December 29, 2024
If I’m a BYU fan, I’m pretty annoyed by the broadcast. Complete domination and the entire focus is on Sanders, Hunter, and CU. This game has been a joke of a broadcast. Put the focus on the team that showed up tonight.
— Johnathon Poppe (@jpopasu) December 29, 2024
Hey @espn I’m not sure your broadcast team knows.. BYU is DOMINATING Colorado. Maybe find some new talking points?
— Bradley Pilkington (@bpilk10) December 29, 2024
Sooooooo much Colorado focus on the broadcast. It's reached the highly obnoxious stage
— Brandon Gurney (@BrandonCGurney) December 29, 2024
ABC/ESPN truly fumbled the BYU vs Colorado broadcast tonight.
This should be a “what not to do” case study in the sports broadcasting/entertainment industry.
— Shaun McKnight (@ShaunMcKnight) December 29, 2024
Not surprising, but the ESPN broadcast of the Alamo Bowl might as well be the home feed for Colorado. So many stories and different things to say about the Buffs. And, oh yeah, BYU is here too I guess.
— Keric Seegmiller (@KericSeegmiller) December 29, 2024
College Football world BYU exposed Colorado, but don't tune into the broadcast, it's still a love fest and moral victory highlight fest.
— Allan (@gREAYtness) December 29, 2024
Follow Justin Giles on Twitter and Fan Insider on Facebook.
BYU Proves Playoff Worthy In Alamo Bowl Win, Social Media Talks Playoff Snub
