Playing in primetime, No. 17 BYU made a statement in its 36-14 victory over No. 23 Colorado Saturday night in front of a sold out crowd of 64,261 in the Alamo Bowl.
BYU running back L.J. Martin rushed for 88 yards and two touchdowns, Jake Retzlaff passed for 151 yards, as BYU cruised to the dominating victory. The Cougars led from start to finish and looked like a team that deserved a spot in the college football playoff as the Cougars shut down Travis Hunter (the Heisman Trophy winner) and Shedeur Sanders. Both are expected to go Top 3 in the NFL Draft next April.
The Cougars (11-2), scored in every quarter and rolled to its second straight bowl victory and third in its past four appearances. BYU, playing in its first-ever Alamo Bowl, made sure to make it memorable as the Cougars won 11 games for the just the 13th time in program history (100 years) and second time in the past five seasons.
ESPN Gets Slammed For One-Sided Coverage of BYU-Colorado Game
While it wasn’t the playoffs that Cougars fans, players and coaches wanted, Saturday’s game was still considered the top non-College Football Playoff game in the Bowl Season — especially with Hunter and Sanders playing.
Colorado (9-4) was held to 210 total yards with only two net yards rushing. The Buffaloes added 90 yards in the fourth quarter when the game was well out of reach and down by more than 4 touchdowns.
BYU’s defense lived in the backfield as Sanders was sacked three times and threw two interceptions. Travis Hunter had four receptions for 106 yards, including a 43-yard touchdown from Sanders with 6:14 remaining in the third quarter.
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The Buffaloes entered the game averaging 34.5 points per game, which was 22nd in the nation, but struggled mightily against the Cougars.
BYU kicker Will Ferrin made program history Saturday night as he became the single-season record holder with 22 made Field goals this year. This broke a tie with Justin Sorensen who had 21.
Here’s all the reactions to BYU’s dominating win over Colorado.
BYU DOMINATES COLORADO IN THE VALERO ALAMO BOWL TO GET ITS 11TH WIN OF THE SEASON 🔥 pic.twitter.com/EmprjtEogf
— ESPN (@espn) December 29, 2024
bringing some hardware back to Provo🏆 pic.twitter.com/nFd5VKElfV
— BYU FOOTBALL (@BYUfootball) December 29, 2024
What a great ending to an unforgettable season!!!! I love this team, I love BYU and I love cougar nation! #GoCougs 🤙🏽
— Fesi Sitake (@fsitake) December 29, 2024
Cougar nation how we feelin pic.twitter.com/HDIjdW5hXP
— Harrison Taggart (@HarrisonTaggar4) December 29, 2024
Go Cougs pic.twitter.com/CoqsfYJg6v
— Jim McMahon (@JimMcMahon) December 29, 2024
BYU coaching staff pre-game:
"You make sure they remember, FOREVER, The Alamo (bowl)" pic.twitter.com/FF31inT4mP
— Jessica Alamo 🥣 (@YFanGirlJ) December 29, 2024
BYU got robbed of a playoff spot. Not Alabama pic.twitter.com/8EKOGt8RLD
— College Football Live (@CollegeFBonX) December 29, 2024
BYU was the “second team out” of the CFP based on my Most Deserving Rankings, which respected the Cougars’ résumé much more than the Committee all season https://t.co/tyGnlpElIo pic.twitter.com/JN03QKD7az
— Kelley Ford (@KFordRatings) December 29, 2024
BYU had more rush yards on its first run of the game than Colorado had all game 😳 pic.twitter.com/Zjir7tQlR0
— ESPN (@espn) December 29, 2024
lol wait wasn't Colorado FAVORED?
— Matt Brown (@MattBrownEP) December 29, 2024
BYU up 33-7 over Colorado.
Announcers: … Travis Hunter has played every single snap tonight.
🤣🤣🤣#BYUvsCOL #GoCougs #GoBuffs #Big12FB #CFB
— Justin Giles (@JustinGiles_) December 29, 2024
definitely gonna remember the Alamo (Bowl) pic.twitter.com/rpxX8rEG6Z
— BYU FOOTBALL (@BYUfootball) December 29, 2024
Colorado featured two of the best players in the country and was 4th in the country this season in passing with 327 yards per game. The Cougars held the Buffs to just 210 yards in the Alamo Bowl.
— Jeremiah Jensen (@JeremiahJensen) December 29, 2024
Imagine letting this team drop 49 on you. #talentgap https://t.co/rIegEY6ujF pic.twitter.com/cYh5MjgBt8
— Boney Fuller (@boneyfuller) December 29, 2024
"Colorado is the best team we've faced all year" – Kyle Whittingham pic.twitter.com/hBGkiLZ6XQ
— Shane (@Shane00) December 29, 2024
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) December 29, 2024
Brigham shoulda been in the COLLEGE PLAYOFFS!!!! I don’t wanna hear about the bama argument … Indiana coach was too worried about talkin trash vs gettin his players ready to play… it was always and should have been BRIGHAM!! We shoulda beat Kansas but we thru a jump ball to a…
— Kyle Van Noy (@KVN_03) December 29, 2024
Wow @BYUfootball absolutely dominated @CUBuffsFootball 36-14 as they controlled the game in every way . Yes they were the most impressive team of all the Bowl games today .
— Dick Vitale (@DickieV) December 29, 2024
Hell of a performance so far by BYU. Complete and total destruction of Colorado.
— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) December 29, 2024
BYU finishes 11-2, tied for first place in the Big 12, beat SMU, K-State, Colorado. Heck of a season and a lot is coming back next year.
— Chris Vannini (@ChrisVannini) 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
BYU beat Colorado soundly.
I mean, a real whooping.
In every phase.
Best all around game through 4 quarters I’ve seen this season.
Against great talent.— Hans Olsen (@975Hans) December 29, 2024
Let’s gooooo!!! I can’t wait for next year.
And recruits watched tonight and I have a feeling we’re going to have a lot of dudes that are going to want to play on this team next year.
Going to be so much fun!
— @BYU4eva (@BYU4eva) December 29, 2024
Update? https://t.co/wJb3iCSgz5 pic.twitter.com/gzCFvjbFxd
— brittany (@itsbrittanyrose) December 29, 2024
Holy shit you guys BYU is just man handling Colorado in all phases of this game 😂😭 really feeling like a little bro moment pic.twitter.com/NbmVIwuurP
— Depressed Seahawks Fan (@recklessracoonn) December 29, 2024
Great seeing arguably 2 of the best DBs in @BYUfootball history‼️ Omar Morgan Derwin Gray @DerwinLGray They had to double me on the pic🤣😉 @valeroalamobowl #ThisIsY pic.twitter.com/3rshL3LNPe
— Margin Hooks (@SkysTheLimitWR) December 29, 2024
This was BYU's ninth 11 win season in school history.
1979
1980
1983
1985
2006
2007
2009
2020
2024— CougarStats (@CougarStats) December 29, 2024
That’s one way to get some media attention 🤣 https://t.co/PRDvZ70jki
— Justin Giles (@JustinGiles_) December 29, 2024
Jay Hill made the eventual NFL Number 1 Overall Pick and the Heisman trophy winner look pedestrian tonight.
BYU should NEVER let this man leave.
— Cam (@cthuey1) December 29, 2024
Jay Hill’s 2024 defense:
22 interceptions
12 passing TDs allowed#GoCougs— Steve Carter (@50stev) December 29, 2024
Such a fun year. Love you boys!!! https://t.co/p5ZV5IFfVj
— Jay Hill (@CoachJayHill) December 29, 2024
Can’t say enough about this team. Tough, resilient, and they believe in each other. That’s why these young men will be so successful in life. Love you boys! #11 wins #alamobowlchampions@BYUfootball @NCAAFootball
— Jay Hill (@CoachJayHill) December 29, 2024
THE BEST DC IN THE COUNTRY! https://t.co/8tj1IYnbTB
— Raider Damuni 🇫🇯 (@raiderdamuni) December 29, 2024
https://Twitter.com/__Evxn/status/1873253166780965319
How about a round of applause for these two incredible leaders. Shane Reese and Keith Vorkink have showed unbelievable support this season. I am proud to know them and have them leading our University 🫶🏼 pic.twitter.com/jV8nYDPhKe
— Tanner Wall (@YsTanman11) December 29, 2024
Alamo Bowl it’s been real! San Antonio thank you for the great hospitality!! Safe travels to Colorado and their families.
Man I love these boys!!! Keep makin doubters believers!! 🤙🏾 💙 #GoCougs #underdogs #Playmakers
— Harvey Unga (@unga45) December 29, 2024
Congratulations @BYUfootball!
— Brett Keisel (@bkeisel99) December 29, 2024
Yooo @BYUfootball is 11-2. We are a top 10 team! @keelanmarion1 pic.twitter.com/6hcYCSgujH
— Dr. Derwin L. Gray (@DerwinLGray) December 29, 2024
Isaiah Glasker picks off Shedeur Sanders and breaks out the ‘Deion Shuffle’
BYU has made life miserable for Colorado tonight
pic.twitter.com/eR36foAPpI— Trey Wallace (@TreyWallace_) December 29, 2024
Picking off Deion's son and then hitting the Prime Time dance is tough and I don't think it's a violation of the honor code.
— David Ubben (@davidubben) December 29, 2024
Isaiah Glasker (@isaiahglasker) doing the “Deion” shuffle in front of the Colorado bench after that interception is absolutely ice cold. 👀#BYU #BYUSN
— Spencer Linton (@Spencer_Linton) December 29, 2024
— Kyle N (@Rush74Kyle) December 29, 2024
It’s messed up but BYU’s best pathway to a 10-2 at-large Playoff spot next year is whether BYU wins.
Win tonight in front of 8+ million against the Heisman winner and BYU may start 2025 ranked in the Top 15.
In the new CFP era apparently preseason rankings mean everything!
— Adam Gibby (@AGibbySports) December 28, 2024
ESPN (home of the SEC) thought the game was played on paper. They were prepared for a Colorado win and it showed. Embarrassing broadcast for them. https://t.co/AkHUxcT2Kq
— Kung Fu Kevy (@DJ_Kevy_Kev) December 29, 2024
So stoked that we finally proved to be the people’s champion of the Big12. Coulda made a special run in the playoff man 🙏🏻 pic.twitter.com/framJ7XGYE
— Rob Stod (@rob_stod) December 29, 2024
BYU to Colorado right now 😝 pic.twitter.com/MobkLrlIYX
— Lindsay (@Buckeyelinds27) December 29, 2024
BYU is so well positioned to be the favorite to win the Big 12 next season. After how things went this year in the conference, is that a good thing?
My first two seasons watching BYU football has been a blast. A wonderful coach and incredible fans. They're keepers.
— Tim Fitzgerald 💙☘️🌾 (@LifeofFitz) December 29, 2024
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ESPN Gets Slammed For One-Sided Coverage of BYU-Colorado Game
