Quarterbacks Shedeur Sanders and Jake Retzlaff will meet for the first time in the Valero Alamo Bowl on Dec. 28 (Clementine Miller/CU Independent, NCAA)
The 2024 Colorado Buffaloes are about to make their last stand.
After a season that started with low expectations and ended with a 9-3 record, the University of Colorado is headed bowling for the first time in the Coach Prime era. Their game Saturday against Brigham Young University in the Valero Alamo Bowl will give Shedeur Sanders, Travis Hunter and the senior class one last chance to play together and win.
Although the Buffs and Cougars never played this year, they shared eight Big 12 opponents throughout the season. Both teams were in conversations for the Big 12 Championship game and even the College Football Playoffs, but after similar endings to their seasons, it’s the Alamo Bowl where they’ll meet.
There was once a point where Colorado and BYU were set to meet in the conference championship game, with one simple way to get there. Win out. Both teams faded at the end of the year and fell victim to the University of Kansas who became the first team to beat ranked opponents for three weeks in a row while having a losing record.
Days out from the contest, Colorado holds the spread as four-point favorites. With the game expected to be that close every player on the field will make or break the outcome. Let’s look at how each team’s players stack up against each other.
Senior quarterback Shedeur Sanders throws a touchdown pass during the game against Kansas State on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024 at Folsom Field. (Rachel Glazer/CU Independent)
Quarterback
Colorado: Shedeur Sanders
BYU: Jake Retzlaff
Both team generals entered 2024 in their second season in the FBS. Sanders had two years of FCS experience at Jackson State University before heading to CU. Meanwhile, Retzlaff, who played backup last season, ends his sophomore campaign on Saturday.
Numbers-wise Shedeur sweeps with fifteen more touchdowns, over twelve thousand more yards and a Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award to top it off. Almost every stat for QBs in the Big 12 was led by Sanders who is preparing for the next stage of his career. He is widely expected to be a top-three pick in the NFL draft.
Jake Retzlaff does have great accuracy when it comes to downfield passes but also has a 2-1 touchdown-to-interception ratio and a subpar completion percentage. You can’t go any other direction here than the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year, Shedeur Sanders.
The University of Colorado Boulder’s Football’s LaJohntay Wester celebrates after a touchdown during their match against Cincinnati Bearcats at Folsom Field on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024. (Scott Tan/CU Independent)
Offensive Weapons
Colorado: Travis Hunter, Jimmy Horn Jr., LaJohntay Wester
BYU: Chase Roberts, Darius Lassiter, LJ Martin
Offensive weapons are another category that is dominated stat-wise by Colorado. The Buffs’ aerial attack finished fourth in the nation for passing yards per game and had the second-most receiving touchdowns overall.
The passing game is led by the 2024 Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter, who had 14 touchdowns and just shy of 1,200 yards. The receiving room is rounded out by Jimmy Horn Jr. who’s coming back from injury and LaJohntay Wester whose 10 touchdowns have been one of the best surprises of the Buffs season.
Running back LJ Martin had the most scrimmage touchdowns for BYU with seven, five of them coming from the ground. Chase Roberts and Darius Lassiter have been Retzlaff’s top choices this season, combining for 1,522 yards and halving eight touchdowns.
The Buffaloes’ offense has been on another level this season and has shown no signs of slowing down, giving them the edge here as well.
Offensive Line
Colorado: Jordan Seaton, Tyler Brown, Hank Zilinskas
BYU: Caleb Etienne, Brayden Keim, Connor Pay
BYU’s offensive line has done a great job protecting Retzlaff this season, only allowing 16 sacks. The unit was led by senior Caleb Etienne who finished in the All-Big 12 First Team. The Buffs have had the opposite story, allowing more than double that with 38. But the Buffs have a five-star tackle Jordan Seaton who was an honorable mention for Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year.
Although the Buffs may have more star power, the offensive line efforts go in favor of BYU.
The University of Colorado Boulder’s Football team’s Travis Hunter celebrates after scoring touchdown during their match against Cincinnati Bearcats at Folsom Field on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024. (Scott Tan/CU Independent)
Defensive Secondary
Colorado: Travis Hunter, DJ McKinney, Preston Hodge
BYU: Jakob Robinson, Tanner Wall, Crew Wakley
Moving over to the defense, BYU has been much more consistent all year long. They’ve only allowed 20 points per game which is 19th in the country. Colorado isn’t that far behind at 22 but has been inconsistent all season. For the secondary, of course, the Buffs have the Chuck Bednarik Defensive Player of the Year Travis Hunter, who snagged four interceptions and a forced fumble to secure a win in overtime.
Four other CU defenders have two interceptions each, including corner DJ McKinney and defensive back Preston Hodge.
BYU’s safety Tanner Wall finished with 50 combined tackles and three interceptions. But it was senior corner Jakob Robinson who stole the show with a great all-around performance. He finished with three picks of his own and made the All-Big 12 Second Team. BYU had eight more interceptions overall which will slightly push them above CU. Travis Hunter is only one player, and this will go to the more rounded-off secondary.
Defensive Line
Colorado: BJ Green II, Nikhai Hill-Green, Lavonta Bentley
BYU: Tyler Baty, Jakob Robinson, Isaiah Glasker
The defensive line is also a close contest, led by two conference-recognized stars. Colorado’s senior BJ Green II was the Big 12’s Defensive Newcomer of the Year. He padded 7.5 sacks at defensive end and 30 total tackles. Both Green II and BYU’s senior Tyler Baty were on the All-Big 12 First Team, as Baty finished with 55 tackles and 1.5 sacks.
They also shared backers on the Second Team, CU’s Nikhai Hill-Green and BYU’s Jakob Robinson. The Buffs ended the season with 21 more sacks and four more forced fumbles than the Cougars, which will give them the edge on the defensive line.
Junior kicker Alejandro Mata, left, and head coach Deion Sanders embrace During the game against the University of Kansas at Arrowhead Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024. (Clementine Miller/CU Independent)
Special Teams
Colorado: Alejandro Mata, LaJohntay Wester, Jimmy Horn Jr.
BYU: Will Ferrin, Keelan Marion, Parker Kingston
BYU put together a tremendous special teams unit this offseason, led by the Big 12 Special Teams Kicker of the Year, Will Ferrin. He went 21-24 this season and didn’t miss a single of his 38 extra points. Meanwhile, CU’s leg Alejandro Mata went a perfect 53-53 in extra points and only missed two field goals. Ferrin’s longest went for 54, while Mata hit from 47 yards out.
The Cougars had special teams players on both the first and second teams, with Ferrin on the first and returner Keelan Marion on the second. Marion put together a great year taking two kickoffs back to the house which led the Big 12.
The Buffs were inconsistent on kickoffs all season long, which will give BYU the win in special teams by a landslide.
Win or lose, what the Colorado Buffaloes have accomplished this year is incredible. A complete 180-degree turnaround for a team that went 1-11 just two years ago. It will be one last hurrah for a spectacular senior class with extremely bright futures.
Both teams have their strengths, but the sight to see will be Colorado’s offense against BYU’s defense. The Buffaloes have the opportunity to win their first bowl game since 2004 and officially return the Colorado football program to its glory. They’ve already had their first Heisman in decades, and now it’s time to end the bowl game drought.
Contact CU Independent sports editor Baylan Wysuph at Baylan.Wysuph@Colorado.edu
