The #17 BYU Cougars will face the #23 Colorado Buffaloes in the 32nd annual Valero Alamo Bowl on Dec. 28 at 6:30 p.m. in the Alamodome.
The Cougars enter the game with a 10-2 overall record and 7-2 in Big 12 play. Designated as the visiting team and occupying the west sideline, the Cougars are led by Head Coach Kalani Sitake, who currently boasts the ninth-best winning percentage among FBS coaches with a 44-18 (.710) record since 2020.
BYU quarterback Jake Retzlaff threw for 2,796 yards and 20 touchdowns during the regular season. He also rushed for 388 yards with six additional scores.
Overall, 17 different players scored touchdowns for the Cougars, including being the only team in the nation to score four TDs on special teams (3 kickoff return TDs, 1 punt return TD), while the BYU defense featured 12 different players recording an FBS-best 20 interceptions on the season.
Colorado is 9-3 overall and 7-2 in Big 12 play. Designated as the home team and occupying the east sideline, the Buffaloes are led by Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders, who is in his second season as CU’s head coach. Coach Prime has led the Buffaloes to their first bowl appearance since 2020 and hit the nine-win mark for Colorado for just the second time in the past 22 seasons.
Buffs quarterback Shedeur Sanders leads the nation in completion percentage (74.2%) and is the only quarterback in the top five of passing yards (3,926), touchdowns (35), completions per game (28.1) and quarterback rating (168.79).
The Buffs also boast Travis Hunter, one of the most dynamic two-way players in the last quarter century of college football. He ranks in the top five of Power 4 and FBS players in receptions (92), yards (1,152), touchdowns (14), passes defended (15) and interceptions (4). He is a candidate for the Heisman and finalist for the Walter Camp, Maxwell, Bednarik, Lott, Biletnikoff and Hornung Awards.
This will be the first time the two teams meet at the Valero Alamo Bowl. This marks BYU’s first trip to the Alamodome, while Colorado is returning for the fourth time in their history.
Colorado and BYU have played each other on 12 previous occasions. The all-time series is split 8-3-1 between the two teams in favor of Colorado. The two most recently met in 1988, with BYU winning 20-17.