BYU quarterback Jake Retzlaff will have to wait until next year for another shot at winning the Big 12.
Although he might play like a title is on the line when the Cougars take on the Colorado Buffaloes on Saturday night in the Alamo Bowl.
“I think it’s the people’s Big 12 championship,” Retzlaff said of the matchup.
BYU and Colorado both enjoyed breakthrough seasons and found themselves in the running to reach the conference’s title game until the season’s final weekend. After falling short of that goal, however, both teams appear to be plenty motivated as they prepare for a showdown in San Antonio.
“If you guys know my history being a junior college player, then you walking into a stadium like this is a lot different than any stadium I’d walked into,” Retzlaff said. “We are plenty excited to be here.”
(BYU Athletics) BYU football coach Kalani Sitake, left, and Colorado football coach Deion Sanders speak to reporters Friday, Dec. 27, 2024, in San Antonio ahead of the Alamo Bowl on Saturday.
The Cougars will face an all-star cast from Colorado. Quarterback Shedeur Sanders, the projected No. 1 pick in the upcoming NFL draft, and Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter have both said they will play in the bowl game — a break from the new normal in which the top collegiate stars opt out of these postseason matchups to avoid injury.
“This is obviously a big stage, it’s primetime,” Retzlaff said. “We’re playing a good team that draws a lot of media attention. But we are excited to show what we’ve got.”
Slowing Sanders and the Buffs’ prolific passing attack will be job No. 1 for the Cougars’ defense.
“It’s an exciting opportunity. It’s a great challenge,” BYU defensive end Tyler Batty said. Sanders “runs around well and extends plays, and he’s accurate with the ball even when he’s … getting pressured. So for us, it presents an awesome opportunity to get after him and get some sacks, right? We know he’s going to hold onto the ball a little bit longer. And at the same time, you know we’ve got to be careful not to let him run free and complete those long balls down the field.”
On the other side of the ball, Retzlaff and the Cougars will have to deal with Hunter patrolling the secondary.
“I’m a big fan,” BYU offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick said of the Heisman winner. “The problem with going away from him, though, is their other defensive players are really good too. So we know what we’re up against, and we’re excited for the challenge. I feel like we’re going to match up well, but we have a lot of respect for them.”
(Danny Jefferson | Alamo Bowl) The BYU football team participates in a rally in San Antonio, Thursday, Dec. 26, 2024, ahead of the Alamo Bowl against Colorado on Saturday.
Colorado was a 3.5-point favorite to win the game as of Friday afternoon. But that’s OK by the Cougars.
“Ever since the start of the season, we were underdogs,” wide receiver Chase Roberts said. “That’s the mentality we had going into each game and that’s the mentality we have going against Colorado.”
Added Retzlaff, “We’ve been the underdog all year and we’ve been ready to make our statements all year. And so we’ll be excited. We’ll be dancing in the end zone and having fun on the field all game. … There’s a lot of smiles when we’re playing our best. So you’ll see the smiles come Saturday and we’ll be excited to hit that field.”
How to watch
No. 17 BYU vs. No. 23 Colorado
The Alamo Bowl
San Antonio, Texas
Kickoff: Saturday, 5:30 p.m. MT
TV: ABC
