Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter kept Colorado’s blowout loss to BYU at bay

SAN ANTONIO – Shedeur Sanders and Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter were kept quiet when it mattered most, and Colorado’s high-powered offense was devastated by BYU in a 36-14 loss in the Alamo Bowl on Saturday night.

BYU’s LJ Martin rushed for 88 yards and two touchdowns and Jake Retzlaff passed for 151 yards to give the Cougars the lead.

BYU (11-2, No. 17 CFP) scored in each quarter to secure its second straight bowl victory and third in its last four appearances after failing to advance last season.

Colorado (9-4, No. 23 CFP) was held to 210 total yards rushing with just 2 net yards. The Buffaloes had 90 yards rushing in the fourth quarter and the Cougars led by 29 points.

Buffaloes quarterback Sanders was sacked three times and threw two interceptions in front of a sellout crowd of 64,261. Sanders passed for 208 yards and two touchdowns while completing 16 of 23 passes.

Meanwhile, Hunter had four receptions for 106 yards, including a 43-yard touchdown from Sanders with 6:14 left in the third quarter.

Colorado’s offensive struggles started early against BYU.

The Buffaloes failed to convert on fourth-and-1 at the Cougars’ 49-yard line when Sanders’ pass to Will Sheppard fell incomplete.

With four minutes left in the first quarter, BYU then marched 52 yards for its first touchdown on a 1-yard run by Martin.

Cougars sophomore Parker Kingston returned a punt 64 yards for a touchdown, giving BYU a 17-0 lead with 5:32 left in the first half.

The Buffaloes were shut out in the first half despite having just 61 total yards, including minus-nine yards rushing on 12 carries.

Sione I. Moa added a 13-yard rushing touchdown for the Cougars in the third quarter. Will Ferrin added field goals of 51 and 54 yards for BYU.

The Buffaloes entered the game averaging 34.5 points per game, which ranked 22nd nationally, but struggled against the Cougars.