BYU 36-14 Colorado (December 28, 2024) Game Recap

SAN ANTONIO – LJ Martin rushed for 93 yards and two touchdowns, Jake Retzlaff passed for 151 yards and No. 17 BYU defeated 20th-ranked Colorado 36-14 in the Alamo Bowl on Saturday night.

“I understand they have great players on the other side of the field,” Martin said. “I just know the stage is set for us to go out there and show what they can do. “Nobody expected us to win or dominate like we did.”

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.

“It started in January,” Cougars center Connor Pay said. “Not playing in a bowl game puts a bad taste in your mouth. You want to change that. This brings courage and fire to our off-season. That’s where it started.”

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

“We started identifying and getting into the rhythm of things, but overall we just didn’t fit together,” Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders said. “That’s what stopped us overall, ourselves.”

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

The Cougars featured 17 different defensive players in the first half to confuse Sanders and the Buffaloes’ prolific passing game.

“We had guys coming in from all angles and putting pressure on the quarterback,” BYU defensive back Tyler Batty said. “I don’t necessarily envy Shedeur in that situation because I don’t know where the blitz is coming from. “Kudos to (defensive coordinator) Jay Hill and we’re really proud of our defense.”

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

BYU linebacker Isaiah Glasker had eight tackles, including four solo and one for a loss, and intercepted a pass in the fourth quarter.

Glasker was named Defensive MVP and Martin was named Offensive MVP.

Colorado’s offensive struggles started early.

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-9 yards rushing on 12 carries.

“BYU, they’re well-coached,” Colorado coach Deion Sanders said. “They did a phenomenal job running the football. “Special teams kicked our butt and we couldn’t do much at all offensively.”

Sione I. Moa added a 13-yard rushing touchdown for the Cougars in the third quarter.

Will Ferrin hit field goals of 51 and 54 yards for BYU.

Takeaways

BYU: Kingston returned three punts for 82 yards, including the first-half touchdown. He also had one reception for 24 yards and threw an incompletion that fell off the fingers of tight end Mata’ava Ta’ase.

Colorado: The Buffaloes came into the game averaging 34.5 points per game, good for 22nd in the nation, but struggled against the Cougars.

Next

BYU opens its 2025 schedule at home against Portland State. Colorado opens at home against Georgia Tech on August 30th.

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