Colorado’s season and Hunter era ends with an Alamo Bowl loss to BYU

SAN ANTONIO – LJ Martin rushed for 88 yards and two touchdowns, Jake Retzlaff passed for 151 yards and No. 17 BYU defeated No. 23 Colorado 36-14 in the Valero Alamo Bowl on Saturday night.

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

Colorado (9-4, No. 23 AP) 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.

Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter, who along with quarterback Shedeur Sanders chose to end his college career in the Alamo Bowl rather than prepare for the NFL draft, had four receptions for 106 yards, including a 43-yard touchdown by Sanders with 6:14 remaining in the third quarter.

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.

Colorado’s offensive struggles started early against BYU.

The Buffaloes failed 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.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report