SAN ANTONIO — In a decisive victory at the Alamo Bowl, No. 17 BYU overcame 20th-ranked Colorado with a score of 36-14 on Saturday night. L.J. Martin made significant contributions with 93 rushing yards and two touchdowns, while Jake Retzlaff added 151 passing yards to help secure the win.
Martin expressed pride in his team’s performance, remarking on their capability to rise to the occasion despite the challenging matchup. “Understanding that they have great players on the other side of the field… No one expected us to win or dominate like we did,” he stated.
This triumph marks BYU’s second consecutive bowl victory and their third in the last four bowl appearances, especially noteworthy after not qualifying for a bowl game last season. Cougars center Connor Pay reflected on the team’s determination, stating, “Not playing in a bowl game is a bad taste in your mouth. You want to change that. That brings a grit and a fire to our offseason. That’s where it began.”
Colorado struggled significantly, mustering only 210 total yards and finishing with a mere two rushing yards. The Buffaloes found themselves racking up 90 yards late in the game while trailing by a substantial margin. Quarterback Shedeur Sanders acknowledged the team’s shortcomings, saying, “We started to identify and we started with the rhythm of things, but we just wasn’t connecting overall. That’s what stopped us overall, was ourselves.”
Sanders was pressured throughout the game, enduring three sacks and tossing two interceptions before a full house of 64,261 spectators. He recorded 208 passing yards and two touchdowns, completing 16 of his 23 attempts. The Cougars’ defense provided a formidable challenge, employing 17 different defensive schemes in the first half to disrupt the Buffaloes’ prolific passing strategy. BYU defensive end Tyler Batty commented on the defensive performance, sharing, “I don’t necessarily envy Shedeur in that situation, not knowing where the blitz is coming from.”
Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter represented a bright spot for Colorado, making four catches for 106 yards, including a 43-yard touchdown throw from Sanders in the latter part of the third quarter. BYU linebacker Isaiah Glasker stood out defensively with eight tackles, including an interception that earned him the title of Defensive MVP. Meanwhile, Martin was recognized as the Offensive MVP for his performance.
Colorado’s offensive struggles were evident from the start, with an unsuccessful fourth-and-1 attempt at BYU’s 49-yard line when Sanders’s pass failed to connect with his target. Following this, BYU quickly advanced down the field for the game’s opening touchdown, courtesy of Martin’s 1-yard run.
Sophomore Parker Kingston further extended BYU’s lead with a spectacular 64-yard punt return for a touchdown, putting the Cougars ahead 17-0 just before halftime. Colorado entered the locker room scoreless after managing only 61 yards, including negative rushing yards.
Speaking to BYU’s dominance, Colorado coach Deion Sanders commented, “They did a phenomenal job running the football. Special teams kicked our butts, and we couldn’t do nothing offensively much at all.”
The Cougars added to their lead when Sione I. Moa scored on a 13-yard rush in the third quarter and Will Ferrin contributed with field goals of 51 and 54 yards, expanding BYU’s margin.
As both teams look forward to the future, BYU will kick off its 2025 season at home against Portland State, while Colorado is set to face Georgia Tech at home on August 30.
