Deion, Shedeur Sanders, Travis Hunter, Colorado Will Play BYU in 2024 Alamo Bowl

The Colorado Buffaloes are going bowling for the first time in the Deion Sanders era.

Colorado announced Sunday it will play in the Alamo Bowl on Dec. 28 in San Antonio. The Buffaloes will face BYU in a showdown between Big 12 teams during the holiday season:

It is unusual to say the least to see two conference opponents facing each other in a bowl game, but there is a reason for it.

As Mitch Harper of KSL Sports explained, former Pac-12 teams will be considered members of their former conference until 2026 for bowl game purposes. Since the Alamo Bowl traditionally matches the Big 12 against the Pac-12, Colorado will be considered part of the latter league for the purposes of this contest.

This also works because the Cougars and Buffaloes did not play each other during the 2024 campaign. In fact, they haven't played since the 1988 Freedom Bowl, although they are scheduled to play each other next season.

It's not a stretch to suggest this is one of the best non-playoff games of the bowl season.

BYU was No. 17 in the final College Football Playoff rankings, while Colorado was No. 23. It is a meeting of ranked opponents, and a win would give either side momentum heading into the offseason and the 2025 campaign.

That Colorado is in a high-profile bowl in Sanders' second season is a testament to the turnaround the head coach has led to this point.

The Buffalos were an ugly 4-8 in his first season but went 9-3 in 2024 and were in the CFP discussion until the final week of the regular season. They have two of the best players in the entire nation in quarterback Shedeur Sanders and cornerback/wide receiver Travis Hunter, and the latter may go into this game as the Heisman Trophy winner.

As for the possibility of either opting out, Deion Sanders previously told reporters the team's final regular-season game wouldn't be the last time his son and Hunter played for the Buffaloes.

"No, we got a bowl game," he said. "It's not the last time you're gonna see them in a Buff uniform."

The Alamo Bowl is surely pleased to hear that, and Colorado will have a chance to finish its season on a high note against the Cougars.