A 10-win season is an overall shocking result for a BYU team designated by oddsmakers to fall short of bowl eligibility. This team surpassed all negativity and escaped a chaotic year in the Big 12 tied for first in the conference. Not bad for their second year in a power league.
The reward for such an outcome? A date with fellow Big 12 power and national darling Colorado, starring former NFL star Deion Sanders, his first-round bound son Shedeur at quarterback, and the Heisman trophy-winning two-way ace Travis Hunter. Kalani Sitake and Deion Sanders have seen their names in Coach of the Year consideration for the tremendous output of their teams this year.
It's the 17th-ranked Cougars of BYU squaring off with the 23rd-ranked Buffaloes of Colorado.
Two teams unbound by national expectations. Two teams with one final statement to make. This football game is likely to stamp itself as one of the most electrifyingly entertaining clashes of this entire bowl season.
With all that in mind, how do we see this game playing out?
BYU vs Colorado Score Prediction
In this matchup, BYU's offense should have no trouble with the Colorado defense. Though the Buffaloes are certainly stuffed with athletes, their defensive unit hasn't exactly suffocated the best offenses in the Big 12 this season. They've allowed 21 points or more in 10 of their 12 regular season games, and BYU's offense has been especially efficient this year behind Jake Retzlaff.
Colorado's offense and BYU's defense will likely decide this game. Jay Hill's defensive unit has been among the Big 12's elite this season, and locks in when necessary. This is a team that likes to play aggressive, force turnovers, and refuses to keep the quarterback comfortable.
Shedeur Sanders likes to scramble, and his generally poor offensive line may struggle to keep the Cougars out of the backfield, so he'll need his legs in this one. I expect plenty of QB spies and countermeasures for Sanders' running ability, because if he gets loose, the Cougars could be in trouble here.
Expect this game to come down to the final few possessions. I expect the Cougars to narrowly hold to a lead in the fourth quarter to escape the Buffaloes last-second comeback bid.
Final Score: BYU 31, Colorado 28