Kalani Sitake's BYU Cougars are up against another shareholder of the Big 12 regular season title in Deion Sanders and the Colorado Buffaloes in the Valero Alamo Bowl. For a bowl season that many hoped would pit the Cougars against the best cross-conference opponents outside the playoff, pulling a fellow Big 12 member is a disappointment.
Only until you realize that this meeting presents a major opportunity for the Cougs.
Matching up with the one of the most dynamic and exciting teams in college football is a treat for BYU football following their expectation-shattering 10-2 regular season. This contest is a prize for both teams, and fans should be excited to get up and cheer on their teams in what could be the most highly anticipated non-CFP game of the 2024 postseason.
Let me tell you why.
Make a Statement to the Big 12
Colorado and BYU were both tied for first place in the standings a mere technicality away from a title game berth. In the four-way tie the final standings delivered, BYU and Colorado lost out on tiebreakers, while Arizona State and Iowa State earned the nod to battle in Dallas.
The red-hot Sun Devils smacked Iowa State so hard that Sparky fell into a first-round bye in the College Football Playoff. Both Colorado and BYU believe they could put up a better fight in a rematch with ASU--BYU was a yard away from stealing a road win after an abysmal first half in the Cougars' penultimate regular season game.
Attendance at the championship game was embarrassing with plastic chairs dominating the ticket-paying minority. BYU and Colorado supporters alike have voiced their disgust at the lack of fan support in Dallas, and have a chance to show the Big 12 what they missed by snubbing two of the most passionate fanbases in the league.
San Antonio isn't that far from Dallas--let's turn our words into action.
Spoil Hunter's Heisman Coronation
It's no secret that the vocal majority of college football fans strongly disagree with Travis Hunter's Heisman selection dubbing him the brightest star in the sport. Though his superhuman athletic ability certainly deserves praise from the college football world, his overall accomplishments are dwarfed by the likes of Boise State's Ashton Jeanty in a dominant season that thrust his Mountain West program into a CFP bye.
No matter the result of this game, the Heisman Trophy will still belong to Travis Hunter, and he deserves all the credit in the world for reaching this peak in the twilight of his collegiate career.
BYU has the chance to finish their season on a high with a victory over a ranked opponent. The star power of the Sanders family and Heisman-winner and two-way athlete Travis Hunter will draw the eyes of the nation in this year's edition of the Valero Alamo Bowl.
Regardless of the eventual result, BYU should be proud of the season they enjoyed in just their second season as a power conference member. A 10-win season is a major overaccomplishment for a football program declared dead before the season had even began. Though Arizona State will tout the conference flag in the College Football Playoff, there is a not-so-distant reality that includes a BYU appearance at the sport's highest stage.
Instead, a battle with one of the most popular programs in the college football world will have to do. Fans have plenty to get excited about.