Saturday’s bowl games brought disappointment for two Top 25 college football teams, but one loss, in particular, drew sharp criticism. The Colorado Buffaloes, who had been in contention for the College Football Playoff just weeks earlier, suffered a humbling 36-14 defeat at the hands of the BYU Cougars in the Valero Alamo Bowl.
The Buffaloes’ hopes of a Big 12 title and CFP berth had already been dashed weeks earlier when a 37-21 loss to Kansas on November 23 and BYUโs victory over Houston on November 30 sealed their fate. Heading into the Alamo Bowl, Colorado sought redemption and a strong finish to an otherwise impressive season under head coach Deion Sanders. Instead, they delivered a lackluster performance that left fans and analysts questioning the legitimacy of their early-season success.
BYU Dominates From Start to Finish
Despite boasting future NFL talents like quarterback Shedeur Sanders and two-way star Travis Hunter, Colorado struggled to keep up with a BYU team that controlled the game from the opening kickoff. The Cougars jumped out to a commanding 20-0 lead by halftime, silencing the Buffaloes’ offense and exposing weaknesses in their defense.
Though head coach Deion Sanders vowed to turn things around in the second half, the Cougars continued their dominance, outscoring Colorado 16-14 after the break. BYU’s victory in front of a packed crowd of 64,261 fans in the Alamodome cemented their status as one of the most consistent teams in the Big 12 this season, improving their record to 11-2.
Individual Performances Highlight Coloradoโs Struggles
In what marked the final college game of his career, Shedeur Sanders had a difficult outing, throwing for 208 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions. While Hunter provided a bright spot with four catches for 106 yards and a touchdown, along with four tackles on defense, it wasnโt enough to overcome BYU’s relentless attack. Shilo Sanders led the team defensively with eight tackles, but Colorado was outgained 331-210 in total yards.
The loss dropped the Buffaloes to 9-4 on the season, a stark contrast to the high expectations that surrounded them in November. Colorado entered the game as 2.5-point favorites, according to ESPN BET, but failed to live up to the billing.
— Barstool Big12 (@BarstoolBig12) December 29, 2024
Backlash From Fans and Critics
The Buffaloesโ underwhelming performance sparked backlash on social media, with many fans labeling them โfraudsโ for failing to deliver on their early-season promise.
- โThe Colorado cream puffs didnโt even put up a fight against BYU. Deion is a fraud,โ one fan wrote.
- โDonโt think Colorado even won the snap count battle lol. Frauds,โ posted another.
- โColorado are frauds. Canโt beat good teams. Also, BYU is pretty dang good,โ another user commented.
The criticism underscores the growing scrutiny surrounding Deion Sanders and his program, which burst onto the national scene with a series of headline-grabbing wins early in the season.
A Season of Progress, But Questions Remain
Despite the harsh criticism, Coloradoโs 2024 season marked significant progress for the program. Under Sandersโ leadership, the Buffaloes improved from a 4-8 record in 2023 to 9-4, a remarkable turnaround in just one year. However, the blowout loss to BYU raises questions about their ability to compete against elite teams.
As Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter prepare for the NFL, Coach Prime faces the challenge of maintaining the programโs upward trajectory while addressing the gaps exposed during the Alamo Bowl. Rebuilding for the 2025 season will require both strategic recruiting and a renewed focus on consistency.
While the โfraudโ label may be harsh, the Buffaloes have undoubtedly set a foundation for future success. Whether they can silence their critics and prove themselves as true contenders remains to be seen, but one thing is certainโColorado will remain one of the most talked-about programs in college football.