BYU and Colorado both finished in a four-way tie for first place in the Big 12 standings, but neither team had the tiebreaker advantage to reach the Big 12 title game. That, among other factors, led Cougars quarterback Kedon Slovis to describe the Alamo Bowl matchup against the Buffaloes as "the people's" Big 12 championship game.

The Cougars picked off Sanders twice, limited Hunter to one highlight-reel touchdown and moved down the field with ease.

The BYU Cougars cruised past the Colorado Buffaloes in the Valero Alamo Bowl Saturday night, winning 36-14 to finish the 2024 season with an 11-2 record. Here are three keys that led to the Cougars’ victory.

The Alamo Bowl will feature Deion Sanders and the Colorado Buffaloes hitting the field against the BYU Cougars on Saturday, December 28, 2024. Colorado and BYU play at 7:30 p.m. ET.

Colorado wide receiver Travis Hunter (12) runs for a touchdown against BYU after making a catch during the second half of the Alamo Bowl NCAA college football game, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, in San Antonio.

The Cougars put together their most dominant performance of the season against Deion Sanders' Buffaloes squad.

L.J. Martin rushed for 88 yards and two touchdowns, Jake Retzlaff passed for 151 yards, and BYU beat Colorado 36-14 in the Alamo Bowl on Saturday night. BYU (11-2, No. 17 CFP) scored in every quarter in rolling to its second straight bowl victory and third in its past four appearances after failing to advance last season.

San Antonio • It gnawed at Chase Roberts as the week wore on. As BYU attended event after event where Colorado’s stars were introduced to standing ovations — the Heisman winner and the potential top NFL draft pick — Roberts sat in the background thinking the Cougars deserved more recognition.