In the last game of what has been a historic and memorable season, BYU decided to play all the hits.
We were graced with elite defensive play, a special teams touchdown, silly interceptions, a successful onside kick and an outcome no one saw coming. In a way, this Cougar team bottled up every goofy peculiarity that has defined this season and put it on display in San Antonio.
Those funny attributes resulted in a dominant win for No. 17 BYU, defeating No. 23 Colorado, 36-14, to win the Valero Alamo Bowl Saturday night.
In the beginning, you could almost feel the energy and weight of the game through the TV. The Cougars hadn't played in a bowl game this big in a while, and with the eyes of the country on them and the Heisman winner lined up on the other side of the line of scrimmage, it was clear that they came to play.
The defense was especially juiced up, putting up what you could probably call its best performance of the season against one of college football's best offenses. In the first half, the Buffs had just 61 total yards, just three total first downs and no points.
The offense was clicking early, too, scoring a touchdown on its second drive with an LJ Martin touchdown. The rest of the half was rough, though, as turnovers and penalties plagued the Cougars and they only managed to produce a couple of field goals.
Thankfully, BYU's special teams continued to be, well. . . special. Parker Kingston housed a punt return for his second special teams touchdown of the season, the Cougars fourth of the season. BYU took a 20-0 lead into the locker room.
The second half continued to be much of the same for both teams. The Cougars opened the half by picking off Shedeur Sanders, his first of two on the night, and immediately turning that into a touchdown to blow the game open, 27-0.
Colorado finally got on the board when Sanders found Travis Hunter, where he showed why he was crowned the best player in college football just weeks ago. His catch went for 43 yards into the end zone, though wasn't much more than a consolation prize at that point.
As the fourth quarter opened, BYU crossed the goal line once again with another Martin touchdown to officially put the game away. After another score from both teams, the second-strings got some playing time; the Cougars won 36-14.
Martin was named Offensive Player of the Game with 93 rushing yards and 33 receiving yards to go along with his two touchdowns. Isaiah Glasker was named Defensive Player of the Game with an impressive eight tackles to go along with a TFL and an interception.
It was an atypical 2024 BYU football performance to cap off a remarkable season. The Cougars' 11 wins are the 13th time they've reached the number in program history and just their second in 15 years.
In what will most likely be known as a season full of "what-ifs" this year's BYU football team can forever be known as the 2024 Valero Alamo Bowl champions.