While the Colorado Buffaloes didn’t participate in the Big 12 Championship Game, their postseason future was likely decided upon the conclusion of the matchup.
The Arizona State Sun Devils defeated the Iowa State Cyclones 45-19, seemingly punching a ticket to the College Football Playoff with a potential first-round bye.
Given the Big 12 title game finish, the Buffaloes are likely headed to the Alamo Bowl. Before the Big 12 championship game, the Alamo Bowl had a contractual agreement to select a Big 12 school and a Pac-12 legacy school to play in the postseason matchup, per Bill Bender at The Sporting News.
They had four programs in consideration after the regular season: Colorado, Iowa State, Arizona State and BYU. Since the Sun Devils will be making a trip to the College Football Playoff, the Buffaloes are left as the Pac-12 legacy program.
Colorado is more than likely locked in for the Alamo Bowl, while their opponent will be the BYU Cougars or Iowa State Cyclones.
Following the announcement of Colorado’s projected bowl game and postseason opponent, some fans were livid that the Buffaloes would be playing in another conference game.
“Don’t bother going,” said one fan. “Is this a new thing? To do inter-conference bowl games?” questioned one fan. “That’s terrible….a conference game,” mentioned one fan.
“This really is one of the only ways they could have squandered the amount of viewership Colorado brings to the table for a bowl game.
Really fumbling the bag here,” commented one fan. “Why is Iowa State they just lost? Let’s play somebody that has just won like BYU,” said one fan. “Neither playing a conference game in a bowl game is dumb!” said another fan.
The Buffaloes finished the 2024 college football season with a 9-3 record, 7-2 in Big 12 play. Colorado suffered losses to Nebraska, Kansas State and Kansas.
They were ranked as the No. 4 team in the Big 12 standings, behind Iowa State, BYU and Arizona State, all of which ended the year with a 7-2 conference record.
Colorado’s postseason fate will be decided on Sunday at 3:30 p.m. ET after the College Football Playoff rankings show. If the Buffaloes punch a ticket to the Alamo Bowl, they’re headed to San Antonio, Texas, on Dec. 28. That matchup will be played at 7:30 p.m. ET on ABC.
