Associated Press

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Colorado is relishing the chance to end its season on a high note regardless of the outcome of the Valero Alamo Bowl.

While a number of teams are reshuffling their rosters and players opting out of bowl games to enter the transfer portal or prepare for the NFL Draft, the Buffaloes have their entire two-deep roster available.

No. 20 Colorado (9-3, No. 23 CFP) will face the 17th-ranked BYU Cougars (10-2, No. 17 CFP) in the Alamo Bowl on Saturday.

“We appreciate every single moment,” Buffalo linebacker BJ Green said. “This group of boys will never be together again. You have to appreciate that. Football is supposed to be a fun sport. I feel like a lot of people these days have turned it into a job and it shouldn’t be.”

Colorado coach Deion Sanders recognized his players’ commitment by securing additional disability insurance for his team, including record coverage for his star duo of Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter and quarterback son Shedeur.

Many scouting services rated Sanders as the best quarterback in this year’s draft, but he didn’t want to sit out and miss his final game with the Buffaloes.

“It’s about appreciating the moment,” Sanders said. “It’s about knowing that this is the last college game and we missed every single game. “There are no regrets. I never want to go anywhere with regrets, so that’s the thing.”

Sanders is also looking forward to going up against BYU’s outstanding defense. The Cougars had 12 different players record an FBS-best 20 interceptions this season.

“It’s very hard to find fault when it comes to them because of the way they operate their business… because they’re able to move and react in different ways,” Shedeur said . “You don’t know who’s doing what, so they have a great plan. They have everything great. I feel very blessed to have been able to compete against such a challenge in my final college game.”

The Cougars face a similar challenge.

Shedeur Sanders completed 337 of 454 passes for 3,926 yards and 35 touchdowns. Hunter had 92 receptions for 1,152 yards and 14 touchdowns this season.

“Tough match,” BYU coach Kalani Sitake said. “The goal is to try to stop everyone, but I don’t know if they can do that with all the weapons they have.”

Air visible

Top quarterback prospect Julian “JuJu” Lewis is working with Shedeur Sanders and Colorado this week, just days after completing his high school career.

Lewis, ranked by ESPN as the No. 2 recruit in the class of 2025, enrolled in Colorado after graduating early from Carrolton (Ga.) High School.

Lewis completed 30 of 42 passes for 333 yards and two touchdowns as Carrolton lost 38-24 to Grayson in the Georgia High School State Championship on Dec. 19.

Lewis will compete to be the starting quarterback in Colorado’s high-powered offense next season while Sanders heads to the NFL.

Long time no see

This will be the 13th matchup between Colorado and BYU, but the first since 1988.

Ty Detmer, who won the Heisman in 1990, beat the Cougars to a 20-17 victory over the Buffaloes in the 1988 Freedom Bowl.

Colorado leads the series 8-3-1.

Heisman hardware

Hunter is the second player to participate in the Alamo Bowl immediately after winning the Heisman Trophy.

A few weeks after being awarded the Heisman Trophy in 2011, quarterback Robert Griffin III led Baylor to a 67-56 victory over Washington in the Alamo Bowl. The Bears set a bowl record for most points and total yards (777) and tied with the Huskies for an NCAA record for most combined points in the regular season.

Share the wealth

BYU has had 17 different players score touchdowns this season. The Cougars are the only team in the country with four special teams touchdowns – three kickoff returns and one punt return for a score.

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