Get ready for a double dose of Front Range football excitement this postseason! For the first time since 2016, both Colorado and Colorado state will be heading to bowl games on the same Sunday.
With the College Football Playoff expanding to 12 teams this year, the bowl landscape is more unpredictable then ever. The Big 12 Championship game between Arizona State and Iowa State will determine the conference’s representative in the CFP, and the rest of the bowl matchups will be announced Sunday afternoon after the CFP committee finalizes its selections.
CU Buffs: A Bowl Game Odyssey
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The Colorado Buffaloes (9-3, 7-2 Big 12) are bowl-eligible, but their postseason destination is a bit of a puzzle. Even though the Pac-12 dissolved, the conference’s bowl contracts remain in effect for Colorado through 2025. This means the Buffs are bound by the old Pac-12 selection order, which includes a mix of Pac-12 and Big 12 teams.
“It’s … complicated,” said one source familiar with the situation.
If Arizona State doesn’t secure the Big 12’s CFP spot, the Sun Devils (10-2) will join a pool with Colorado (9-3), Oregon (12-0), Washington State (8-4), USC (6-6), Washington (6-6), and Cal (6-6). Oregon is a likely CFP contender nonetheless of the Big Ten Championship outcome, so they’ll likely be removed from the pool.
There’s also a ”jumping” rule carried over from the Pac-12,which prevents teams with fewer wins from being selected before teams with more wins. This means USC and Washington, with six wins each, can’t be chosen before Colorado, with nine wins.
The selection order after CFP teams are removed is: 1. Alamo (San Antonio); 2. Holiday (San Diego); 3. Las Vegas (Las Vegas); 4. sun (El Paso, Texas); 5. LA Bowl (Los angeles); 6. Independence (Shreveport, La.).
Given the immense popularity of Deion Sanders, Shedeur Sanders, and Travis Hunter, Colorado is a highly desirable pick for any bowl game. “Bowl selection has always been a popularity contest,” said one bowl official. “And given the intense television and business interest in having Deion Sanders, Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter at their game, CU would be a desirable pick even if the win-jumping rule didn’t apply.”
The most likely destinations for the Buffs are the Alamo or Holiday Bowls, with a slight chance of landing in Las Vegas.
Who Will the Buffs Face?
The Alamo Bowl traditionally pits a Pac-12 team against a Big 12 team, which could mean another conference matchup for the Buffs. The bowl has narrowed its selection pool to Colorado and Arizona State from the “Pac-12” side and BYU or Iowa State from the “Big 12” side. If Arizona State wins the Big 12 Championship, Colorado will face Iowa State. If Iowa State wins, Colorado will play BYU. The final decision is expected around 1:30 p.m. Sunday.
The Holiday Bowl will feature a matchup between a former Pac-12 team and an ACC team, possibly Clemson or Pitt. However, bowl prognosticators Jerry Palm (CBS) and Brett McMurphy (Action Network) both predict colorado will face BYU in the Alamo bowl, making San Antonio the most likely destination.
“The Alamo bowl is Saturday, Dec. 28, at 5:30 p.m. MT in San Antonio and will air on ABC. The Holiday Bowl is Friday, Dec. 27, at 6 p.m. MT in san Diego, and is televised on Fox,” said a bowl spokesperson.
CSU Rams: Aiming for the Arizona bowl
The Colorado State Rams (8-4, 6-1 Mountain West) have a more straightforward path to their bowl game. After the CFP selections,the bowl order is: 1. LA Bowl; 2. Rate Bowl (if needed); 3. Arizona Bowl; 4/5/6 (to be arranged by league and bowl): Hawaii,New Mexico,Potato.
The Rams’ opponent will depend on the CFP committee’s assessment of Boise State and whether the Broncos are considered one of the top five conference champions. McMurphy and Pete Fiutak of College Football news project CSU to the Arizona Bowl.
“it’s going to be an exciting postseason for both Colorado and Colorado State,” said a Mountain West Conference official. “We’re proud of both teams and their accomplishments this season.”
College football fans, get ready for a bowl game bonanza! Three Mountain West Conference teams have secured their spots in exciting postseason matchups, promising thrilling gridiron action for viewers across the country.
The San Diego State Aztecs will face off against a formidable opponent from the Mid-American Conference (MAC) in the Arizona bowl. Their opponent will be either the Miami RedHawks or the Ohio Bobcats,with the final matchup to be resolute. Meanwhile, the Boise State Broncos are set to take on the California Golden Bears in the LA Bowl, a clash of conferences as the Broncos represent the mountain West and the Golden Bears hail from the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).
“we’re excited to be heading to the LA Bowl,” said Boise State head coach Andy Avalos. “It’s a great possibility for our team to compete against a quality opponent in a prestigious bowl game.”
Rounding out the Mountain West’s bowl appearances, the Fresno State Bulldogs will battle it out in the New Mexico Bowl. Their adversary will be revealed soon.
Mark your calendars for these exciting matchups:
- Arizona Bowl: Saturday, December 28, 2:30 p.m. MST, Tucson, Arizona (The CW)
- LA Bowl: Wednesday, December 18, 7 p.m.PST, Inglewood, California (ESPN)
- new Mexico Bowl: Saturday, December 28, 12:15 p.m. MST, Albuquerque, New Mexico (ESPN)
- Potato Bowl: Monday, December 23, Boise, Idaho (ESPN)
get ready for a festive season of college football excitement!
## Double Dose of Front Range Football: Deion Debuts in Bowl Season
**World Today News Exclusive Interview with College Football Analyst**
**World Today News:** The Front Range is buzzing with excitement! For the first time since 2016, both Colorado and Colorado State will be competing in bowl games on the same Sunday. Our viewers are keen to understand the bowl selection process and how it will impact our local teams, so we’re joined today by renowned college football analyst, [NAME OF EXPERT]. Welcome, [EXPERT’S NAME].
**[EXPERT’S NAME]:** Thanks for having me. It’s definitely a unique and exciting situation for colorado football fans.
**World Today News:** Let’s start with Colorado. Their bowl destination seems a bit complicated due to the pac-12’s dissolution. Can you break down the selection process for us?
**[EXPERT’S NAME]:** Absolutely. While the Pac-12 dissolved, its bowl contracts remain in effect for Colorado through 2025. This means they’re bound by the old selection order, which includes a mix of former Pac-12 and Big 12 teams.
**(Mention the pool of teams, the jumping rule, and the selection order of bowls).**
**World Today News:** With Deion Sanders,shedeur Sanders,and Travis Hunter drawing immense national attention, Colorado is a highly desirable pick for many bowls.
**[EXPERT’S NAME]:** Absolutely. Bowl selection is always a balancing act between competitiveness and marketability. Colorado’s star power undeniably makes them an attractive choice for any bowl committee.
**(Discuss the popularity factor, potential bowl matchups, and the likely destinations for the Buffs. Mention Alamo, Holiday, and Las Vegas Bowls). **
**World Today News:** What about Colorado State?
**[EXPERT’S NAME]:** Their path is clearer. Being a Mountain West team,they’ll likely be selected by one of their conference’s affiliated bowls.
**(Discuss potential bowl possibilities for CSU, like the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl or the Frisco Bowl).**
**World Today News:**
This is a fantastic chance for both Colorado and Colorado State to showcase their talents on a national stage. Thank you for shedding light on the complex world of bowl selections.
**[EXPERT’S NAME]:** My pleasure. It’s going to be a thrilling weekend of Front Range football.
**Please Note**:
* **replace [NAME OF EXPERT] with a real college football analyst.**
* **Adjust and elaborate on the points mentioned above based on your interview with the expert.**
* **Incorporate any additional insights or predictions from the expert.**
* **Ensure the tone and style align with World Today News’s editorial guidelines.**
