CU's season, Hunter era end with bowl loss to BYU

SAN ANTONIO — L.J. Martin rushed for 88 yards and two touchdowns, Jake Retzlaff passed for 151 yards, and No. 17 BYU beat No. 23 Colorado 36-14 in the Valero Alamo Bowl on Saturday night.

BYU (11-2, No. 17 AP) 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.

Colorado (9-4, No. 23 AP) was held to 210 total yards with only two net yards rushing. The Buffaloes had 90 yards in the fourth quarter with the Cougars leading by 29 points.

Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter, who with quarterback Shedeur Sanders opted to complete their college careers in the Alamo Bowl rather than sit out and prepare for the NFL draft, had four receptions for 106 yards, including a 43-yard touchdown from Sanders with 6:14 remaining in the third quarter.

Sanders was sacked three times and threw two interceptions before a sellout crowd of 64,261. Sanders passed for 208 yards and two touchdowns while completing 16 of 23 passes.

Colorado’s offensive struggles started early against BYU.

The Buffaloes failed to convert on fourth-and-1 at the Cougars’ 49-yard line when Sanders’ pass to Will Sheppard fell incomplete.

BYU then marched 52 yards for its first touchdown on a 1-yard run by Martin with four minutes remaining in the first quarter.

Cougars sophomore Parker Kingston returned a punt 64 yards for a touchdown to put BYU up 17-0 with 5:32 remaining in the first half.

The Buffaloes were shut out in the first half while being limited to 61 total yards, including minus-nine yards rushing on 12 carries.

Sione I. Moa added a 13-yard rushing touchdown in the third quarter for the Cougars.

Will Ferrin added field goals of 51 and 54 yards for BYU.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report