Alamo Bowl game history: Iconic matchups, key players to watch in 2024, and more

The Colorado Buffaloes will play BYU Cougars at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas. This will be No. 23 Buffaloes’s 31st bowl appearance and fourth at the Alamo Bowl.

The bowl game is an annual NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision game since 1993 and is rich in tradition. The latest edition of the Alamo Bowl promises to be a thrilling event, with the game set for Dec. 28 at 7:30 p.m. ET on ABC.

Memorable Alamo Bowl matchups and moments

Colorado vs. Wisconsin in the 2002 Alamo Bowl. (Credits: Getty)

The Alamo Bowl has produced some of the most iconic games that have left an incredible mark on college football. In 1996, The Iowa Hawkeyes honored linebacker Mark Mitchell’s mother by wearing plain black helmets during their game.

In 2002, the clash between Colorado and Wisconsin marked the first-ever Alamo Bowl to extend beyond regulation, making it the first-ever game to go into overtime. With a clutch field goal, the unranked Badgers secured a 31–28 victory over the then-No. 14 Buffaloes.

In 2011, Baylor and Washington combined for a record-breaking 123 points, with Baylor’s Heisman Trophy winner Robert Griffin III leading his team to a 67–56 victory.

The Alamo Bowl also witnessed a facility-record crowd of 66,166 during the 2007 game between Penn State and Texas A&M, which tells the story of its popularity.

Key players to watch in the 2024 Alamo Bowl

The upcoming matchup between No. 17 BYU and No. 23 Colorado is drawing attention primarily because of the star power on the field.

Travis Hunter, Colorado’s two-way standout and leading Heisman Trophy candidate, is expected to be the key player for the upcoming matchup. As both a cornerback and wide receiver, Hunter’s versatility and game-changing plays make him a must-watch.

Another marquee player to watch out for is Shedeur Sanders, Buffaloes's quarterback and son of coach Deion Sanders, who has already secured the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award. Shedeur’s leadership and precision passing will be key against a BYU defense.

Coach Prime hyped his star players ahead of the monumental and career-defining game on Dec. 28

"We have a plethora of seniors that are pro-bound, and guess what? Every last one of them are going to play We don't tap out. We don't sit out," Sanders said.

"We got a kid that's probably going to pick up -- not probably, what am I talking about? -- he's going to pick up the Heisman Trophy this week, and he's going to play. We got a quarterback who picked up an award last weekend, and he's going to play. We have receivers that I know are going pro, and guess what? They're going to play."

Coach Deion Sanders has instilled confidence in the team by stating that the Buffs will approach the upcoming matchup against BYU at full strength. They aim to win the program's first Bowl game since the triumph at the Houston Bowl in 2004.