Colorado Alamo Bowl: 3 BYU players Deion Sanders' team should watch out for in postseason matchup

Colorado will face BYU in the Alamo Bowl on Dec. 28. The game will feature both teams that lost in the tiebreaker for the conference championship game. Colorado will land in San Antonio as the favorite to come away with the win.

According to head coach Deion Sanders, Colorado (8-3, 6-2 in the Big 12) will have all their stars on the field, including Shadeur Sanders and Travis Hunter.

However, BYU is a dangerous team. The Cougars (10-2, 7-2 in the Big 12) opened the season 9-0 and only missed the Big 12 Championship Game due to a tiebreaker. A handful of players could swing the game their way against Colorado.

Here are the three BYU players who can create problems for the Buffaloes.

3 BYU players Deion Sanders' team should watch out for in postseason matchup

#3. Chase Roberts, Wide Receiver

Roberts leads the team in receptions and yards, with 51 catches for 843 yards with four touchdowns. The Cougars’ passing attack only finished 56th in the nation, with 238 yards per game. However, Roberts’ ability to make things happen after the catch could threaten the Buffaloes' secondary.

Colorado´s secondary allowed 204.7 yards per game and 16 touchdowns through the air. While the secondary was solid overall, they have been prone to giving away big plays. Roberts and fellow wide receiver Darius Lassiter average over 15 yards per reception. If the opportunity presents itself, the BYU passing attack is explosive enough to break the game open with a couple of long passing plays.

#2. Tyler Batty, Defensive End

The senior from Payson, Utah hasn’t been able to get the quarterback this year with as much consistency as in previous seasons, with only 1.5 sacks. Yet, he is a dangerous presence off the edge of the Cougars defense and finished the season playing his best football. In his last three games, Batty had 25 total tackles, half a sack and an interception.

Batty also achieved career highs in tackles (55) and solo tackles (30) in 2024, and his ability to pressure Shadeur Sanders could be vital if the Cougars are going to pull off the upset. Colorado tied for 122nd in the nation in average sacks per game, even with Sanders’ mobility.

If the Cougars are going to leave San Antonio with a victory, winning the line of scrimmage might be their most important task. Batty, who did finish 2023 with 5.5 sacks, could be the one to generate the pressure needed in the bowl games.

#1. LJ Martin, Running Back

Even if the BYU rushing offense only ranks 72nd in the nation, Martin might be the most important player on the BYU sideline for the Alamo Bowl. The sophomore running back averages 5.2 yards per carry and he will lead a ground game that will try to break through the Colorado defense like other teams have before.

In the Buffaloes’ three losses, they allowed 665 yards on the ground. In their most recent defeat to Kansas, Colorado surrendered 331 rushing yards, 207 of them to Devin Neal.

Running the football effectively would wear down the Colorado defense as others have. It would also keep Shadeur Sanders and the Buffaloes’ offense off the field. Martin has only run for over 100 yards twice this year. If he could do it a third time, BYU could be off to a good start in the Alamo Bowl.