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The CU Buffs are going bowling, but where? – Boulder Daily Camera

Umito November 2, 2024

With one month remaining in the regular season, it’s official that the Colorado Buffaloes will be going bowling.

The No. 23 Buffs’ destination this holiday season is still up in the air, and many outcomes over the next four weeks will determine their fate, but it’s not too early to look at the possibilities.

Although the Buffs (6-2, 4-1 Big 12), who are on this week’s bye, are enjoying success in their Big 12 return season, their 13-year membership in the Pac-12 is still a factor . For this year and 2025, the two remaining Pac-12 teams and the 10 teams that have since dispersed elsewhere are still affiliated with conference-related bowl games in the recent past.

So when looking at CU’s bowl possibilities, we need to compare the Buffs to the Pac-12 and not the Big 12 schools. Heading into this week, only three of the “Pac-12” teams are eligible for the bowl: No. 1 Oregon (8-0), No. 22 Washington State (7-1) and Colorado.

Arizona State (5-2) is one win away from bowl eligibility, while five teams — California, Oregon State, USC, Utah and Washington — are all 4-4 and need two wins. Arizona (3-5), UCLA (2-5) and Stanford (2-6) all appear to be a long shot for the playoffs.

With that in mind, let’s look at CU’s bowl possibilities, in order of selection process:

Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders, left, and Travis Hunter celebrate a touchdown against Cincinnati on Oct. 26, 2024, at Folsom Field in Boulder, Colo. (Cliff Grassmick/Staff Photographer)

1. College Football Playoff

When/where: To be determined

Previous CU appearances: None

Oregon leads the Big Ten, but is also the best Pac-12 team this season. With four games remaining, the Ducks appear to be on track to clinch one of the 12 spots in the CFP, either as Big Ten champion or at-large. Oregon’s entry into the CFP impacts CU because it would remove the Ducks from the Pac-12 pecking order for other bowls. The Buffs could advance to the CFP as Big 12 champions, but they need help to advance to the title game. The Buffs also have an outside chance to enter the CFP without a Big 12 title if they can finish 10-2 and move into the top 12 in the final standings. Washington State could potentially sneak in as the top-ranked non-Power 4 school, but the Cougars are currently behind Boise State (No. 15) and Army (No. 21) and have a loss to Boise State, so their path is ‘It’s not easy.

2. Alamo Bowl

When/where: December 28, 5:30 p.m. MT; Alamodome in San Antonio

Match : Pac-12 vs. Big 12

Previous CU appearances: 2002, 2016 and 2020

Once the 12-team CFP is set, the Alamo Bowl will have first choice among the remaining bowl-eligible “Pac-12” schools. Overall record and CFP ranking will be important to the Alamo Bowl representatives, but they can select any bowl-eligible team they want, regardless of their record. Assuming Oregon advances to the CFP, Colorado is likely the most attractive team for the Alamo because of the Buffs’ success, as well as their star power with head coach Deion Sanders, his sons Shedeur and Shilo and Heisman Trophy candidate Travis Hunter. One thing that could take CU out of the game here is that the second team in this game will come from the Big 12 and the Alamo will be looking to avoid a regular season rematch. If Kansas State — which beat CU on Oct. 12 — is the Big 12 representative, CU likely won’t be chosen. There is, however, a chance to see the Buffs face BYU or Iowa State. Washington State and USC could be other favored options for the Pac-12 spot.

3. Holiday Bowl

When/where: December 27, 6 p.m. MT, Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego

Match : Pac-12 vs. ACC

Previous CU appearances: 1996

Unlike the Alamo Bowl, Holiday (and others on the roster) must make a choice based on their overall record. However, there is a “plus one” rule, meaning they can pick a team whose record is within one win of the best remaining. For example: if CU is 9-3 and USC is 8-4, the Holiday could select USC, but could not select a 7-5 team. CU seems like the most attractive option if available, but USC is a major draw in Southern California and could be the choice here.

4. Las Vegas Bowl

When/where: December 27, 8:30 p.m. MT, Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas

Match : Pac-12 vs. SEC

Previous CU appearances: None

If CU doesn’t reach the CFP and isn’t selected by the Alamo or Holiday bowls, that would appear to be a lock for Vegas. Barring a November collapse, CU should be a top four team in the Pac-12 and there’s almost no chance the Las Vegas Bowl will pass up the opportunity to have Coach Prime in town for the holidays.

Colorado’s Jimmy Horn Jr. flashes the “peace” sign as he heads to the end zone against Cincinnati on October 26, 2024, at Folsom Field in Boulder, Colorado. Horn was penalized for taunting, taking a touchdown off the board. (Cliff Grassmick/Photographer)

5. Solar bowl

When/where: December 31, noon MT, Sun Bowl Stadium in El Paso, Texas

Match : Pac-12 vs. ACC

Previous CU appearances: None

It would probably take a bad November for CU and a great November for a few other teams (Arizona State, USC, Washington) for the Buffs to fall to this spot in the pecking order. CU and Cal are the only “Pac-12” schools to have never played in the Sun Bowl, which debuted at the end of the 1934 season and is the second oldest bowl game, behind the Rose Bowl.

6. Los Angeles Bowl

When/where: December 18, 7 p.m. MT, SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.

Match : Pac-12 vs. Mountain West

Previous CU appearances: None

7. Independence Bowl

When/where: December 30, 7:15 p.m. MT, Independence Stadium in Shreveport, Louisiana.

Match : Pac-12 vs. American Athletic

Previous CU appearances: 2007

We’ll lump the LA Bowl and Independence Bowl together, because it would likely take a disastrous November (like going 0-4 and finishing 6-6) for the Buffs to land in either of those spots. Nothing is impossible, of course, so both games are on the line for the Buffs.

Originally published: November 1, 2024 at 1:56 p.m. MDT

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The CU Buffs are going bowling, but where? – Boulder Daily Camera

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