Colorado Buffaloes to face Texas Longhorns in Alamo Bowl

Thanks to bowl game opt-outs, a surprising conference champion in the Oregon Ducks, and the success of both Oklahoma and Iowa State, the Colorado Buffaloes get a fun bowl matchup. After sitting idle last week (thanks Washington), the 4-1 Buffs will play the 6-3 Texas Longhorns in the Valero Alamo Bowl.

This exhibition game will cap off a surprisingly successful first year on the gridiron for Karl Dorrell and the Buffs. A Senior Day loss to the Utes took some sheen off a previously-undefeated year, as did a gut-wrenching Nate Landman injury, but this team deserves this celebration for all they have accomplished this year. This is also a homecoming game for much of the Buffalo roster, including star RB Jarek Broussard.

For Texas, this is another winnable bowl game for Tom Herman, who hopes to keep his job. The Longhorns, led by QB Sam Ehlinger, started the year with high expecations. In what is seemingly their destiny ever year, they ultimately fell short of expectations while still putting away most of the Big 12. Now, Tom Herman is facing questions of job security after a very public attempt by the Longhorns to grab Urban Meyer out of retirement. This team is loaded with talent, but they may be a little listless after the end of the season.

This is about as high profile as CU could hope for. Let’s hope it goes better than the last one.