Colorado stars Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter to play in bowl game

In Boulder, Colorado, the state's college football team, Colorado Buffaloes, is preparing for an upcoming bowl game amidst discussions about player participation. As of November 30, 2024, quarterback Shedeur Sanders has announced his commitment to play in the game and expects his teammate, Heisman hopeful Travis Hunter, to join him. This decision is noteworthy given the rising trend of college football players opting out of bowl games to protect their NFL draft prospects. With bowl games losing significance in recent years due to the introduction of the College Football Playoff system, many top players now tend to skip these postseason matches to focus on their future careers. However, Coach Deion Sanders has expressed a desire to emphasize competitive integrity and team commitment. He asserts that participation in the bowl game is part of the players' responsibilities as team members, emphasizing that they should finish the season strong. The Buffaloes’ last bowl appearance in a non-COVID season was in 2016, and they haven't won a bowl game since 2004. Should they fail to make it to the Big 12 title game, the team is likely to be selected for either the Holiday Bowl on December 27 or the Alamo Bowl on December 28. Coach Sanders' viewpoint reflects an intention to instill a culture of accountability and dedication among his players, particularly in light of past bowl performances of other teams that declined participation.