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

There’s one month left until the regular season and it’s official that the Colorado Buffaloes will go bowling.

There’s no telling where the No. 23 reinforcements go this holiday season, with many results over the next four weeks deciding their fate, but it’s not too early to look at the options.

While the Buffs (6-4, 4-1 Big 12), who have a bye this week, are enjoying a successful return season to the Big 12, their 13-year membership in the Pac-12 still carries weight. This year and 2025, the two remaining Pac-12 teams and the 10 teams that have since dispersed elsewhere are still participating in conference-bound bowl games in the recent past.

So, when looking at CU’s bowl options, we must compare the Buffs to Pac-12 schools, not the Big 12. Only three “Pac-12” teams will be eligible to compete this week: No. 1 Oregon (8-0) , No. 22 Washington State (7-1) and Colorado.

Arizona State (5-2) is a win out of bowl qualifying, while five teams – California, Oregon State, USC, Utah and Washington – are 4-4 and need two wins. Arizona (3-5), UCLA (2-5) and Stanford (2-6) seem to be good candidates for the postseason.

With this in mind, let’s look at the possibilities of CU bowls, in order of the selection process:

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

1. College football games

When/where: to be determined

Previous CU appearances: Thread

Oregon leads the Big Ten, but is also the top team in the Pac-12 this season. With four games left, the Ducks appear to be on track to clinch one of the 12 spots in the CFP, either as Big Ten champions or as an at-large team. Oregon reaching the CFP has implications for CU as it would eliminate the Ducks from the Pac-12 pecking order for other bowls. The Buffs could make it to the CFP as Big 12 champions, but they need help to get to the title game. The Buffs also have a chance to make it to the CFP without a Big 12 title if they can finish 10-2 and finish in the top 12 of the final rankings. Washington State could potentially sneak into the top rankings of non-Power 4 schools, but the Cougars are currently behind Boise State (No. 15) and Army (No. 21) and trailing Boise State, so their path is uncertain. it’s not easy.

2. Alamo bowl

When/where: December 28, 5:30 PM EST; Alamodome in San Antonio

Game: Pac-12 vs. Big 12

Previous CU appearances: 2002, 2016 and 2020

Once the 12-team CFP roster is finalized, the Alamo Bowl will be the first choice among the remaining “Pac-12” schools eligible for the bowl playoffs. The overall record and CFP ranking will matter to Alamo Bowl officials, but they can select any bowl-qualifying team regardless of record. Assuming Oregon makes it to the CFP, Colorado will likely be the most attractive team for Alamo due to 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 is that the other team in this game will be from the Big 12 and Alamo will try to avoid a rematch in the regular season. If Kansas State — which beat CU on Oct. 12 — is the Big 12 representative, CU likely won’t be selected. However, there is a chance the Buffs will face BYU or Iowa State. Washington State and USC could be the other top options for the Pac-12 spot.

3. Holiday bowl

When/where: December 27, at 18:00 MT, Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego

Game: Pac-12 vs. ACC

Previous CU appearances: 1996

Unlike the Alamo Bowl, Holiday (and others on the list) must make their selection based on overall score. However, there is a “plus one” rule, which means they can choose a team whose record is within one win of the best remaining. For example: If CU is 9-3 and USC is 8-4, Holiday can choose USC but cannot choose the 7-5 team. CU seems like the most attractive option if available, but USC is a major attraction in Southern California and may be the choice here.

4.Bowl in Las Vegas

When/where: December 27, at 20:30 MT, Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas

Game: Pac-12 vs. SEC

Previous CU appearances: Thread

If CU doesn’t land in the CFP and isn’t selected by Alamo or Holiday, it appears Vegas will be locked in. Unless it collapses in November, CU should be among the top four teams in the Pac-12, and there is almost no chance that the Las Vegas Bowl will pass up the opportunity to have Coach Prime in town over the holidays.

Jimmy Horn Jr. Colorado team flashes a “peace” sign on their way to the end zone during a game against Cincinnati on October 26, 2024, at Folsom Field in Boulder, Colorado. Horn was penalized for taunting and receiving a touchdown off the board. (Cliff Grassmick/photographer)

5. Sun bowl

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

Game: Pac-12 vs. ACC

Previous CU appearances: Thread

It would probably take a bad November from CU and a great November from a few other teams (Arizona State, USC, Washington) for the Buffs to drop 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 late in the 1934 season and is the second-oldest bowl game, after the Rose Bowl.

6. Los Angeles Bowl

When/where: December 18, at 7:00 PM MT, SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, CA.

Game: Pac-12 vs. Mountain West

Previous CU appearances: Thread

7. Independence Bowl

When/where: December 30, at 19:15 MT, Independence Stadium in Shreveport, Los Angeles.

Game: Pac-12 vs. American Athletic

Previous CU appearances: 2007

We’re combining the LA Bowl and the Independence Bowl because it would likely take a disastrous November (such as going 0-4 and finishing 6-6) before reinforcements land in either of those spots. Of course, nothing is impossible, so both games are for the Buffs.