Kalani Sitake & Coach Prime Praise Each Others Programs Ahead Of Alamo Bowl Showdown

SAN ANTONIO, Texas – Head coaches Kalani Sitake and Deion Sanders went head-to-head in an Alamo Bowl press conference with the media before Saturday’s game. The duo expressed great respect for each other and the programs developed under each other’s watch.

No. 17 BYU ends the 2024 campaign in the Valero Alamo Bowl against Heisman Trophy-winner Travis Hunter and the No. 23 Colorado Buffaloes. Kickoff in the Alamodome is at 5:30 p.m. MT on ABC.

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— Valero Alamo Bowl (@valeroalamobowl) December 27, 2024

“Excited, a day away from the game,” Sitake opened. “I have a great relationship with Coach Prime. I have a lot of respect for what he’s done with his team. Here we are sitting in this position that nobody predicted us to be in. We’re in this game; we’re looking forward to it.”

RELATED: How To Watch, Stream, Listen To BYU Football Vs. Colorado Buffaloes

After a week of bowl parties putting both programs together, Sitake believes players and coaches alike are ready for gameday.

“We’ve been here all week, and we ‘re trying to enjoy the festivities and all that, but we’re getting close to game time,” Sitake said. “I think a lot of guys are getting it ready for game mode. It’s gonna be a lot of fun.”

Cougars and Buffs enter the Alamo Bowl at full strength

“Everybody is playing,” Sitake said early on Friday. “It’s going to be an exciting time and we’re really looking forward to the matchup. We’re excited to play with these seniors that we have and the guys that are leaving the program. Just want to make it memorable.”

The statement comes days after Colorado revealed that Heisman Trophy-winner WR/DB Travis Hunter and QB Shadeur Sanders, an expected top-2 pick in the upcoming NFL, have secured substantial insurance protection to play in their final college games.

Cougs checking in from the River Walk 📍#Big12FB | @BYUfootball pic.twitter.com/bvzC33HKOU

— Big 12 Conference (@Big12Conference) December 27, 2024

“When you look at what Colorado does, you look at the talent,” Sitake said. “You see how well-coached they are. One of the things that’s most impressive is they have talent, and you can see it. But they have a high IQ, which means that they’re learning quite a bit from their coaching staff, and they’re learning from the experience of the game.”

Following a disastrous 4-8 finish in year one under Coach Prime, the Buffaloes have shown incredible resilience this season. Colorado improved to 9-3 and are eyeing their tenth win on Saturday.

RELATED: BYU-Colorado Alamo Bowl Fan Guide

“We’re not looking at this as a springboard. This is a game we want to win. We’re not just making a cameo here, just to show up,” Sanders began when asked about 2025. “We don’t do that. We have a valued opponent. A guy whose team is well-coached, disciplined, they’re structured, and get after it on both sides of the ball. They’ve got some tremendous players.”

RIVER RALLY HIGHLIGHTS DAY THREE AT VALERO ALAMO BOWL

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— BYU FOOTBALL (@BYUfootball) December 27, 2024

Sanders continued hyping up BYU, saying that Colorado can’t rely on the Cougars to beat themselves.

“They’re not gonna make mistakes,” Coach Prime cautioned. “We’re gonna have to beat them. They’re not gonna allow us to beat them. They are going to play the game of football like they have been taught to play.”

Watch Friday’s entire press conference here.

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For more information on BYU football, follow our BYU insider Mitch Harper. Harper is a BYU Insider for KSLsports.com and hosts the Cougar Tracks Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and Cougar Sports Saturday (Saturday from 12–3 p.m.) on KSL Newsradio. Follow Mitch’s coverage of BYU in the Big 12 Conference on Twitter/X and Threads: @Mitch_Harper.

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