SAN ANTONIO >> An all-star team could be cobbled together with the college football players who have opted out of bowl games this season.

Meanwhile, a pair of teams full of their own stars will hit the field on Saturday when No. 20 Colorado (9-3) battles No. 17 BYU (10-2) in the Valero Alamo Bowl at the Alamodome (5:30 p.m. MT, ABC).

During a time when top players often skip bowls, the Alamo Bowl could be one of the most competitive non-College Football Playoff games because of the talent that has remained at CU and BYU.

“All his kids are playing,” CU head coach Deion Sanders said as he sat next to BYU head coach Kalani Sitake for a press conference on Friday. “All our kids are playing. We’re going to play our toughest, our hardest. This is a game. This is not just a routine. This is a game that both of us want to win. So we’re taking it serious because we were predicted not to be here by some of you wonderful folks.”

Both teams have lost players to the transfer portal since the end of the regular season, but only two starters between them: CU linebacker Nikhai Hill-Green (transferring to Alabama) and BYU safety Crew Wakley (uncommitted).

The focus this week hasn’t been on players opting out, but rather players who have committed to play.

All of CU’s stars, including Heisman Trophy-winning cornerback/receiver Travis Hunter and quarterback Shedeur Sanders, are playing. So are BYU’s top players, including defensive end Tyler Batty, cornerback Jakob Robinson and receiver Chase Roberts.

“We are plenty excited to be here,” BYU quarterback Jake Retzlaff said. “Obviously being as big of a stage as it is, primetime and playing against a good team that draws a lot of media attention, we are excited to show what we’ve got.”

Projected by many as the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Shedeur Sanders has as much reason as anyone to skip this one, but that thought never entered his mind.

“We may not ever have a chance to play again together on the same team, so it’s about cherishing the moment,” Shedeur said. “It’s about knowing this is the final collegiate game, and each and every game we left it all out there. There’s no regret. I don’t ever want to go anywhere with regret.”

Coach Prime and Sitake both said it’s important to them to take this game seriously, in part because both programs went through a lot to get here. A year ago, both were losing teams and they came into this year projected near the bottom of the Big 12 standings, CU at 11th and BYU at 13th.

The Buffs and Cougars were among the biggest surprises in the Big 12, along with conference champion Arizona State, which was picked last but will play in the CFP quarterfinals.

“Maybe because neither of us was supposed to be here,” Coach Prime said when asked why it’s important to take this game seriously. “We were supposed to be in the crib right now, focused on recruiting, focused on improving our rosters, but nevertheless we’re here. Not only that, but nevertheless, we’re a few plays away from playing in another week or so (in the CFP).

“So we know what we have, and we’re happy about it, and we’re not going to take this for granted. This is a blessing, man. When you’re on the outside of this stuff and you’re looking in, you want to get there. … Then you get to a bowl and you gonna sit there and act ignorant like you don’t want to play or something? You know how many people wish they could be in our situation? So we’re going to take full advantage of it.”

Sitake agrees, while also adding that the teams owe it to their fans who have come to San Antonio in full force to celebrate the success of both teams.

“The pageantry of it all, it’s a lot of fun,” Sitake said. “I think we sit there and think that it’s only the players and the team benefit from it, the coaches, but the fans do, too. … We’re forgetting the fans are a part of this, too. We plan on seeing all our fans in the stadium tomorrow. They’re enjoying all of it, and I speak for Deion with this, we love seeing our fans happy, so that’s a big part of why we’re at where we’re at.”

Of course, there’s one other big and simple reason why BYU and CU are taking this game seriously.

“Watching Colorado, they love to play football, and so do we,” Sitake said. “When it’s all said and done, it’s a game of football, and if nobody showed up, and if there are no cameras there, we would still play, because these guys love to play the game on both sides, and we’re looking forward to it.”