Throughout a six-year college football career, LaVonta Bentley has seen just about everything.
He's been to the College Football Playoff and endured a six-game losing streak to cap a disappointing season. He's been a backup and a star.
It's certainly been a roller-coaster ride, but Bentley was all smiles this week knowing his college career will end in a bowl game. He and the 20th-ranked Buffaloes (9-3) will face No. 17 BYU (10-2) in the Valero Alamo Bowl on Dec. 28 in San Antonio (5:30 p.m. MT, ABC).
"I think every game is a big game, especially this time of the year," the Buffaloes' senior linebacker said. "Not making (a bowl game) last year, that was kind of tough, but getting back to one, that's always great because those games are what most of the fans want to watch and see. We're just blessed to be in that position."
Bentley began his career playing four seasons (2019-22) at Clemson, one of the top programs in the country. Although he was redshirting in 2019, the Tigers went 14-1 and reached the College Football Playoff (CFP) national title game.
From 2020-22, Bentley helped Clemson go 31-8 with three more bowl appearances, including a trip to the CFP final four in 2020.
Although productive when he played, Bentley was a reserve linebacker at Clemson and came to CU in 2023 looking for a better opportunity. He found it and hasn't looked back.
"Is there a better version of what college football should look like than LaVonta Bentley? He gives his all every play," CU defensive coordinator Robert Livingston said.
A rock in the middle of the Buffs' defense, Bentley has started every game this season, posting 49 tackles, four tackles for loss, a sack and two fumble recoveries. In 2023, the Buffs weren't nearly as good on defense, but Bentley shined with 68 tackles, 11 TFLs and five sacks.
While he spent most of his collegiate career at Clemson, Bentley said he will always take pride in being a Buff.
"Oh, a lot of pride, man," he said. "My last ride, my last game here. I came here for a reason, and, man, I built some great relationships with the coaches, the players and all that. So it's definitely big on me to see the people they're bringing in, what they're gonna do going forward."
At Clemson, Bentley joined a program that was already established as a national power. But at CU, he joined a program that was completely rebuilding under head coach Deion Sanders, who arrived in Boulder in December of 2022. Bentley has been one of the foundational pieces of that build.
"That's very big," he said. "I'm big on the process, and that's what it takes. That's what it took, to get from the season last year (going 4-8) to this season. And I know the future is real, real bright here. So that's what it is, a process to work."
Bentley's time in college football will end with the Alamo Bowl - the sixth bowl game of his career, which leads the team - but his process isn't done. He's got his eye on the NFL and will turn his focus to draft prep after the game against BYU.
"I'm trying not to get too much in my head knowing it's the last one (in college), so I just be trying to bloom where I'm planted," he said. "I know this isn't going to be the last of me playing ball. I know God got my back and I know the opportunity he placed in front of me, so I just got to attack it."