BOULDER, Colo. — Known as “Heisman,” a particular play on Saturday showcased Colorado’s two key contenders for college football’s most prestigious award. During the fourth quarter, standout Travis Hunter received a pitch for a reverse while quarterback Shedeur Sanders sprinted downfield for a pass. Hunter directed his gaze toward Sanders, setting the stage for a potential highlight reel moment at the upcoming Heisman Trophy ceremony in New York.
However, the moment didn’t go as planned when Sanders unexpectedly tripped and fell. Hunter quickly adapted to the situation, taking the initiative to dash in for a 5-yard touchdown, leading the 18th-ranked Colorado Buffaloes to a commanding 49-24 victory over Utah. Sanders jokingly remarked after the game, “It was really supposed to be my touchdown. If you want to be honest, he took my shine on that one.”
Both players further strengthened their Heisman candidacy as Colorado improved to 8-2 overall and 6-1 in the Big 12, marking their fourth consecutive win. Hunter stood out on the field, wearing eye-catching gold cleats and remaining a dominant force throughout the game. He had an impressive performance, playing approximately 132 snaps and excelling on both offense and defense. One of his standout moments was a remarkable 28-yard catch amidst two Utah defenders on a critical fourth-and-8 situation, a play that is sure to be replayed often.
On the other side of the ball, Hunter made his presence felt with an interception, a pass breakup, and three tackles. Nonetheless, he encountered a setback when receiver Dorian Singer managed to score a 40-yard touchdown on him, marking the first touchdown reception Hunter has allowed this season. Currently, Hunter is viewed as the frontrunner for the Heisman, according to BetMGM, with odds of plus-100, followed by Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel at plus-350 and Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty at plus-400. Meanwhile, Shedeur Sanders is listed with odds of plus-5,000.
Deion Sanders believes his son Travis deserves to be considered for the prestigious award. He stated, “Travis is who he is. It’s supposed to go to the best college football player. I think that’s been a wrap since Week 2.” Shedeur had a strong performance as well, bouncing back after tossing an interception on his first play. He completed 30 of 41 passes for 340 yards and three touchdowns, bringing his season total to 27 touchdown passes—just one shy of the single-season school record held by Sefo Liufau since 2014.
Moreover, Shedeur has now thrown a touchdown pass in 21 straight games played at Colorado, seizing the record previously set by Liufau. His father noted, “I thought he was kind of OK all game long. Then I look at his stats … I guess I’m just a hard dad to please at times, as well as a hard coach.”
The friendship between Hunter and Shedeur, who arrived together from Jackson State, keeps them focused on team success rather than individual accolades. Their primary goal is to secure a place in the conference championship and possibly contend for a spot in the College Football Playoff. “We don’t go into a game being like, ‘Oh, we’ve got to get Trav the Heisman,’” Shedeur explained. “Some teams do that for their player. Nah, I’m just playing. But no, we don’t go into a game like that. It’s all natural.”
Even so, the mishap during that reverse play will likely linger in Shedeur’s mind, especially during film review sessions. “It’s definitely going to be on the bloopers because I fell backwards,” he admitted. “I see how hard it is to be a receiver.”