Big-trophy Hunter: CU star states Heisman case

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Adam Rittenberg, ESPN Senior WriterNov 29, 2024, 06:24 PM ET

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College football reporter; joined ESPN in 2008. Graduate of Northwestern University.

BOULDER, Colo. — Travis Hunter started his victory lap on the Colorado sideline, signing autographs and taking pictures as fans chanted, “Heisman!”

He posed with his fiancée, Leanna Lenee, who wore a jacket with “HE12MAN” — a nod to Hunter, his jersey number and college football’s top individual honor — on the back. As Hunter completed his celebratory circuit behind the north end zone at Folsom Field, a fan told him he was the greatest ever to wear a Colorado jersey.

The Buffaloes’ two-way sensation capped his career at home Friday with an emphatic closing argument for why he should win the Heisman Trophy, hauling in three touchdown passes and an interception as Colorado walloped Oklahoma State 52-0 to finish the regular season at 9-3. Unless Colorado gets some help Saturday and advances to the Big 12 championship game — the Buffaloes would need several outcomes to go their way — Hunter will not play again before the Heisman voting concludes.

“Travis clinched the Heisman with his performance,” Colorado coach Deion Sanders said of Hunter, who is the first FBS player with three touchdowns and an interception in game since at least 1996.

Hunter entered Friday as the overwhelming favorite (-800) to win the Heisman and saw his odds soar to as high as -25000 during the game (they’re currently at -15000), per ESPN BET, as he broke Colorado’s single-season touchdowns receptions record, which now stands at 14, and tied the single-game team mark. He intercepted a Maealiuaki Smith pass on the game’s first series and nearly had another interception at the end of the first half, finishing with two pass breakups.

The junior, who starts at cornerback and wide receiver, recorded an interception and an offensive touchdown in a game for the fourth time this season. According to ESPN Research, he also became the first player in the past 25 seasons with two games of multiple scrimmage touchdowns and an interception.

Hunter is vying to become Colorado’s second Heisman winner, following running back Rashaan Salaam in 1994. And he’s also vying to become the first to play a defensive position full … Read More