Black Friday marked the ultimate regular-season recreation for Colorado. Whereas the Buffaloes stay in rivalry for a spot within the Huge 12 Championship Sport — however want a bit of assist from groups like Arizona State, BYU, and Iowa State to get there — Friday’s finale in opposition to Oklahoma State is likely to be the ultimate time Colorado takes the sector forward of December 9.
The day Heisman ballots are resulting from be turned in by voters.
As such, Friday’s recreation in opposition to the Cowboys was maybe Travis Hunter’s closing argument for Heisman voters.
And the two-way star delivered maybe the proper summation of his candidacy.
Hunter caught 10 passes for 116 yards and three touchdowns on the offensive facet of the soccer, and added an early interception within the recreation on the defensive facet of the ball, as Colorado routed Oklahoma State by a last rating of 52-0. The blowout victory sees the Buffaloes end their common season with a 9-3 file (7-2 in convention play), they usually now await outcomes on Saturday to see if they will earn a spot within the Huge 12 Championship Sport, and provides Hunter but yet one more crack at impressing the voters.
But when Friday was his final likelihood, it was fairly the hassle from Hunter. This interception early within the recreation highlighted his expertise on the defensive facet of the soccer, from his route recognition to his closing expertise on the throw itself:
Hunter’s interception gifted the Buffaloes a brief subject early within the first quarter, and Colorado capitalized on the sector place with a one-yard plunge from Micah Welch.
Colorado had a 14-0 lead late within the first quarter when Hunter reached the top zone for the primary time on the afternoon, hauling on this brief throw from Shedeur Sanders for an 11-yard landing:
Hunter’s second TD of the sport got here early within the second quarter, on a scramble-drill play with Sanders. Pay attention to how Hunter works himself open within the entrance of the top zone, in excellent sync together with his quarterback for the brief landing:
In fact, it might not be a recreation from Hunter with out one true highlight-reel second. That got here on his third landing reception of the sport, this effort that comes with Hunter falling ultimately zone, with a defender draped throughout him:
As Hunter has been identified to do, he flashed a Heisman Trophy pose in celebration, maybe providing an exclamation level on his prolonged closing argument from Boulder this afternoon.
That exclamation level made a bit of faculty soccer historical past as effectively:
With the common season full, Hunter finishes the yr with 82 receptions for 1,036 yards and 11 touchdowns, including one other dashing landing alongside the way in which. On the defensive facet of the soccer, the Colorado standout snared 4 interceptions this season.
For the time being these 11 receiving touchdowns rank Hunter third in all of faculty soccer. He’s additionally seventh within the nation in receiving yards, and fifth in receptions.
Will that add as much as a Heisman? We is not going to know for just a few extra weeks, and Hunter may nonetheless get yet one more likelihood to impress voters, relying on how different groups in rivalry for a spot within the Huge 12 Championship Sport fare on Saturday. Colorado can get into the Huge 12 Championship Sport if outcomes break their method Saturday.
But when this was Hunter’s closing argument, it was pretty much as good because it will get.