Black Friday was Colorado State's last game of the regular season. The Buffaloes are still in contention for a spot in the Big 12 Championship Game, but they need a little help from teams like arizona, BYUand iowa To get there — Friday's final game against Oklahoma State could be the last time Colorado takes the field heading into Dec. 9.
The day voters turn in their Heisman ballots.
So Friday's game against the Cowboys was likely Travis Hunter's final argument for Heisman voters.
And this two-way star offered perhaps the perfect summary of his candidacy.
Hunter caught 10 passes for 116 yards and three touchdowns on offense and added an early interception on defense as Colorado defeated Oklahoma State by a final score of 52-0. With this dominant victory, the Buffaloes will finish the regular season with a record of 9-3 (7-2 in conference play) and will earn a berth in the Big 12 Championship Game, giving Hunter a spot. We are waiting for the results on Saturday. There is another rift in impressing voters.
But if Friday was his last chance, it was quite an effort from Hunter. This interception early in the game highlighted his skills on the defensive side of the football, from route recognition to his skill in closing the throw itself.
Hunter's interception gave the Buffaloes a short field early in the first quarter, and Colorado took advantage of the field position with Micah Welch's 1-yard dive.
Colorado led 14-0 late in the first quarter when Hunter reached the end zone for the first time in the afternoon, converting this short throw from Shedeur Sanders for an 11-yard touchdown.
Hunter's second TD of the game came on a scramble drill play with Sanders early in the second quarter. Notice how Hunter is perfectly in sync with the quarterback and tackles him open in front of the end zone for a short touchdown.
Of course, it wouldn't be a Hunter's game without some true highlight-reel moments. It was his third touchdown reception of the game. The attempt occurred with Hunter falling in the end zone and defenders covering his entire body.
As Hunter is known to do, he sported a celebratory Heisman Trophy pose, perhaps putting an exclamation point on this afternoon's lengthy closing argument in Boulder.
This exclamation mark made a little bit of college football history.
At the end of the regular season, Hunter finished the season with 82 receptions for 1,036 yards and 11 touchdowns, adding another rushing touchdown along the way. On the defensive side of football, the Colorado standout has thrown four interceptions this season.
At the moment they are Hunter ranks third with 11 touchdowns. In college football as a whole. He also 7th place nationwide at the reception yard, and 5th place in reception.
Will it be equivalent to the Heisman? We won't know for a few more weeks, but depending on what happens with the other teams vying for spots in Saturday's Big 12 Championship Game, Hunter may still have another chance to impress voters. If the results come in Saturday, Colorado will advance to the Big 12 Championship Game.
But if this was Hunter's closing argument, it was as good as it gets.
