- NCAA. Shedeur Sanders says goodbye to Deion and Colorado as only he can amid College Football Playoff devastation
- NCAA. Travis Hunter overtakes Shedeur Sanders in personal battle with help from Coach Prime
Although the Colorado Buffaloes' season didn't end the way they hoped - they wanted to be part of the new 12-team playoff format and came close at one point - the team, led by Deion Sanders, exceeded expectations with a 9-3 record. This year's performance was exceptional, considering that only the 2016 season (10-4) had nine or more wins in the last 20 years. If it weren't for that 2016 season, when they lost the Alamo Bowl, where they might play again this year against the Iowa State Cyclones or BYU Cougars, you'd have to go back to 2002 to find a season where the Buffaloes had as many wins as they did this year.
How Deion Sanders Elevated Colorado's Football Program
When Deion took over last season, the Buffaloes were coming off a one-win campaign. Two years later, he has them in an incredible position to win a bowl game, something they haven't done since 2004. Much of that success can be attributed to their players being selected to the ALL-BIG 12 team, Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter. Both will be picked in the top five picks of the NFL Draft, I would venture to say in the top three, depending on how the order turns out.
With Shedeur Sanders winning Offensive Player of the Year and Heisman candidateTravis Hunterunanimously winning Defensive Player of the Year, they were obviously the main contributors to the Buffaloes' success. Hunter also made history as the first player ever to be named to both the ALL-Offensive and ALL-Defensive teams. While this may help him beat Ashton Jeanty for the Heisman Trophy-something I personally don't think should happen-it's impossible to deny the significance of this historic season.
Deion Sanders Faces Pressure Ahead of Colorado's Bowl Game
However, with these accolades and national fame - which, like anything popular, generates both love and hate - the pressure on Deion Sanders to win the bowl game, no matter the opponent, has increased. Especially since he has already confirmed that both star players will participate and want to leave the NCAA with a significant accomplishment. The real concern will come during the offseason when Sanders will face the challenge of replacing Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter, two stars whose absence will expose the team's many weaknesses. Personally, I think Travis' absence will be felt the most on defense.
Deion has reiterated his commitment to staying at Colorado despite rumors of NFL offers. Time will tell how much his celebrity, fueled by the performance of his stars, will cost him and how the departure of these players will affect the program. Statistically, Shedeur finished the season with 3,926 ing yards, 35 touchdowns and eight interceptions. Meanwhile, Hunter, who played wide receiver, recorded 92 receptions for 1,152 yards and 14 touchdowns. On defense, the Heisman Trophy favorite recorded 31 tackles, 11 es defensed, one forced fumble and four interceptions.
The Tight Heisman Race: Jeanty vs. Hunter
Returning to the Heisman Trophy discussion, it feels like a very close race between Ashton Jeanty and Travis Hunter, as both have strong credentials to claim the award. Hunter has played more snaps than any player in NCAA history and has excelled on both sides of the ball, especially on defense, where his recent accolades underscore his dominance. On the other hand, Jeanty has been unstoppable all season, dominating every game, with no team able to contain him and his team in the playoffs.
Personally, I lean towards Ashton, because if you were to switch them, the Buffaloes would probably be a top-seven team with Jeanty, while Boise State might be unranked even with Hunter. Either way, whoever doesn't win will still go down as one of the greatest players to never win the Heisman.