- NCAA. Shedeur Sanders and Malik Nabers ignite buzz in NYC catch session
- NCAA. Travis Hunter snubbed for Maxwell Award-But his unprecedented feat changes the game
The Colorado Buffaloes' Shedeur Sanders had to awkwardly tell his mother that he wasn't a finalist for the 2024 Heisman Trophy award after she enthusiastically wondered if the 22-year-old made the cut.
The Boulder-based quarterback tossed for 3926 yards for a 74.2% completion rate and 35 touchdowns throughout the year and allowed just eight interceptions in an impressive NCAA campaign.
And after already winning the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, one could be forgiven for thinking the youngster made the cut to compete for the prize awarded to the best college football player for outstanding excellence, but Pilar Biggers had to be told the truth.
"My mom called me," Shedeur told The Travis Hunter Show. "She was like, 'Oh, you know they're announcing the finalists! Did you make it?'
"I said, 'I don't know.' She said, 'Well, it'll be on TV later on.' I said, 'Oh, aight.' I done had the talk of shame."
Sanders seemed to be aware he wouldn't be in the hat to win the Heisman Trophy, despite Cam Ward and Dillon Gabriel being put into the draw after winning more votes, but he isn't that bothered anyway even though Hunter was left baffled.
"I'm not really tripping on [the Heisman race]," Shedeur said on the 2Legendary podcast. "I don't need others' validation to know who I am, you know?
"So I don't really care. As long as they give at least one of us the respect we deserve, that's all that matters to me."
Hunter reacts to being Heisman favorite
It was far from a surprise that Travis Hunter was named as a Heisman finalist after his exceptional performance through the 2024 season in a dual role as a wide receiver and a cornerback.
As a receiver, he made 1152 yards from 92 receptions for 14 touchdowns. As a cornerback, he made 31 tackles (20 solo) with 11 deflections, one forced fumble and four interceptions as well as an interception touchdown.
So he's now -2000 to win the trophy ahead of Ashton Jeanty as per FOX Sports, but the 21-year-old doesn't seem too fazed at the illustrious honor adding it wasn't important to him when he found out he's a finalist.
"I was at an awards ceremony when I got announced [as a Heisman finalist]," Hunter said on his show. "And I was like, 'Bro, I don't care about that, not an accomplishment right now.' Hopefully I win it though."