The Colorado Buffaloes commanding 34-7 victory over the Arizona Wildcats, marked a turnaround after their loss to Kansas State last week. But the game at the Arizona Stadium ended in the same fashion for their two-way star Travis Hunter as he stood watching from the sidelines. Not only this is a worry for the Buffs’ prospects but also puts Hunter’s Heisman Trophy chances in peril.

Coach Prime was naturally elated with the team improving its record to 5-2. The Buffs didn’t let the Wildcats into the game and dominated the proceeding throughout. However, Hunter’s injury in the first half raised questions over Deion Sanders’ decision to rush him into the team having suffered a shoulder injury just a week ago. Having missed the closing snaps in his last two games, Hunter’s Heisman Trophy odds have been affected with Boise State RB Ashton Jeanty and Oregon QB Dillon Gabriel now placed number one and two respectively.

Hunter has slipped from the second spot to fourth in just two weeks as the favorite to win the honor. So far Hunter has played 739 snaps through seven games, with more than 120 in his first five games. But in the last two games, he has only registered 77 total snaps in his last two games due to his shoulder injury, which has affected his chances.

Before Colorado’s loss to Kansas State, Deion Sanders was riding high on confidence, going all-in for his star player, Travis Hunter. Sanders boldly claimed that Hunter was the rightful Heisman Trophy winner, even though Hunter was ranked second in the race behind Jeanty. When Pat McAfee mentioned Hunter being the second favorite, Coach Prime wasn’t having any of it. “How did you even fix your mouth to say that second? Travis Hunter is second? He has never gotten alone…but you said it. You can’t get into that kind of conversation,” Sanders fired back. But now many are questioning whether Sanders made a risky call by letting Hunter play against Arizona if he wasn’t fully healthy.

Even before the Arizona game, some had raised concerns about Hunter playing on both sides of the field, a decision that put him at greater risk of injury. These concerns turned into reality, as Hunter at out the second half against Arizona due to his shoulder issue. After Hunter got hit on his right shoulder by Kansas State safety Daniel Cobbs’ helmet during a 14-yard catch, analyst Jason Whitlock didn’t spare Deion Sanders.

Speaking on his YouTube channel on October 15, Whitlock outright said, “Deion Sanders is the reason Travis Hunter got hurt. Deion Sanders thinks he’s reinvented football… ‘I can take a 21-year-old kid with amazing talent, and I can play him both ways—virtually every snap—for an entire season because I’m Deion Sanders. ‘Hey, I wanna play you 120-130 snaps per game,’ the inevitability of injury increases substantially.” But is Deion Sanders solely to be blamed?

Hunter, much like his outspoken coach, didn’t hold back when asked about the Heisman odds. During an appearance on Outta Pocket with RGIII, hosted by 2011 Heisman winner Robert Griffin III, Hunter exuded confidence. When asked about his chances, Hunter said, “I know I can win it. I don’t know who is there. Y’all see Ashton Jeanty, but it’s not like we haven’t seen a running back that’s good. We haven’t seen a player that plays both ways, and I’m gonna keep saying that.”

The two-way star has sounded confident about his Heisman chances with the real threat coming from Ashton Jeanty having an extraordinary season at Boise State.

Jeanty has amassed 1,248 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns putting him on track to break NFL Hall of Famer Barry Sanders’s record for 2,628 yards and 37 touchdowns set in 1988. Craig Meyer of USA Today noted, “His (Hunter) lack of snaps the past two weeks, however, will likely put him further behind Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty.”

The decision to play Hunter while he wasn’t fully healthy raises concerns about whether there’s too much pressure on him to stay on the field and maintain his Heisman hopes. Is Hunter playing through the pain because he’s worried missing games will cost him the Heisman?

It’s hard to say for sure, but the pressure is real. In a season where every game matters, especially for a two-way player like Hunter, the stakes are high. And amidst that, Coach Prime comes with an injury update!

Deion Sanders on Travis Hunter’s injury

The Fox broadcast reported that Sanders and his staff decided to bench Hunter at halftime against Arizona as a precautionary measure, with the Buffaloes leading 28-7. Hunter didn’t suit up again, instead appearing on the sidelines in casual clothes. Before being pulled, he managed two catches for 17 yards and contributed with a tackle as a cornerback.

Following the Buffaloes’ victory over Arizona, Deion Sanders provided an update on Hunter’s condition. Reflecting on the situation, Sanders acknowledged Hunter’s determination to play, saying, “He’s a little sore, a little banged up. Travis wanted to play. I don’t know if he was quite 100% ready, but a half of Travis is a whole of somebody.” Sanders’ words highlight both Hunter’s competitive spirit and the risks involved in playing him when he might not be at his best.

Even though Hunter gave it his all, it seems Sanders made the right call by keeping him on the bench in the second half. With the Buffaloes comfortably leading, there was no need to risk further injury. The focus now shifts to next week’s matchup against Cincinnati. It’s uncertain whether Hunter will be ready to return by then, but Sanders is sure to monitor his health closely moving forward.

As the season progresses, Hunter still has time to recover and make a strong push for the Heisman. If he can stay healthy and perform at a high level, he could make up ground in the race. Well, let’s see if Sanders’ confidence in his star player will pay off, but for now, all eyes are on Hunter’s recovery.