Travis Hunter has taken a lot lately. Colorado Buffaloe’s beating heart was all on its way to clinching the Heisman trophy for 2024, but destiny didn’t want to let it be an easy call. The two-way star fell victim to a nasty right shoulder injury during the Buffs’s failed Kansas expedition. He left the field in the second quarter, leaving the mammoth fanbase under serious upset. However, his unwavering willpower made him suit up against the Arizona Wildcats last week.

While it was a wild comeback day for the Buffs, for Hunter, it was just a failed attempt. But the real trouble was brewing elsewhere. The lost Heisman trophy spot invited a lot of controversy for the 21-year-old. Are we seeing an end to that frustration? Well, it’s safe to say that the stacks are re-loading.

The Colorado sensation brutally underscored on Saturday and was left benched after the team’s initial lead for precautionary reasons. But he didn’t back out on his Heisman hope. For the unversed, Coach Prime’s favorite was leading the 2024 Heisman odds for all the good reasons. But the legitimate buzz significantly came down with two weeks of almost no performance and the growing uncertainty over future unavailability.

Now, Deion Sanders updated that Hunter is ”healthier” and is expected to be more productive heading into Saturday’s game against Cincinnati, the Heisman hope is visibly restoring. As per ESPN’s voting site, Hunter again sits atop the favorites with a total of 37 per cent of votes. So, while Ashton Jeanty may be winning over the odds for the Trophy, he no longer has the same pull when it comes to the public vote. He is second on the list with 32% of the votes, followed by other contenders like Cam Ward.

Can Travis really do it? To dish out the Heisman-level output, the kid needs to play more in the remaining games, both on offensive and defensive sides, adding to his stats, and Colorado needs to be in the Big 12 contention with some more wins in their bag. Otherwise, the ball might be on Ashton Jeanty, Hunter’s latest competitor on the table.

What is wrong between Travis Hunter and Ashton Jeanty over the Heisman trophy? 

Travis’ impressive offensive stats containing 46 catches, 541 yards, 6 touchdowns, and some equally good defensive numbers covering 15 tackles, 3 passes defended, 2 interceptions, and 1 forced fumble made him the absolute beast in the Heisman race over the slew of contenders. However, when injury got the better of him and his numbers, Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty caught the fever and moved to the first in between. Hunter couldn’t buy the reality and audaciously attacked the Florida native during a recent media appearance. After the air of animosity spread onto the air, Jeanty was asked about his opinion on this.

The Boise State sensation handled the situation a lot more maturely than Hunter did. He simply dodged Hunter’s cheap 95 catches and 95 carries comparison with an ‘I will win‘ assurance but didn’t forget to give the opponent his deserved flower. ‘He is an incredible player’, a gentle sportsman spirit takes over. 

It will really be interesting to see if Hunter can rise from the ashes and beat Jeanty for the coveted trophy in the next couple of months. Meanwhile, you are free to let us know your takes on the Colorado gem’s projected Heisman comeback.