Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter’s Insulting Exclusion Prompts Heisman Prospects Bias Accusations

Is Shedeur Sanders not a top Heisman contender? What about Travis Hunter? The recent On3 Sports’ Heisman rankings have sparked outrage in Boulder, throwing a wrench into the Colorado Buffaloes’ dreams. 

The controversial list, compiled by On3 expert Jesse Simonton, features Georgia’s QB Carson Beck at the top as expected. He was followed by names like Texas’ QB Quinn Ewers, Oregon’s Dylan Gabriel, Alabama’s Jalen Milroe, Ole Miss’ Jaxson Dart, and so on. However, glaring omissions have left Buffs fans furious – notably the absence of star quarterback Shedeur Sanders and elite two-way phenom Travis Hunter.

“Buffs Nation Daily” host took the list to task on June 22, calling the exclusion of Shedeur and Hunter “laughable.” He pointed to Shedeur’s impressive stats: 3,230 yards thrown, 27 touchdowns, a stellar 69.3% pass completion rate, and only 3 interceptions. The host highlighted a game-winning performance against TCU last season, showcasing Sanders’ leadership qualities. He argued that “Sanders had better stats than a couple of those on the list.”

Hunter’s case is equally compelling. Even though he missed 3 games because of injury, Hunter racked up a whopping 30 tackles and 3 interceptions. He wasn’t just a defensive beast, though; this “versatile” player also showed off his skills on offense, catching 57 passes for a total of 721 yards. These two-way stats left the host questioning the ranking’s validity, calling it “foolish.”

This Heisman snub has ignited a firestorm of debate in Boulder, with fans firmly believing their stars deserve recognition. While many share the outrage, others try to find reasons behind the snub. Did Shedeur and Hunter’s stats get overlooked? 

Can Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter overcome the numbers game?

The Heisman Trophy race is nail-biting, but there are some hurdles for Colorado‘s rising stars, Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter. Trends show the award heavily favoring quarterbacks, with only two non-QBs winning in the past 15 years. This puts a dent in non-QB contender Travis Hunter’s chances. Now, considering the Buffaloes finished the last season with just 4 wins, it also weakens Shedeur’s winning chance. 

Even Coach Prime’s confidant, Uncle Neely, acknowledges the uphill battle.“If your team [Buffaloes] ain’t winning, you move out of the discussion for Heisman,” he warns. Now, an above-average season, with at least 6 wins, is crucial for their Heisman hopes. “If we start losing games,” says Uncle Neely, “their names are out of the dimension.”

While Coach Prime remains confident about his players reaching the top five in the Heisman race, the reality is setting in. Can the Buffaloes overcome their previous losing record and still see their stars shine in the Heisman race? Winning games take priority now, perhaps more than ever.