Travis Hunter’s Heisman moments help Colorado down Utah

In the closing seconds of the first quarter in Saturday’s game between Colorado and Utah, Buffaloes two-way star Travis Hunter peeled off his receiver in coverage, snared an interception off a deflection, returned it deep into Utah territory, and got up and did a Heisman pose in celebration. It was a notable moment in a Heisman-worthy season filled with them from the Colorado standout.

But it was what came later in the first half that might have cemented his status as a Heisman Trophy winner.

With Colorado driving just before halftime, the Buffaloes faced a 4th-and-8 situation inside Utah territory. Head coach Deion Sanders kept his offense on the field, and quarterback Shedeur Sanders looked in Hunter’s direction on a corner route between a pair of Utah defenders.

Roughly 99 times out of 100, this pass is broken up.

Hunter, however, makes the impossible ... possible:

The Colorado star hung in the air long enough to beat both defenders to the football, hanging on through a hit that catapulted him higher, before crashing down shoulders-first with the reception.

Believe it or not, Hunter was not done with Heisman moments against Utah.

Late in the game, with Colorado holding a big lead, the offense dialed up a trick play, with Hunter getting the football on a reverse. Utah’s defense, however, was ready. Hunter was pinned nearly 15 yards behind the line of scrimmage, staring disaster in the face:

You probably know how this ends.

Somehow, some way, Hunter slices through the Utah defense, turning near-disaster into another emphatic statement in his Heisman campaign:

All told, Hunter had 5 receptions for 55 yards, a 5-yard rushing touchdown, and an interception against the Utes. He did this while playing a staggering 132 snaps, and according to OptaSTATS, he became the first player in either the NFL or the FBS to have 50 receiving yards, a rushing touchdown, and an interception in the same game in the past 24 years. The last player to accomplish that feat? Champ Bailey in the NFL, in a game for Washington against Arizona on Dec. 24, 2000.

Following the game, Hunter’s coach made his own unique Heisman pitch:

More than anything else, Hunter’s play tells the story.

A story filled with Heisman-worthy moments.