BOULDER, Colo. (AP) — The final play on Travis Hunter’s Heisman highlight reel was a falling touchdown catch with a defender draping over him.

If that, along with his other two touchdowns and an interception, weren’t enough to clinch college football’s biggest prize, then his coach has no idea what else the two-player standout can do.

“Travis won the Heisman with his performance today,” Deion Sanders said after No. 23 Colorado beat Oklahoma State 52-0 on Friday to keep its hopes of a non-Big 12 title game alive.

Hunter finished the game with 10 receptions and 116 yards for the Buffaloes (9-3, 7-2, No. 25 CFP). His three touchdown catches give him 14 this year, passing Nelson Spruce (12 touchdown catches, 2014) for the most by a Colorado receiver in a single season. After his third touchdown catch, Hunter stood up and struck the Heisman pose.

“He’s the best player in college football. “You can find ways to hate him, criticize him and condemn him, and you won’t look like a professional,” his coach said. “Travis Hunter has proven today and every week that he is the best player in college football.” ”

The same opinion was expressed by his quarterback Shedeur Sanders, who once ran across the field and counted on his fingers the number of touchdowns the star receiver had scored for the day.

“There’s no argument at this point,” the QB said of Hunter’s Heisman chances. “The consistency he shows is, in my opinion, what the award is all about.”

Sanders had his own big day as he threw for 438 yards, breaking the school’s single-season passing record. He finished the regular season with 3,926 passing yards, surpassing Koy Detmer’s single-season mark (3,527) set in 1996. Sanders also added five TD passes to increase his total to a school-best 35 this season .

With their work done, the Buffaloes must wreak havoc in the conference on Saturday to secure a spot in the league’s championship contest on Dec. 7 in Arlington, Texas.

A scenario to get in requires two losses to either No. 14 Arizona State (at Arizona), No. 19 BYU (hosting Houston) or No. 17 Iowa State (hosting Kansas State). Another scenario would be a BYU loss and a Texas Tech (host of West Virginia) win.

“Look at how we recovered,” said Deion Sanders, whose team lost control of the fate of its conference title game with a 37-21 loss at Kansas last weekend. “

The Buffaloes jumped out to a 21-0 lead in the first quarter and kept going in the second half. The defense forced four turnovers, including a pick-6 by DJ McKinney. This was the Buffaloes’ first shutout since a 34-0 victory over Arizona on October 16, 2021.

LaJohntay Wester finished the game with 11 catches for 175 yards and two scores. His 322 career catches with Colorado and Florida Atlantic rank him sixth on the NCAA career receptions list.

Before the game, Sanders was named the winner of the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award as the nation’s top QB. It could be the first of many awards Sanders and Hunter could receive.

However, Hunter was not named a finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award as one of the top defensive backs, drawing the ire of coach Deion Sanders. Hunter had one of his easiest picks when Maealiuaki Smith threw a pass in the first quarter. He dropped another one and stared at his hands.

Oklahoma State finished the year with a nine-game losing streak after being picked to finish third in the preseason media poll. This was the Cowboys’ first winless conference season since 1994, when they were in the Big 8.

“It didn’t go the way we wanted,” Cowboys coach Mike Gundy said. “I don’t even have to look at the stats, but we didn’t really give ourselves a chance offensively. It was so bad that it would be difficult to point out.”

Farewell to Folsom

Shedeur and Shilo Sanders were among 21 players honored on Senior Day. The brothers were accompanied to midfield by their coach/father.

The snack bar

Oklahoma State: On Friday, receiver Brennan Presley became the only player in program history to reach 1,000 all-purpose yards in four seasons.

Colorado: After allowing 331 yards rushing against Kansas last weekend, the Buffaloes held the Cowboys to 70 — and the most after the game was decided.

Impact on the survey

Colorado could move back up to the teens depending on what happens on Saturday.

Next

Oklahoma State: Get ready for next season.

Colorado: Expects a bowl bid, possibly a berth in the Big 12 title game.

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