Colorado narrowly escaped with a 31–26 victory over North Dakota State in their season opener on Friday, thanks to the electrifying efforts of quarterback Shedeur Sanders and wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter. The dynamic duo delivered standout performances that proved essential in securing the win, with Sanders throwing for 445 yards and four touchdowns, three of which were caught by Hunter. Hunter, playing both sides of the ball for nearly every snap, caught seven passes for 132 yards and the trio of touchdowns while also contributing key plays on defense.
Despite the remarkable individual efforts of both players, head coach Deion Sanders voiced his frustration over what he perceives as a lack of recognition for his stars in the national Heisman Trophy conversation.
During his weekly coaches show on Thursday, Sanders questioned why Shedeur and Hunter weren’t receiving more buzz, particularly given their game-changing performances in the season opener.
“Shouldn’t those two be talked about all week as the two leading Heisman candidates?” Coach Prime asked. “Or at least, shouldn’t the weekly awards have gone to those two guys?” Sanders suggested that the lack of attention could be due to his own presence as head coach, adding, “It’s almost like, ‘No, we can’t do that. Their coach is Deion Sanders. I’m not gonna let him get away with that.'”
Coach Sanders’ frustration comes in the wake of Miami quarterback Cam Ward receiving the Week 1 Player of the Week honors after leading the Hurricanes to a road win against Florida, despite the stellar play of Shedeur and Hunter. While both Colorado stars have garnered some attention in early Heisman discussions, Coach Prime feels their performances should have cemented them as frontrunners after just one game.
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The Buffaloes’ ability to withstand a tough challenge from North Dakota State was impressive, but Deion Sanders believes the national conversation should be equally focused on his players’ individual contributions. He emphasized that both Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter have already demonstrated they belong in the Heisman race and deserve recognition on a national level.
As Colorado prepares for a highly anticipated matchup against Nebraska this weekend, another strong showing from Sanders and Hunter could thrust them into the Heisman spotlight in the way Coach Prime has been calling for.
With the season still in its early stages, the door remains open for the Buffaloes’ star duo to make a significant impact, both on the field and in the race for college football’s most prestigious award.
