Travis Hunter tracker: Clutch TD reception helps Colorado continue playoff push

With its 41-27 win at Texas Tech on Saturday, Colorado brought us one step closer to giving Travis Hunter a shot at the College Football Playoff. The Buffaloes (7-2), ranked No. 20 in this week’s top CFP rankings, have won three straight games and six of their last seven.

Hunter’s Heisman campaign, meanwhile, may have gotten a boost Saturday with Georgia Tech’s upset of Miami. Just this week, Hunter passed Hurricanes quarterback Cam Ward (and Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty) to take the lead The athleteHeisman Straw Poll – Hunter received 12 of a possible 27 first-place votes. A loss won’t kill Ward’s chances, but Hunter and Jeanty (No. 2 in our last poll) could create a small lead.

More on Hunter’s latest gig:

Stat line vs. Texas Tech

Nine catches for 99 yards and a touchdown

Officially, Hunter did not record any defensive stats on Saturday despite his usual heavy workload. Unofficially, he recorded another highlight-reel interception on his tape, leaping to high point and catching a throw from Texas Tech QB Behren Morton down the sideline; Colorado was flagged for offside during the play, negating Hunter’s call.

But don’t worry. Hunter also delivered this big piece that did to count:

TRAVIS HUNTER TO THE HOUSE 🏠@CUBuffsFootball expands leadership in Lubbock 🔥 pic.twitter.com/VknF4aBTrZ

— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) November 9, 2024

That 24-yard touchdown gave Colorado — which was down 13-0 early — a two-point lead in the third quarter. It also came on Hunter’s 99th snap of the game (and that was with over a quarter to go).

Hunter has up to 69 catches for 856 yards and nine touchdowns this season. With a pick six scored while playing for Jackson State in 2022, Hunter has 19 TDs in his college career.

Signature moment

The aforementioned touchdown was Hunter’s most important play, and the blown interception may have been his most impressive. But we also can’t seem to get through a game without Hunter doing something wild.

This week? Before the first snap, he spotted a tortilla on the field – yes, you read that right – and immediately picked it up and stored it in his uniform.

Travis Hunter just picked up a tortilla on the field and put it in his pants 😅

Only in Lubbock 🤣 pic.twitter.com/fBTPLr53HK

— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) November 9, 2024

This is a new one.

What it means

A slew of NFL teams are stumbling toward the No. 1 pick, so of course it will determine how the 2025 NFL Draft opens. But it’s becoming increasingly clear that Hunter deserves a spot in the top five – and possibly even the top.one – Consideration.

Travis Hunter, the top prospect in the draft.

— Dane Brugler (@dpbrugler) November 9, 2024

This is a good place to suggest that Dane Brugler’s updated 2025 draft board will be released in a few days. You don’t have to read between the lines of this tweet to see who’s probably on top – Dane put it pretty bluntly.

And Hunter’s place on the board coincides with his participation in Nick Baumgardner’s mock draft last week. For the second year in a row, Nick made Hunter the No. 1 pick, this time by the Carolina Panthers. “Hunter is the best college football player in America, absolutely the top cornerback and has the edge as a WR1,” Baumgardner wrote. “People talk a lot about generational ability, but Hunter actually has it. We haven’t seen a WR picked this high since Keyshawn Johnson, and we’ve never seen a CB here. We’ve never seen a Travis Hunter either.”

Go deeper

Looking Back at Travis Hunter’s High School Heroics: ‘He’s the Most Talented Boy I’ve Ever Been With’

As always, quarterback-needy teams will snag the top of the draft, but – especially alongside a perceived weak QB class – Hunter’s otherworldly abilities could set him apart.

(Photo: John E. Moore III / Getty Images)