Travis Hunter shines again as No. 17 Colorado takes another step toward Big 12 title with win over Utah

On By Littum

BOULDER, COLORADO - NOVEMBER 16: Travis Hunter #12 of the Colorado Buffaloes strikes the Heisman pose after intercepting a turnover against the Utah Utes in the first half at Folsom Field on November 16, 2024 in Boulder, Colorado. (Photo by Aaron M. Sprecher/Getty Images)

Travis Hunter made a strong Heisman statement in Colorado’s No. 17 win over Utah. (Photo by Aaron M. Sprecher/Getty Images)

No. 17 Colorado didn’t have much trouble with Utah on Saturday.

The Buffaloes are one step closer to a spot in the Big 12 title game and a potential spot in the College Football Playoff after a 49-24 home win over the Utes.

The match started badly. Shedeur Sanders was intercepted on the first pass of the game. But Utah’s dying offense could only muster a field goal, and Colorado took over from there.

After leading by 12 at halftime, Colorado put the game away in the third quarter. Nikhai Hill-Green intercepted Isaac Wilson on the first possession of the half and returned the ball to the Utes’ 37-yard line. One play later, Isaiah Augustave made a rare big play in the running game for the Buffs with a 37-yard TD run to make it a three-possession game.

That play was the longest TD run by a Colorado player since 2018 and one of many big plays Colorado hit on Saturday.

The Buffaloes scored four touchdowns over 35 yards. Colorado’s first TD came on a 40-yard TD to Will Sheppard, and LaJohntay Wester added another just over two minutes later on a 76-yard punt return. In the fourth quarter, Sanders hit Drelon Miller for a 47-yard TD.

The Colorado star defensive back and wide receiver entered the weekend as the betting favorite for the Heisman Trophy. And it’s going to take a big weekend from someone else to usurp him.

Hunter had his third interception of the season in the second quarter when he caught a deflected pass and returned it 21 yards.

The Buffs’ offense couldn’t do anything with the ball after the pick, but Hunter later set up an offensive TD with a stunning 28-yard grab on fourth down as a wide receiver late in the second quarter.

Hunter then finished the game with a TD run on an end-around after he changed direction and cut back to the middle of the field. If and when he wins the Heisman in about a month, you’ll see a lot of highlights of this game, even if it came when the game was out of reach.

The path to the Big 12 championship game is straightforward for Colorado: The Buffs just have to keep winning. Colorado has a road game at Kansas and a home game against Oklahoma State during the final two weeks of the regular season. Wins in each of those games will guarantee the Buffaloes a spot in Arlington on Dec. 7.

Utah, meanwhile, simply hopes to make a bowl game after opening the season as favorites to win the Big 12. The Utes (4-6) have been decimated by injuries to QB Cameron Rising, TE Brant Kuithe and WR Money Parks , among others are out for the season. Wilson is one of only two healthy quarterbacks after Brandon Rose suffered a season-ending foot injury in the team’s Week 11 loss to BYU.

Utah hosts Iowa State in Week 13 before a road trip to UCF on Black Friday to end the season. The Utes need to win both of those games to get to a bowl.