On the scoreboard, Travis Hunter and Shedeur Sanders went out with a whimper at Colorado.
But their lasting impact in Boulder — both on the field and off — was probably immeasurable.
With two dynamic stars playing their final college game, the 23rd-ranked Buffaloes were blown out 36-14 by No. 17 BYU in the Valero Alamo Bowl on Saturday night.
Hunter, the Heisman Trophy winner and two-way sensation, caught four passes for a game-high 106 yards and a touchdown. His 43-yard scoring grab from Sanders cut Colorado’s deficit to 27-7 with 6:14 left in the third quarter.
The lockdown cornerback also made four solo tackles.
Sanders, the son of Colorado coach Deion Sanders, was 16-of-23 passing for 208 yards with two TDs and two interceptions.
Hunter and Shedeur Sanders are both expected to be picked high in the NFL draft next spring.
“It felt great representing Colorado and bringing it back to where it was in the past,” Sanders said. “And obviously, we laid the foundation of the program, so now it’s stable for the other players that are coming in to take off and pick up where we left off at.”
Nothing’s been the same at Colorado since the school hired Deion Sanders as head coach in December 2022 – and that was the idea.
Along with the hype and hoopla surrounding the arrival of Coach Prime from Jackson State, the former NFL superstar brought a talented group of transfers to the Rocky Mountains – most notably his quarterback son and Hunter. Together, they helped transform the Buffaloes (9-4) from a national afterthought to one of college football’s greatest shows and hottest tickets.
“All the OB’s, original Buffs, how thankful and appreciative they were, that they got an opportunity to come participate in a week of bowl festivities,” Deion Sanders said after the game when asked what he’s learned during his time with his departing players. “So, patience and forgiveness and just overall love man.”
And while Hunter and Shedeur Sanders certainly didn’t have the send-off they were hoping for, the Buffaloes are still excited about a bright future.
“I don’t look forward to it, but I do because that means they are going to another level, another chapter of life, and they’re going to soar,” Deion Sanders said before the game. “I’m thankful that I feel we’ve equipped them with all the tools necessary to be successful.”