Is Travis Hunter playing vs USC? Latest injury update

Like on September 23 in Week 4 against Oregon, Travis Hunter will not be playing against USC — this despite the two-way star’s best efforts to persuade Coach Prime to play him against the No. 8 USC Trojans.

“I need to play this week,” Hunter texted Deion Sanders, as the Buffs coach revealed in a September 25 video released by Well Off Media. “We need to get everything we can so I can get back on the field. I’m not taking no for an answer.”

Coach Prime made sure to respond to Hunter, telling him that his season debut will have to wait as Hunter recovers from a lacerated liver that was injured by Colorado State DB Henry Blackburn via a dirty hit during Colorado’s 43-35 Week 3 Rocky Mountain Showdown victory.

“No, you ain’t ready and I care about you more than I care about this game,” Sanders told Hunter. “You’re going to change the game of football one day when you’re healthy and ready. Your future is brighter than mine ever will be and ever was. Relax and get healthy. I love you, son.”

When will Travis Hunter return from injury?

As Buffaloes Wire’s Jack Carlough predicts, Hunter will be back from injury either October 13 against Stanford at Folsom Field on Friday the 13th, or more likely, against UCLA on October 28 in Pasadena, California.

“While we’d all like to see Hunter return, Coach Prime responded appropriately to Hunter’s request, especially when you consider that the injury involves a major internal organ,” Carlough prefaced before saying, “If his recovery goes well, Hunter will likely return either on Oct. 13 vs. Stanford or after the bye week on Oct. 28 at UCLA.”

Without Hunter, Colorado had to overcome a fourth-quarter deficit to defeat Colorado State and would play a wholly uncompetitive 60 minutes of football against Oregon at Autzen Stadium in Eugene.