Josh Pate worries that Colorado football won't find a way into the Big 12 Championship, and, subsequently, won't give Travis Hunter an extra game to showcase himself for the Heisman Award's voting base.
“Travis is the best football player in the country. We all know that," Pate said (h/t Athlon Sports). "Why are we even deliberating over that? I think Jeanty's gonna be playing on Conference Championship Saturday. I think Dillon Gabriel and Oregon will be playing on Conference Championship Saturday. I think Cam Ward and Miami will be playing on Conference Championship Saturday.
"To me, the big question for the favorite right now, and that's Travis Hunter at Colorado, is, will they be playing on Conference Championship Saturday? Because if this thing is in a state of flux or in limbo in any way, him not being active on that last Saturday while the other three probably are, and a couple of them probably shining, if not all three, could be the difference in the outcome of this."
Pate predicted Oregon's Dillon Gabriel winning the award come December.
"My personal pick right now is that Dillon Gabriel is going to end up winning it," Pate prefaced before saying, "That's where I'd slightly lean, but who's active on Championship Saturday, that's what it comes down to."
QB play in college football may be too strong for Travis Hunter to overcome in Heisman race
Between Gabriel powering the Ducks and Cam Ward reviving The U, college football is seeing historic QB play in 2024. Oregon and Miami could go undefeated this season, and if that's the case, you can kiss Hunter's Heisman hopes goodbye.
One of the greatest college football careers likely won't have a Heisman on the resume.
Hopefully, though, he and the Buffs could have a meaningful bowl game that'll be remembered forever to be the cherry on top instead.