Travis Hunter won the 2024 Heisman Trophy in anti-climactic, though ultimately satisfying, fashion. The Heisman was yet another award for the future top-five NFL draft pick -- he kicked the weekend off winning the Bednarik, Biletnikoff, and Walter Camp Awards, and he was named Associated Press college football Player of the Year.
As BuffZone's Brian Howell noted, Hunter had 2,231 points and 552 first-place votes while Boise State RB Ashton Jeanty had 2,017 points and 309 first-place votes. Controversy seemed possible in that regard, but a wild swing to Jeanty would've resulted in a massive controversy considering a story dropped the week of the ceremony about how worried sportsbooks were of paying out Hunter bettors.
Hunter played the most snaps this season, 1,443, in what was one of the most uniquely dominant campaigns a player has ever played. He joins Rashaan Salaam as the only Heisman winners in the University of Colorado Boulder's history.
It cannot be stressed enough: Hunter had this coming. As Colorado kept winning, and Hunter hauled timely touchdown passes and interceptions en route to a 9-3 finish, it was only natural the college football world would recognize something no one had ever done.
The anti-Deion Sanders bias some thought would play a factor in voting never showed up. Hunter simply strolled to centerstage and took his place in history on a feel-good night in New York City.
Travis Hunter shouts out Jackson State in his acceptance speech
Hunter showed supreme class in his speech, thanking Coach Prime, Shedeur Sanders, and even Lil Wayne, who was a special guest. But most notably, Hunter made sure to shout out the school he chose out of high school, Jackson State.
“That was my learning grounds. That was my proving ground. I had to start somewhere, and I started there. Thank y'all Jackson State," Hunter said.
As Hunter admitted, Deion and Shedeur changed his life. What started in Jackson, Mississippi became the best-case scenario in Boulder, Colorado.
Now, No. 12 has the Alamo Bowl and a tough goodbye from the Buffs before being selected in the 2025 NFL draft this April.
Winning the Heisman makes Hunter immortal no matter what comes next.