Has any Colorado player won a Heisman Trophy? Travis Hunter sets out to achieve a historic record for the Buffs

Travis Hunter has been one of the most influential college football players this season as he solidified his place as one of the sport’s most electrifying athletes.

Hunter is competing with players like Ashton Jeanty, Dillon Gabriel and Cam Ward, all of whom have had strong seasons. Among them, Hunter and Jeanty are considered the frontrunners with the strongest odds.

Has any Colorado player ever won a Heisman Trophy?

Yes, Rashaan Salaam, who achieved this feat in 1994 is the only player from Colorado to have won the Heisman Trophy. Salaam’s standout season for the Buffaloes included amassing 2,349 total yards and 24 touchdowns. These remarkable numbers helped Colorado finish with an impressive 11-1 record and a No. 3 spot in the final AP poll.

Salaam’s Heisman-winning campaign included rushing for 2,055 yards and 24 touchdowns while averaging 6.9 yards per carry. His key performances included a 232-yard, three-touchdown game against Kansas.

In the regular-season finale against Iowa State, Salaam rushed for 259 yards, including a memorable 67-yard touchdown run that secured his place as Colorado’s first 2,000-yard rusher.

Colorado has also produced two other Heisman finalists. Quarterback Darian Hagan finished fifth in voting in 1989, while running back Eric Bieniemy, the team’s all-time leading rusher, secured a third-place finish in 1990, the same year Colorado won the national championship.

If Travis Hunter secures the Heisman, he would become just the second Colorado player to claim the honor.

How does Travis Hunter stack up against other finalists?

Named the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year and a first-team All-Big 12 selection at wide receiver, Travis Hunter has showcased his versatility and endurance this season.

He played 672 snaps on offense and 688 on defense. He also made history by becoming the first player to win both the Chuck Bednarik Award for best defensive player and the Fred Biletnikoff Award for best receiver in the same year.

On offense, Hunter recorded 92 receptions for 1,152 yards and 14 touchdowns, breaking Colorado’s single-season receiving record. Defensively, he allowed only 22 receptions while intercepting four passes and breaking up 11 others.

He became the first FBS player in over 25 years to score three touchdowns and record an interception in the same game. Against Utah, he added another milestone by combining 50 receiving yards, a rushing touchdown and an interception — a feat previously achieved only by NFL legend Champ Bailey.

Travis Hunteris set to play his final college game in the Alamo Bowl on Dec. 28 before declaring for the NFL draft.

What time is the Heisman Trophy ceremony today?

The 2024 Heisman Trophy ceremony is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 14, at 8 p.m. ET. The event will take place at Lincoln Center in New York City and will be broadcast live on ESPN.

• Date: Saturday, Dec. 14
• Time: 6 p.m. MT / 8 p.m. ET
• Location: Lincoln Center, New York City
• TV: ESPN