What happened to Travis Hunter? Exploring Colorado star's comeback amid Heisman scuffle

Colorado Buffaloes two-way star Travis Hunter is one of the favorites to win the Heisman Trophy this season, but he has been dealing with injuries the past few weeks. Hunter was injured on Oct. 12 when the Buffaloes lost 31-28 to No. 16 Kansas State. He left the game in the second quarter with a shoulder injury and did not return.

However, he was able to suit up for last Saturday's matchup against Arizona, which the Buffaloes won 34-7. While Hunter played the game, he was not a full participant. After the Buffaloes got out to a commanding lead in the first half, coach Deion Sanders made the decision to sit Hunter for the rest of the game for precautionary reasons.

Since the Buffaloes' victory over the Wildcats on Saturday, Sanders has spoken to the media about Travis Hunter's injury and status.

"He will certainly contribute a lot more than a week ago because he's healthier," he said. "He's got more pep in his step today and is on point in his conditioning."

Having Hunter in the lineup is crucial for the Buffaloes as they try to make a push for the playoffs. They are unranked through the first eight weeks of the season and sit a game behind Big 12 leaders BYU and Iowa State. Those teams have 4-0 in-conference records, whereas the Buffaloes are 3-1, tied with Kansas State, Texas Tech and Cincinnati.

The Buffs next take on the Bearcats on Saturday at Folsom Field at 10:30 p.m. ET. Hunter is expected to suit up for the matchup that will be broadcast live on ESPN.

How likely is it for Travis Hunter to win the Heisman Trophy?

At his peak, Travis Hunter had the second-best odds to win the Heisman behind Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty. However, his limited playing time over the past two weeks has hurt his odds. Hunter now sits fourth to win the Heisman on FanDuel at +1500.

While being fourth in the race is not a bad spot to be in, there is a steep drop off from third-place odds to fourth. The top three contenders appear to have solidified themselves in the race for the coveted award, according to FanDuel.

Miami quarterback Cameron Ward and Boise State's Jeanty are tied for first in Heisman odds at +200. Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel has the third-best odds at +350 before it drops to +1500 for Travis Hunter in fourth.

Hunter can still win the Heisman if he has a spectacular last five games of the season. However, he will need to stand out, even more than he did in the first half, to catch his competition.