Why is Shedeur Sanders overlooked in the Heisman race despite having a stellar season?

Shedeur Sanders is one of the most well-known names in college football for various reasons. He is considered to be one of the most naturally gifted quarterbacks in the country on a Colorado Buffaloes team that has made massive strides from last year after being viewed as all hype.

But for some reason, Sanders has not been able to find his way into the Heisman Trophy conversation the way a lot of the other top quarterbacks have, like Oregon's Dillon Gabriel or Miami's Cam Ward.

Too big for both of us

Cornerback/wide receiver Travis Hunter, Sanders' teammate, is one of the favorites to receive the award along with Gabriel, Ward and Boise State Broncos running back Ashton Jeanty. Hunter has appeared to benefit more from Colorado's successful season than Sanders.

On the DNVR Buffs podcast, co-host Ryan Koenigsberg offered his hypothesis.

"I think there's, like, a fear from the national media that if they talk about Travis and Shedeur, then they're just going to get thrown with the glazing accusations," Koenigsberg said. "But it's, like, absolutely both of those guys belong in there."

Last season, many college football fans were frustrated when they felt that Colorado, which went 4-8, got more attention than it deserved because of the hype around then-first-year coach Deion Sanders.

But now that the Buffs are doing well, in the hunt for the school's first winning season in a full campaign since 2016, Koenigsberg doesn't feel like that criticism is deserved. Shedeur Sanders appears to be taking the biggest hit from the issue.

Colorado (5-2, 3-1 Big 12) will host the Cincinnati Bearcats (5-2, 3-1) on Saturday at 10:15 p.m. ET in a game in which they are favored by 5.5 points. The win would further legitimize the Buffaloes' chances of winning the Big 12 and landing a spot in the College Football Playoff.

But Koenigsberg believes that Sanders will be able to benefit from a win just as much as the team as a whole.

"If they win this week and (Sanders) goes off, I think he has a chance to jump into (the Heisman conversation)," Koenigsberg said.

Sanders has thrown for over 300 yards four times this year and has 19 touchdowns to six interceptions. He will face a Bearcats team that has won games in all fashions: shootouts, slugfests, close games and blowouts. Sanders will need to be ready for whatever comes his way.