Breaking down CU Buffs star Travis Hunter’s Heisman Trophy campaign, snap by snap

Travis Hunter’s historic two-way campaign at wideout and cornerback brought him to New York City as a Heisman Trophy finalist as he vies to join running back Rashaan Salaam as the only Buffaloes to win college football’s most prestigious award.

Here’s a look at Hunter’s game-by-game snap counts, with a highlight from each performance.

Game 1

Opponent: vs. North Dakota State

Offensive snaps: 55

Defensive snaps: 69

Total snaps (including special teams, penalties): 135

Stat line: 7 receptions for 132 yards and 3 TDs; 3 tackles in 31-26 CU win

Key snap: With CU leading by four points in the fourth, Hunter nabbed his third TD catch on his first highlight-reel grab of 2024. On third-and-goal, Hunter ran a short fade route to the front corner of the end zone, then as NDSU cornerback Jailen Duffie was draped all over him, Hunter reached behind Duffie’s helmet to snare the TD as the wideout was falling down toward the pylon.

Game 2

Opponent: at Nebraska

Offensive snaps: 60

Defensive snaps: 59

Total snaps (including special teams, penalties): 125

Stat line: 10 receptions for 110 yards; 3 tackles, 1 pass break-up in 28-10 CU loss

Key snap: The Buffs got trounced by the Huskers in an early-season road letdown, but Hunter still went over the century-mark thanks to a 21-yard catch in the fourth quarter that got the Buffs into the red zone and ended up sparking CU’s final touchdown drive. That gave Hunter his third straight 100-yard receiving game dating back to the 2023 season finale against Utah.

Game 3

Opponent: at Colorado State

Offensive snaps: 55

Defensive snaps: 63

Total snaps (including special teams, penalties): 122

Stat line: 13 receptions for 100 yards and 2 TDs; 5 tackles, 1 interception, 1 pass break-up in 28-9 CU win

Key snap: With CSU trying to get back into the game late in the third quarter, Hunter picked off Rams quarterback Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi when he skied for a pass intended for Caleb Goodie and plucked it out of the air. Then on the next drive, Hunter put the dagger in the Rams when he got behind two CSU defenders for a 21-yard TD catch in the back corner of the end zone.

Game 4

Opponent: vs. Baylor

Offensive snaps: 79

Defensive snaps: 62

Total snaps (including special teams, penalties): 151

Stat line: 7 receptions for 130 yards; 2 tackles, 1 forced fumble in 38-31 overtime win for CU

Key snap: In a turning point in CU’s season that foreshadowed its head-turning fall, Hunter delivered the knockout blow to cement CU’s win in OT. With Baylor about to tie the game in the extra frame and force a second overtime, Hunter met Bears running back Dominic Richardson at the goal line, put his shoulder on the ball and forced the game-winning fumble.

Game 5

Opponent: at Central Florida

Offensive snaps: 56

Defensive snaps: 69

Total snaps (including special teams, penalties): 128

Stat line: 9 receptions for 89 yards and 1 TD; 2 tackles, 1 interception, 1 pass break-up in 48-21 CU win

Key snap: An early score by Hunter helped set the tone for a road blowout. After Shedeur Sanders was picked on the opening drive, CU’s second possession was the Travis Hunter Show. The wideout had four catches, including a 22-yard TD grab where he ran a skinny post and caught at ball at the goal line as two UFC defenders collided and he walked into the end zone.

Game 6

Opponent: vs. Kansas State

Offensive snaps: 22

Defensive snaps: 21

Total snaps (including special teams, penalties): 45

Stat line: 3 receptions for 26 yards; 2 tackles in 31-28 CU loss

Key snap: Hunter’s blocking downfield took two Wildcats out of the play and allowed fellow wideout LaJohntay Wester to race in for a 25-yard TD catch off a pass in the flat to give CU an early lead. But Hunter got hurt after getting hit on a catch midway through the second quarter, and left the game. The shoulder injury marked the start of a two-game lull in his Heisman candidacy.

Game 7

Opponent: at Arizona

Offensive snaps: 40

Defensive snaps: 9

Total snaps (including special teams, penalties): 53

Stat line: 2 receptions for 17 yards; 1 tackle in 34-7 CU win

Key snap: Still dealing with the shoulder injury he suffered against Kansas State, Hunter was nowhere close to 100% in Tucson, and he only played the first half before being pulled in the blowout. But he was still enough of a threat to draw a pass interference flag on a shot to the end zone midway through the first quarter that set CU up for an easy TD and 14-0 lead.

Game 8

Opponent: vs. Cincinnati

Offensive snaps: 68

Defensive snaps: 62

Total snaps (including special teams, penalties): 138

Stat line: 9 receptions for 153 yards and 2 TDs; 2 tackles, 4 pass break-ups in 34-23 CU win

Key snap: With the game tied 14-14 late in the first half, Hunter took a short pass from Sanders on a hook route near the sideline. He immediately spun out of a tackle attempt, then raced down the sideline for a 29-yard gain. Hunter took a big hit at the end of the play but then popped right back up. He was clearly back to full health, and his Heisman campaign was back on track.

Game 9

Opponent: at Texas Tech

Offensive snaps: 70

Defensive snaps: 85

Total snaps (including special teams, penalties): 169

Stat line: 9 receptions for 99 yards and 1 TD; no defensive stats in 41-27 CU win

Key snap: A penalty snap summed up Hunter’s effectiveness in playing shutdown coverage in Lubbock. After the Buffs jumped offside on third down in the second quarter, resulting in a free play for the Red Raiders, Texas Tech QB Behren Morton heaved the ball downfield on a go route and Hunter easily jumped up and picked it. It was the only time Hunter’s man was targeted.

Game 10

Opponent: vs. Utah

Offensive snaps: 61

Defensive snaps: 66

Total snaps (including special teams, penalties): 131

Stat line: 5 receptions for 55 yards and 1 rush for 5 yards, TD; 3 tackles, 1 interception, 1 pass break-up in 49-24 CU win

Key snap: Hunter notched a career first late in the blowout of the Utes. With CU at Utah’s 5-yard line, Hunter got the ball on a reverse that was supposed to be a receiver pass. But Utah covered it well, and Hunter ended up back at the 20-yard line before making a Utah defender miss, zooming up the seam and diving into the end zone for his first career rushing score.

Game 11

Opponent: at Kansas

Offensive snaps: 42

Defensive snaps: 77

Total snaps (including special teams, penalties): 125

Stat line: 8 receptions for 125 yards and 2 TDs; 7 tackles, 1 pass break-up in 37-21 CU loss

Key snap: The Buffs disappointed in a loss at Arrowhead Stadium, but Hunter did not. Midway through the second quarter, Hunter took a bubble screen pass 51 yards to the house for CU’s first TD. Hunter caught the ball at the line of scrimmage, got some decent blocking and then showed off his track speed while dusting the KU defense before jogging in the final 15 yards.

Game 12

Opponent: vs. Oklahoma State

Offensive snaps: 68

Defensive snaps: 46

Total snaps (including special teams, penalties): 121

Stat line: 10 receptions for 116 yards and 3 TDs; 1 tackle, 1 interception, 2 pass break-ups in 52-0 CU win

Key snap: Hunter torched the Cowboys in his Folsom Field finale. He set the tone early with an interception on the game’s opening drive. By the time Hunter reeled in a 23-yard TD pass from Sanders early in the fourth quarter to become the first college player since 1996 with three TD catches and a pick in the same game, he put an exclamation point on his Heisman candidacy.

Total snaps this year: 672 offense, 688 defense, 1,440 total (offense, defense, special teams and penalties)

Total stats this year: 92 receptions for 1,152 yards and 14 TDs; 1 rushing TD; 32 tackles, 11 pass break-ups, 4 interceptions, 1 forced fumble

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