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BOULDER, Colo. — Travis Hunter started his victory lap on the Colorado sideline, signing autographs and taking pictures as fans chanted, “Heisman!”

He posed with his fiancée, Leanna Lenee, who wore a jacket with “HE12MAN” — a nod to Hunter, his jersey number and college football’s top individual honor — on the back. As Hunter completed his celebratory circuit behind the north end zone at Folsom Field, a fan told him he was the greatest ever to wear a Colorado jersey.

The Buffaloes’ two-way sensation capped his career at Folsom Field on Friday with an emphatic closing argument for why he should win the Heisman Trophy, hauling in three touchdown passes and an interception as Colorado walloped Oklahoma State 52-0 to finish the regular season at 9-3. Unless Colorado gets some help Saturday and advances to the Big 12 championship game — the Buffaloes would need several outcomes to go their way — Hunter will not play again before the Heisman voting concludes.

“Travis clinched the Heisman with his performance,” Colorado coach Deion Sanders said.

Hunter entered Friday as the overwhelming favorite (-800) to win the Heisman and saw his odds soar to -25000 during the game per ESPN BET, as he broke Colorado’s single-season touchdowns receptions record, which now stands at 14, and tied the single-game team mark. He intercepted a Maealiuaki Smith pass on the game’s first series and nearly had another interception at the end of the first half, finishing with two pass breakups.

The junior, who starts at both cornerback and wide receiver, recorded an interception and an offensive touchdown in a game for the fourth time this season. According to ESPN Research, he also became the first player in the past 25 seasons with two games of multiple scrimmage touchdowns and an interception.

Hunter is vying to become Colorado’s second Heisman winner, following running back Rashaan Salaam in 1994. And he’s also vying to become the first to play a defensive position full time and win it since Michigan cornerback Charles Woodson in 1997. Hunter, who elected not to speak with reporters Friday, also is a finalist for the Maxwell Award, given to college football’s top player, and the Chuck Bednarik Award, given to the defensive player of the year.

“Travis Hunter proved today and he has proved every week that he is the best player in college football,” Sanders said. “You’ve got to give me another definition of the award. The award is to go to who? The best quarterback? He’s up for best offensive player, best defensive player, a plethora of things.

“Who else has done that? Ever?”

Earlier in the week, Sanders criticized voting for the Thorpe Award for not including Hunter as a finalist. Sanders, who won the Thorpe in 1988 at Florida State, said criticism of Hunter’s modest tackles total (30) is “stupid,” noting that cornerbacks who make many tackles are thrown at for a reason.

Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy, who called Hunter “a special player,” admitted that his team challenged the Colorado star far too much Friday.

Hunter also is a finalist for the Biletnikoff Award, which goes to the nation’s top receiver, after dramatically improving his numbers from his first two college seasons. He recorded his seventh 100-yard receiving performance Friday, and had at least 10 catches for the third time, bringing his season total to 82.

“There’s no argument at this point,” said Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders, who likely will factor into the Heisman voting, as well. “That’s crazy, the consistency that he has, that’s what the award is about.”

Both Deion Sanders and Shedeur Sanders said they don’t like to knock other awards candidates, and Shedeur Sanders recognized the play of Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty, likely Hunter’s top challenger for the Heisman. But they think Hunter’s two-way brilliance — he hardly ever comes off of the field on offense or defense when game outcomes haven’t been decided — stands alone.

“Travis proved that week after week, throughout injuries and throughout everything,” Shedeur Sanders said. “He’s the life of our team.”

Hunter’s early interception set off what became a Heisman infomercial. He strolled into the end zone for an 11-yard touchdown late in the first quarter.

His final play came early in the fourth quarter, as he leaped for a 23-yard touchdown pass from Sanders while being draped by Oklahoma State’s Kale Smith.

“Travis is him, man, Travis is that dude,” Deion Sanders said. “Ain’t nobody can deal with him on either side of the ball.”

Shedeur Sanders said he plans to attend the Heisman Trophy presentation Dec. 14 in New York, even if he isn’t a finalist. Sanders on Friday became the first Colorado player to win the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, which goes to the nation’s top quarterback. He finished with 438 passing yards with five touchdowns and an interception against Oklahoma State.

After the game, Deion Sanders took pictures with his three sons — Shedeur, Colorado senior safety Shilo Sanders, and Deion Jr., who produces social content for the CU program. Deion Sanders reiterated that Hunter, Shedeur and the rest of the team will play in the team’s upcoming bowl game, but Friday marked the end to their time together at Folsom Field.

“I didn’t really think about it until watching the last seconds tick off, like, ‘Dang, this is it, this is it,'” Deion Sanders said. “Do you know how long this journey has been with me and my kids? There’s been a lot of ups and downs and ins and outs, a lot of adverse situations, a lot of highlights.

“It’s unbelievable to think that it’s the conclusion of the matter, just here. That’s tough.”

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Canucks, Boeser agree on new seven-year deal

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Canucks, Boeser agree on new seven-year deal

The Vancouver Canucks have come to terms with forward Brock Boeser on a new seven-year contract, carrying a $7.25 million AAV.

Canucks GM Patrik Allvin announced the deal on Tuesday during the first hour of NHL free agency. Boeser, 28, was an unrestricted free agent on a previously expiring contract.

Drafted by Vancouver 23rd overall in the 2015 NHL draft, Boeser has collected 204 goals and 434 points in 554 games with the Canucks to date. A top-six scoring threat, Boeser has elite playmaking skills and the potential to produce big numbers offensively. He had his best year offensively in 2023-24, producing 40 goals and 73 points in 81 games.

Boeser didn’t hit those marks again last season — settling for 25 goals and 50 points in 75 games — but was still second amongst teammates in output. He also plays a prominent role on Vancouver’s power play and when he can generate opportunities at 5-on-5, he is a true difference-maker up front for the Canucks.

The extension is a happy ending for Vancouver and Boeser. When the regular season ended, Boeser admitted “it’s tough to say” whether he’d be back with the Canucks. Boeser reportedly turned down a previous five-year extension offer with the club and Allvin subsequently looked into deals for him at the March trade deadline, with no takers. Boeser looked — and sounded — poised to explore his options on the open market.

Ultimately, Boeser decided to stay put by committing the best years of his career to the Canucks.

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Jake Allen agrees to 5-year deal with the Devils

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Jake Allen agrees to 5-year deal with the Devils

Jake Allen, one of the top goaltenders available entering free agency, is not heading to the market after agreeing to a five-year deal with the New Jersey Devils, sources told ESPN on Tuesday.

Allen’s average annual value on the deal is $1.8 million, sources told ESPN. That AAV allows the Devils to run back the same goaltending tandem for next season.

Jacob Markstrom has one year remaining on his contract for $4.125 million. Nico Daws is also under contract for next season, before becoming a restricted free agent next summer.

Several teams were interested in the 34-year-old veteran, whom sources said could have made more money on the open market. However, the deal with the Devils gives Allen long-term security. Allen has played for the Blues, Canadiens and Devils over his 12-year-career. He has started in 436 career games.

Last season, Allen started 29 games for the Devils, going 13-16-1 with a .906 save percentage, 2.66 GAA and four shutouts.

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Capitals sign Fehervary to 7-year, $42M extension

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Capitals sign Fehervary to 7-year, M extension

Washington Capitals defenseman Martin Fehervary signed a seven-year extension through the 2032-33 season that is worth $6 million annually, the team announced Tuesday.

Fehervary, who had one year of team control remaining, will enter the final season of a three-year bridge deal that will see him make $2.675 million before his new contract begins at the start of the 2026-27 season.

He finished the season with five goals and a career-high 25 points while logging 19 minutes. Fehervary also played a crucial role in the Capitals’ penalty kill by finishing with 245 short-handed minutes for a penalty kill that was fifth in the NHL with an 82% success rate.

Securing the 25-year-old Fehervary to a long-term deal means the Capitals now have seven players who have more than three years remaining on their current contracts.

It also means the Capitals front office has one less decision to make ahead of what is expected to be an active offseason in 2026 that will see the club have what PuckPedia projects to be $39.25 million in cap space.

That’s also the same offseason in which captain and NHL all-time leading goal scorer Alex Ovechkin‘s contract will come off their books along with that of defenseman John Carlson.

But until then, the Capitals have their entire top-six defensive unit under contract as they seek to improve upon a 2024-25 season that saw them finish atop the Metropolitan Division with 111 points before they lost in the Eastern Conference semifinal to the Carolina Hurricanes in five games.

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