Hunter, Shedeur end ‘great’ run at CU despite loss
On the scoreboard, Travis Hunter and Shedeur Sanders went out with a whimper at Colorado.
But their lasting impact in Boulder — on the field and off — was probably immeasurable.
With two dynamic stars playing their final college game, the 23rd-ranked Buffaloes were blown out 36-14 by No. 17 BYU in the Valero Alamo Bowl on Saturday night.
Hunter, the Heisman Trophy winner and two-way sensation, caught four passes for a game-high 106 yards and a touchdown. His 43-yard scoring grab from Sanders cut Colorado’s deficit to 27-7 with 6:14 left in the third quarter. The lockdown cornerback also made four solo tackles.
Sanders was 16-of-23 passing for 208 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions.
Both players are expected to be picked high in the NFL draft next spring.
“It felt great representing Colorado and bringing it back to where it was in the past,” Sanders said. “And obviously, we laid the foundation of the program, so now it’s stable for the other players that are coming in to take off and pick up where we left off at.”
Nothing has been the same at Colorado since the school hired Deion Sanders as coach in December 2022 — and that was the idea.
Along with the hype and hoopla surrounding the arrival of Coach Prime from Jackson State, the former NFL superstar brought a talented group of transfers to the Rocky Mountains — most notably his quarterback son and Hunter. Together, they helped transform the Buffaloes (9-4) from a national afterthought to one of college football’s greatest shows and hottest tickets.
While Hunter and Shedeur Sanders didn’t have the send-off they were hoping for Saturday night, the Buffaloes are still excited about a bright future.
“I don’t look forward to it, but I do because that means they are going to another level, another chapter of life, and they’re going to soar,” Deion Sanders said. “I’m thankful that I feel we’ve equipped them with all the tools necessary to be successful.”
Hunter and Shedeur Sanders are expected to be among the first five selections in the 2025 NFL draft. Some are projecting that Colorado’s star duo could join Penn State defensive end Courtney Brown and linebacker LaVar Arrington in 2000 as the only college teammates chosen with the top two picks.
Colorado is 13-12 under Deion Sanders, but the Buffaloes made their first bowl appearance since 2020, and fan interest is the highest it has been in decades.
All home games were sold out the past two seasons, a first in the program’s 134-year history. The team also averaged 4 million viewers on national broadcasts during that stretch.
Colorado games attracted celebrities such as Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, NBA stars Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Chauncey Billups and Kyle Lowry, and rappers Offset, Master P and Key Glock.
Coach Prime made the program cool, but the entertaining play of Hunter and Shedeur Sanders provided a reason to watch.
During the 2024 regular season, Hunter had 92 catches for 1,152 yards and 14 touchdowns, plus a rushing score. On defense, he had four interceptions, made 32 tackles, broke up 11 passes and forced a critical fumble that secured an overtime victory against Baylor.
The Associated Press Player of the Year joined late running back Rashaan Salaam (1994) as the only Heisman Trophy winners in Colorado history and decided to skip his senior season at Colorado to enter the NFL draft.
Shedeur Sanders, a senior, completed 635 of 884 passes (71.8%) for 7,156 yards and 62 touchdowns in two regular seasons with the Buffaloes.
“All the OB’s, original Buffs, how thankful and appreciative they were that they got an opportunity to come participate in a week of bowl festivities,” Deion Sanders said after the game when asked what he has learned during his time with his departing players. “So, patience and forgiveness and just overall love, man.”
The turnaround they spearheaded was exactly what Colorado athletic director Rick George had in mind when he hired Deion Sanders.
“I’m thankful that Rick gave me the opportunity,” Deion Sanders said. “We wouldn’t have had the Heisman Trophy winner, a guy that [could be] the first or second pick of the whole draft. Several other guys are definitely going to get drafted. It wouldn’t have happened if I wouldn’t have accepted that calling. So I’m thankful with the opportunity afforded to me. I’m thankful to be here, period.”
And while Hunter and Shedeur Sanders are moving on, their impact on the program’s future is already evident.
Quarterback prospect Julian “JuJu” Lewis, rated the No. 2 overall recruit by ESPN for the class of 2025, enrolled early at Colorado and worked with Shedeur Sanders and Hunter during practices for the Alamo Bowl. Lewis completed 267 of 353 passes for 3,798 yards and 48 touchdowns in leading Carrollton (Ga.) High School to the state final.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
Hard-throwing rookie Jacob Misiorowski is a National League All-Star replacement, giving the Milwaukee Brewers right-hander a chance to break Paul Skenes‘ record for the fewest big league appearances before playing in the Midsummer Classic.
Misiorowski was named Friday night to replace Chicago Cubs lefty Matthew Boyd, who will be unavailable for the All-Star Game on Tuesday night in Atlanta because he is scheduled to start Saturday at the New York Yankees.
The 23-year-old Misiorowski has made just five starts for the Brewers, going 4-1 with a 2.81 ERA while averaging 99.3 mph on his fastball, with 89 pitches that have reached 100 mph.
If he pitches at Truist Park, Misiorowski will make it consecutive years for a player to set the mark for fewest big league games before an All-Star showing.
Skenes, the Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander getting ready for his second All-Star appearance, had made 11 starts in the majors when he was chosen as the NL starter for last year’s All-Star Game at Texas. He pitched a scoreless inning.
“I’m speechless,” said a teary-eyed Misiorowski, who said he was given the news a few minutes before the Brewers’ 8-3 victory over Washington. “It’s awesome. It’s very unexpected and it’s an honor.”
Misiorowski is the 30th first-time All-Star and 16th replacement this year. There are now 80 total All-Stars.
“He’s impressive. He’s got some of the best stuff in the game right now, even though he’s a young pitcher,” said Yankees slugger Aaron Judge, who is a starting AL outfielder for his seventh All-Star nod. “He’s going to be a special pitcher in this game for a long time so I think he deserved it and it’s going be pretty cool for him and his family.”
Carlos Rodón, Carlos Estévez and Casey Mize were named replacement pitchers on the AL roster.
The New York Yankees‘ Rodón, an All-Star for the third time in five seasons, will replace teammate Max Fried for Tuesday’s game in Atlanta. Fried will be unavailable because he is scheduled to start Saturday against the Chicago Cubs.
In his final start before the All-Star game, Rodón allowed four hits and struck out eight in eight innings in an 11-0 victory over the Cubs.
“This one’s a little special for me,” said Rodón, an All-Star in 2021 and ’22 who was 3-8 in his first season with the Yankees two years ago before rebounding. “I wasn’t good when I first got here, and I just wanted to prove that I wasn’t to going to give up and just put my best foot forward and try to win as many games as I can.”
The Kansas City Royals‘ Estévez replaces Texas’ Jacob deGrom, who is scheduled to start at Houston on Saturday night. Estévez was a 2023 All-Star when he was with the Los Angeles Angels.
Mize takes the spot held by Boston‘s Garrett Crochet, who is scheduled to start Saturday against Tampa Bay. Mize gives the Tigers six All-Stars, most of any team and tied for the franchise record.
Royals third baseman Maikel Garcia will replace Tampa Bay‘s Brandon Lowe, who went on the injured list with left oblique tightness. The additions of Estévez and Garcia give the Royals four All-Stars, matching their 2024 total.
The Seattle Mariners announced center fielder Julio Rodríguez will not participate, and he was replaced by teammate Randy Arozarena. Rodríguez had been voted onto the AL roster via the players’ ballot. The Mariners, who have five All-Stars, said Rodríguez will use the break to “recuperate, rest and prepare for the second half.”
Arozarena is an All-Star for the second time. He started in left field for the AL two years ago, when he was with Tampa Bay. Arozarena was the runner-up to Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in the 2023 Home Run Derby.
Rays right-hander Drew Rasmussen, a first-time All-Star, is replacing Angels left-hander Yusei Kikuchi, who is scheduled to start Saturday night at Arizona. Rasmussen is 7-5 with a 2.82 ERA in 18 starts.
San Diego added a third NL All-Star reliever in lefty Adrián Morejón, who replaces Philadelphia starter Zack Wheeler. The Phillies’ right-hander is scheduled to start at San Diego on Saturday night. Morejón entered the weekend with a 1.71 ERA in 45 appearances.
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