Travis Hunter Should Be the Heisman Trophy Favorite

Travis Hunter probably isn't going to win the Heisman Trophy, but if it were actually given to the best player in college football 100 percent of the time, he should be the overwhelming favorite right now.

There are plenty of quarterbacks — Cam Ward, Quinn Ewers, Carson Beck, Nico Iamaleava — who have had outstanding seasons so far and a running back in Ashton Jeanty who's been unbelievable. But there isn't another player in college football who's doing what Hunter is doing. Hunter is playing nearly every snap of every game and in some contests is the best player on the field offensively and defensively. He's a freak.

I feel like Heisman voters have gotten much better in recent years about giving the award to the best player in the country regardless of position or team record — DeVonta Smith and Jayden Daniels — so maybe there is a real chance that Hunter will find himself in New York if he keeps doing stuff like this. If he finishes the season with 1,200 receiving yards, 15 touchdowns and four or five interceptions, I don't see how you hand the trophy to someone else unless one of those quarterbacks goes nuclear in the second half of the season.

Colorado's upward trajectory should help Hunter out, too. The Buffs finding a way to eight wins would at least give him a shot.

If the voters vote for the best player in the country, though, Hunter will be in good shape no matter what.