October 27th 2024.
Shedeur Sanders may have flown under the radar, but he sure made an impact on the field. Despite only practicing for one day last week due to the flu, the CU Buffs' QB1 shined in their game against Cincinnati, throwing for 323 yards and leading his team to a 34-23 win.
"It was tough out there trying to get the chemistry back with everybody," Shedeur explained early Sunday morning. "Losing weight, strength, and a lot of other things definitely made it challenging."
But Shedeur didn't let that stop him. He completed his first 15 passes in the first half against a strong Cincinnati team, surpassing the 19 completions that Texas Tech had against them in a whole game.
For the entire game, Shedeur threw 30 passes and completed 25 of them, scoring two touchdowns through the air and one on the ground. And he did all of this while battling the flu and playing on one good leg by the end of the third quarter.
Travis Hunter, who is 185 pounds, is considered a Heisman candidate. "He takes up that much room on your Heisman Trophy ballot? Really?" Shedeur laughed when asked about his teammate's potential candidacy.
"I don't think they'll give two players on the same team the Heisman," Shedeur continued, shrugging. "But Travis and I just have to deal with it. It is what it is. I just want Travis to win, and that'll feel like a win for me too because I threw him the ball."
Even the most cynical scribes in the room had to chuckle at Shedeur's joke.
"Travis is the best player in college football, hands-down," Shedeur's father and CU coach Deion Sanders proudly stated. "I'm excited for him to win it, and that'll make my day right there."
But despite his impressive performance, Shedeur didn't receive a single vote in ESPN.com's mid-season Heisman poll back on Oct. 15. The mock field was led by Boise State tailback Ashton Jeanty, with Hunter, Miami QB Cam Ward, Oregon QB Dillon Gabriel, and Indiana QB Kurtis Rourke following close behind.
Jeanty is currently the favorite to win the Heisman due to his team's undefeated record and their remaining easy schedule. But Rourke and the Hoosiers are also strong contenders, although the former is currently injured. And while Gabriel and Ward have impressive stats, Shedeur has thrown for more touchdowns and beaten more teams with winning records.
In fact, Shedeur's 15 straight completions at the start of the game set a new CU school record, surpassing the previous record of 12 straight completions shared by Joel Klatt and Steven Montez.
And to think, Shedeur only had one day of practice before this game.
But even with such an impressive performance, Shedeur's name is still missing from many Heisman lists. "Wow, wow, wow," Deion Sanders exclaimed after the game. "They don't even mention him for the Heisman? He's not even mentioned? Oh, my bad. He's my son. That's why."
But the real issue here isn't Shedeur's talent or his relationship with his father. It's the fact that the media is so focused on Travis Hunter's "unicorn narrative" that they don't give players like Shedeur the recognition they deserve.
And it's not just the media's fault. Some Heisman voters are also overlooking Shedeur's incredible talent. However, history has shown that teammates can and have finished in the top 5 in Heisman voting, with two even landing in the top 3 in the same year.
But the backlash against CU football and Deion Sanders' unapologetic attitude may also be playing a role in Shedeur's lack of recognition. Despite his impressive stats and victories, some people still refuse to acknowledge his talent simply because he plays for Deion Sanders.
But Shedeur's record speaks for itself. In just a season and a half, he has already racked up more wins as a Buffs starter than CU had in 2019, 2021, and 2022 combined. And on the Buffs' career charts, his 48 touchdown passes since 2023 rank him fourth, only behind Sefo Liufau, Steven Montez, and Cody Hawkins.
And if you want to talk about a "Heisman moment," Shedeur produces three to four of those every game. Whether it's his impressive throws or his ability to score from anywhere on the field, Shedeur is a force to be reckoned with.
Cincinnati learned that the hard way when Shedeur led his team to a touchdown with just 31 seconds left before halftime. This changed the game's momentum and ultimately led to a 10-point lead for the Buffs going into the second half.
Despite battling the flu and suffering an ankle injury late in the third quarter, Shedeur didn't let that stop him. He still managed to complete four of five passes for 64 yards and helped his team secure the win.
"I'm a little banged up, but we won, so it'll make everything feel a little better," Shedeur admitted. "For sure."
The CU Buffs may have clinched bowl eligibility and stayed within touching distance of the top teams in their league, but Shedeur's performance has still gone unnoticed by many. But as Coach Prime said, "If your Heisman vote leaves Shedeur in the cold, my friend, the joke's on you."
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