Travis Hunter had a notable week despite not being on the field.

He spent time fishing with his coach, Deion Sanders, at Sanders’ ranch in Texas, enjoyed four-wheeling, and went deer hunting. Later, he traveled to Penn State where he participated in national college football pregame shows on ESPN and Fox.

As they gear up for Saturday’s game against Texas Tech (6-3), Colorado’s team has significant opportunities ahead. They are still positioned to potentially achieve:

∎ A chance to win the conference championship.

∎ A spot in the new 12-team College Football Playoff, with the Buffaloes ranked No. 20 in the initial playoff rankings released on Tuesday.

∎ Hunter, who plays both cornerback and receiver, is also a frontrunner for the Heisman Trophy after pushing his case on national television.

“Only Travis brings that level of energy to move from city to city every day,” Sanders mentioned during his weekly news briefing in Boulder.

Deion Sanders talks about Colorado’s recent break

The Buffaloes had a bye last weekend, giving Hunter and Sanders a break away from their usual routines. However, this time off came with its risks. One night, Sanders claimed he heard Hunter revving a loud four-wheeler late at night.

“I was like, ‘You better not fall off that four-wheeler. If anything happens, the whole country will be after me!'” Sanders recalled.

Despite the worries of the previous night, Sanders found himself amused when he switched on the TV the next morning.

“I wake up and see him on TV,” Sanders stated about Hunter’s appearances on ESPN and Fox. “I just started laughing. I didn’t even know he had left!”

Hunter traveled to Ohio State to support his Heisman campaign, where he’s currently seen as a co-favorite to win alongside Miami’s quarterback, Cam Ward, according to BetMGM. Hunter emphasizes his remarkable performance as a dual-threat athlete who has not only scored eight touchdowns on offense but also hasn’t allowed any on defense.

“No one has done what I’m doing,” Hunter proclaimed during Fox’s pregame segment on Saturday. “That’s just the reality.”

Deion Sanders on upcoming challenges

The Buffaloes benefited when both Kansas State and Iowa State suffered losses last week while they were off. Consequently, Colorado has a clearer path towards the Big 12 Conference championship game.

Colorado is currently tied with Iowa State for second place in the conference with records of 4-1, trailing BYU, which sits at 5-0. Should BYU remain unbeaten, the Buffaloes would face them for the conference title if they succeed in winning their next four games, while Iowa State loses at least one more. As Colorado does not meet Iowa State or BYU during the regular season, they aim to avoid a tie that would lead to a complex tiebreaker scenario.

“The opportunity is right there, and we have to seize it,” Sanders stated.

When asked if his team is ready to grasp this chance in the season’s final stretch, Sanders responded, “I hope so,” though he appeared somewhat unsure.

“Frankly, I don’t know,” he said. “We’ve been through a lot but feel prepared for this moment. We’re not avoiding our expectations. We expect to be here and want to be even better.”

Deion Sanders on the Texas Tech experience

They’ve come a long way since their 28-10 loss at Nebraska on September 7.

“That served as a wake-up call,” said Colorado punter Mark Vassett on Tuesday. “We went into the season thinking we would be really strong, but that taught us the need to work harder.”

Since then, the Buffaloes have achieved three consecutive road victories and are preparing for another nationally televised game on Fox in Lubbock.

“We enjoy playing on the road,” Sanders expressed. “We know we’ll get booed. I heard they throw, is it tacos?”

Not quite — fans are known for tossing tortillas at games.

“Is that even allowed?” Sanders inquired.

Not really, but it’s a common occurrence.

“We aim to make them run out of those,” Sanders quipped.

Colorado’s place in the College Football Playoff rankings

A spot in the new 12-team College Football Playoff is still within reach. The top five ranked conference champions earn automatic invitations, while the remaining slots go to the highest-ranked teams selected by the committee.

The first playoff rankings were announced last Tuesday, with Colorado positioned at No. 20, just after No. 19 Kansas State (7-2), a team that edged Colorado in their earlier match, 31-28.

Following their game against Texas Tech on Saturday, the Buffaloes will end the season facing teams lower in the Big 12 rankings: Utah (1-4) at home on November 16, at Kansas (1-4) on November 23, and Oklahoma State (0-6) at home on November 29.

Story has been updated with additional information.