The Cougars picked off Sanders twice, limited Hunter to one highlight-reel touchdown and moved down the field with ease.

On the scoreboard, Travis Hunter and Shedeur Sanders went out with a whimper at Colorado. But their lasting impact in Boulder — both on the field and off — was probably immeasurable.

Hunter, a wide receiver and cornerback, won the 2024 Heisman Trophy earlier this month, and he and quarterback Sanders are both projected first-round NFL Draft picks in 2025. It’d be reasonable to think they’d opt out of No. 23 Colorado’s Alamo Bowl game Saturday against No. 17 BYU.