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

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.

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.