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Greetings from "Can't Wait For Saturday," your morning morsel of college football, courtesy of longtime Illini beat writer, AP Top 25 voter and Heisman state rep Bob Asmussen. He'll give you his views each day on the game he loves.
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I didn't put Travis Hunter at the top of my Heisman Trophy ballot. But after watching his reaction in New York on Saturday night, I'm glad he won.
The two-way Colorado superstar, who is going to make a gazillion dollars at the next level, won a close race over Boise State tailback Ashton Jeanty.
Jeanty was at the top of my ballot. I put Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel second and Hunter third. The first two guys play for a teams that are a combined 25-1, with the lone loss to the other school.
After he was announced as the winner, Hunter's emotional talk was one of the best I've seen in more than four decades following the award. I've been a voter for more than 30 years and the Illinois State Rep for the Heisman at least a decade. It is, no question, the best individual award in sports and I like everything about it.
Credit ESPN for an excellent job introducing the four finalists and helping viewers realize all four were worthy candidates.
Hunter seemed genuinely overwhelmed by his win. It was clearly important to him. Easy to picture Hunter coming back each year for the ceremony, taking his place among the greats
His career is just getting started. He plans to play in Colorado's Alamo Bowl against BYU, then off to the NFL, where he figures to one of the first to be selected in the 2025 draft.
He's got an unreal skill set, the kind of guy who can do anything. I know I'm rooting for him. And Jeanty too. He is heading to the College Football Playoffs with the second-best rushing season in history. And Barry Sanders' record in trouble.
The difference of 214 points was the closest since Alabama tailback Mark Ingram edged Stanford's Toby in 2009. That year, I voted for Texas quarterback Colt McCoy
Hunter became just the second Colorado player to win the award, following the late Rashaan Salaam, who took the 1994 trophy.