A pair of questionable calls against Colorado’s Travis Hunter drew backlash from fans on Saturday after the two-way star missed out on a chance to add to another touchdown to his highlight reel.
The sequence occurred during Colorado’s final drive of the first half, when quarterback Ryan Staub—in his first start in place of an injured Shedeur Sanders—appeared to connect with Hunter for a touchdown.
After overturning the call, Staub would again appear to find Hunter, this time on a 29-yard bomb, for a score moments later. However, the celebration was interrupted after the officials to reverse the second would-be TD after ruling that the receiver didn’t maintain control of the ball. The debated decision resulted in CU settling for a 47-yard field goal to cut the deficit to 13–10 at halftime.
Travis Hunter’s second called back TD from @RyanGreeneDNVR’s POV. pic.twitter.com/2tNVpLUsqT
— DNVR Buffs (@DNVR_Buffs) November 25, 2023
Fortunately for both players, their connection would later help the Buffaloes keep their hopes of a season-ending win alive after Hunter hauled in an 18-yard score in the third quarter.
As for the controversial overturns, Hunter’s eventual score didn’t completely erase memory of CU’s confusing final drive of the first half:
Travis Hunter *may* not have been out when he was tightroping the sideline, but he's ABSOLUTELY in on that touchdown. They're reviewing to make sure he controlled it -- and I don't think there's a doubt.#cubuffs #gobuffs #9sports
— Arielle Orsuto (@ArielleOrsuto) November 25, 2023
Do Pac-12 refs just not like Travis Hunter? Victim of some tough calls the past two weeks.
— Matt L. Stephens (@MattStephens) November 25, 2023
Travis Hunter somehow scored two TDs on one drive and was credited for zero
— RK (@RyanKoenigsberg) November 25, 2023
You can take away two touchdowns from Travis Hunter, but NO ONE takes away a third!pic.twitter.com/yPdCnSXC65
— Romi Bean (@Romi_Bean) November 25, 2023
Are you kidding me @pac12 how was that NOT a touchdown by Travis Hunter?! #ColoradoBuffaloes
— Brandon (@SocialBrandonO) November 25, 2023
Travis Hunter caught that ball for a Colorado touchdown. That’s a shameful call by the ref on review. Awful.
— Dan Mason (@LearnBaseball) November 25, 2023
Unfortunately for Colorado, Hunter’s second-half touchdown wasn’t enough, as the Utes held off the Buffaloes for a 23–17 win.
