The Big 12 Conference rolled out its 2024‑25 Athlete of the Year candidates on Thursday morning, and Colorado’s dynamic duo of Travis Hunter and Jordan Nytes headline the latest reveal. Each league member is allowed to nominate one male and one female competitor who excelled athletically and academically during the past school year; CU selected its two most decorated juniors.
Why Hunter is on the ballot
- The two‑way football phenom completed one of the most celebrated individual campaigns in college history, sweeping every major national player‑of‑the‑year honor and becoming the Buffaloes’ second Heisman Trophy winner.
- He added the 2025 Bob Bowlsby Award— the Big 12’s top individual accolade— and became the first repeat recipient of the Paul Hornung Award for versatility.
- Hunter also captured the Bednarik and Lott IMPACT trophies on defense while claiming the Biletnikoff Award as the nation’s premier receiver, then went No. 2 overall in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Why Nytes earned the nod
- On the pitch, the Aurora, Colorado, native became just the third goalkeeper in program history to secure All‑America status.
- Nytes posted 11 clean sheets—second‑most in the Big 12 and seventh nationally—and strung together a school‑record 583 minutes, 33 seconds of shutout soccer.
- The conference’s Goalkeeper of the Year also made the Big 12 All‑Academic team and earned CSC Academic All‑District recognition.
The conference is unveiling nominees twice daily, alphabetically by school, through July 23. Winners—one male and one female—will be announced on Thursday, July 24.
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