Photo by the Heisman Trust
Ashton Jeanty and Travis Hunter are the clear frontrunners in what will be a very close Heisman race. Jeanty should have an advantage by playing on championship Saturday while Hunter isn’t.
Heisman Leaders
1. Ashton Jeanty, Boise State, Running Back, Junior
Another dominant week for Jeanty. He had 37 carries for 226 yards and a touchdown in the 27-18 win over Oregon State. Jeanty and Hunter are neck and neck, and I think the difference will be Jeanty playing his team to a playoff berth. If he can have a solid game and beat UNLV, that should give him the edge over Hunter.
He has 312 carries for 2,288 yards and 29 total touchdowns and continues to chase Barry Sanders.
2. Travis Hunter, Colorado, Wide Receiver/ Cornerback, Junior
Hunter gave Colorado fans something to remember him by in what is likely his final game in a Buffaloes uniform. Hunter had ten catches for 116 yards and three touchdowns on offense and had a tackle, two passes defended, and an interception on defense.
This year he has 92 catches for 1,152 yards and 15 total touchdowns on offense. He has 31 tackles, 11 passes defended, one forced fumble (that won a game in overtime), and four interceptions on defense. While I think Jeanty should win the Heisman over Hunter it’s by a razor-thin margin and Hunter’s historic season should be remembered.
3. Bryson Daily, Army, Quarterback, Senior
Daily is one of the best stories of college football in 2024. His success has Army at 10-1 and he should get Heisman consideration and be no less than a finalist. If he can guide Army to a win over Tulane, the Black Knights deserve consideration for an at-large playoff berth. Daily had 27 carries for 147 yards and two touchdowns and was 10 of 17 for 190 yards and a touchdown in the win over UTSA.
Daily has 240 carries for 1,348 yards and 25 touchdowns running the ball for Army and is 43 of 76 for 860 yards and eight touchdowns passing. This is in only 11 games and will have only 12 counted since the Heisman voting ends before he plays his 13th game on December 14th. He belongs in New York City right after the Army-Navy Game.
4. Cameron Ward, Miami, Quarterback, Senior
Miami getting knocked out of the ACC Championship Game by Syracuse ended Cam Ward’s chances to win the Heisman. He should still be a finalist though. In the loss, he was 25 of 36 for 349 yards and two touchdowns.
Cam Ward is 293 of 435 for 4,123 yards and 36 touchdowns passing. He has another 196 yards and four touchdowns on the ground. He has 41 total touchdowns this season. 10-2 isn’t how he and the Hurricanes wanted things to go but it’s an improvement for the program and they still have an outside shot of an at-large playoff berth.
5. Dylan Sampson, Tennessee, Running Back, Junior
The biggest hit to Sampson’s Heisman hopes will be like those of Travis Hunter. Not playing in a conference championship game will hurt Sampson like it will Hunter. Sampson has had the best year in Volunteers history for a running back. In his regular-season finale against Vanderbilt, he had 25 carries for 178 yards in the win.
In 2024 he has toted the rock 256 times for 1,485 yards and 22 touchdowns. He’s been Tennessee’s biggest offensive weapon, and his success is the biggest reason Tennessee is almost guaranteed a playoff spot and likely a game on Rocky Top in December.
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