The 2024 Heisman Trophy is not going to be awarded till Dec. 14, however two clear favorites to win the award have emerged.
Per FanDuel , as of Tuesday (Nov. 19), Colorado cornerback/WR Travis Hunter (-350) and Boise State RB Ashton Jeanty (+390) are the highest contenders, which is sensible.
After another week of spectacular performances from Hunter and Jeanty, the rest of the field has some catching up to do. Hunter had his odds of winning college football’s top individual trophy increase significantly after his first career rushing TD on Saturday.
Along with his first rushing TD, Hunter had five receptions for 55 yards, as well as an interception off a tipped pass and three tackles.
With his versatility on full display, Hunter became the first college or NFL player to produce at least 50 receiving yards, score a rushing TD and intercept a pass in the same game since Champ Bailey in the 2000 NFL season, per ESPN sports activities betting analyst Pamela Maldonado.
Hunter continues to be a reliable possibility for quarterback Shedeur Sanders on offense. He has 74 catches for 911 yards and 10 TDs (one speeding). Hunter’s 9 TD catches are tied for eighth within the nation, per TeamRankings.
Contemplating Colorado went 4-8 in Deion Sanders’ first season as head coach in 2023, the 2024 season has been a exceptional turnaround for this system. Presently 8-2 and tied with BYU for the Huge 12 lead, Colorado has a superb shot of reaching the Huge 12 Championship Sport.
If that occurs, Hunter can have an additional alternative to showcase his versatility and maybe safe the Heisman Trophy.
Whereas Hunter has created some separation from many of the discipline, Jeanty has saved him in sight all through the season. Along with main the nation in speeding yards with 1,893, Jeanty set the Boise State season speeding file when he ran for 159 yards and three TDs within the crew’s 42-21 win over San Jose State on Saturday.
The earlier file of 1,823 speeding yards was held by Jay Ajayi in 2014, and it took Ajayi 14 video games to perform the feat in comparison with 10 video games for Jeanty.
One space by which Jeanty excels is forcing missed tackles. In response to Dane Brugler of The Athletic, Jeanty is barely the second working again over the past decade to surpass 100 compelled missed tackles in a season, becoming a member of former Texas standout Bijan Robinson, who’s now starring for the Atlanta Falcons.
Jeanty’s season has been extraordinarily spectacular. The Broncos working again has 256 carries for 1,893 yards and 26 TDs. Jeanty’s 26 speeding TDs lead the nation by 5, according to TeamRankings. Jeanty has rushed for at the very least 125 yards in each recreation this season.
Since Boise State has already secured a spot within the Mountain West title recreation, Jeanty can have a further alternative to enhance his Heisman probabilities.
Regardless that Miami QB Cam Ward, Indiana QB Kurtis Rourke and Oregon QB Dillon Gabriel are subsequent in line within the Heisman odds, it could take extraordinary performances from every of them or a pointy decline from Hunter and Jeanty to have a sensible shot on the trophy at this level.
With Miami, Indiana and Oregon nonetheless in place to make their convention title video games, it’s arduous to rely them out, particularly contemplating quarterbacks have received 20 of the 24 Heisman trophies awarded since 2000.
As the highest two Heisman favorites, Hunter and Jeanty will look to change into simply the third non-QB to win the Heisman Trophy since 2015, becoming a member of DeVonta Smith (WR, Alabama, 2020) and Derrick Henry (RB, Alabama, 2015).
