Heisman Trophy watch: Updated odds for Travis Hunter, other candidates to win 2024 award
The 2024 Heisman Trophy ceremony is quickly approaching. With just two weeks left of college football games between now and the ceremony, there is limited time remaining for each player in the mix for the award to impress the voters.
As the regular season comes to a close and Championship Saturday gets closer, the field has primarily narrowed down to Colorado two-way star Travis Hunter and Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty. Other names in the mix include quarterbacks Cameron Ward and Dillon Gabriel from Miami and Oregon, respectively.
Let’s take a look at where things stand with the Heisman Trophy heading into college football’s Week 14.
Heisman Trophy odds 2024
Here’s a look at the current Heisman odds, via BetMGM. The leader is Colorado’s Travis Hunter, sitting at -1000.
Player |
School |
Odds |
Travis Hunter |
Colorado |
-1000 |
Ashton Jeanty |
Boise State |
+750 |
Cam Ward |
Miami |
+1200 |
Dillon Gabriel |
Oregon |
+6600 |
Although the preseason odds favored the likes of quarterbacks like Alabama’s Jalen Milroe, Georgia’s Carson Beck, and Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel, the race has narrowed late in the year to Jeanty and Hunter.
The award typically goes to quarterbacks. In fact, it’s gone to a quarterback eight out of the past 10 seasons, and the position is by far the most consistently awarded by the Heisman Trust. However, it looks like 2024 will be the first time since 2020 that a non-signal-caller will win it. That year, Alabama receiver DeVonta Smith took home the award.
Heisman Trophy candidates 2024
Travis Hunter, CB/WR, Colorado
2024 Stats: 82 receptions for 1,036 yards and 11 touchdowns, 30 total tackles with three interceptions and a forced fumble.
It’s hard to put into words just how sensational watching Travis Hunter has been all year. The Colorado star is playing upwards of 100 snaps per game and is on the field for virtually every Buffalo play on both offense and defense.
He leads the team in receiving this year and has helped his quarterback Shedeur Sanders have the best statistical season of his career. One of his best defensive plays came against Baylor when he had the game-sealing forced fumble that prevented the Bears from scoring in overtime.
Hunter has already said he intends to enter the 2025 NFL Draft, so this is likely the last we’ll see of Hunter in a Colorado uniform. His season-long play — while remaining healthy and helping lead the Buffs to an 8-3 record — is why it’s no surprise he’s at the top of the odds currently.
Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State
2024 Stats: 275 carries for 2,062 yards with 27 touchdowns, 18 receptions for 102 yards and a touchdown
Right behind Hunter is Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty. He’s a talented, explosive rusher who has some serious speed, as well. He’s helped lead the Broncos to a 10-1 record and has Boise State in line for a Mountain West title and College Football Playoff berth.
With at least three games remaining, Jeanty set a Boise State school record in rushing yards. He’s also on pace to get very close to Barry Sanders’ single-season FBS rushing record of 2,628 yards, as well.
The expanded 12-team playoff field and Boise looking likely to get a CFP bid means Jeanty and Boise have been thrust into the national spotlight. What’s even cooler? Jeanty had numerous NIL opportunities to play elsewhere last offseason. Instead, he opted to stay loyal to the Broncos and has played a huge part in their national success this season.
Cameron Ward, QB, Miami
2024 Stats: 67.2%, 3774 yards, 25 touchdowns, seven interceptions. 53 carries for 177 yards and four touchdowns
Cam Ward had a bit of a journeyman career before arriving at Miami. He spent two seasons at Incarnate Word, then spent two years playing quarterback at Washington State. Although Ward briefly declared for the 2024 NFL Draft, he ultimately ended up at Miami.
He’s having the best season of his career and has led Miami to a season in the hunt for a playoff bid. With Ward under center, Miami has the nation’s top scoring offense, averaging 44.7 points per game. The Canes are also first in total offense, third in passing, and first in third-down conversions (56.6%).
Miami has a chance to make it to its first ACC title game since 2017. All Ward and the Canes need to do is beat Syracuse on Saturday. Regardless, it’s been a great season for Ward and the Hurricanes so far.
Dillon Gabriel, QB, Oregon
2024 Stats: 73.8%, 3,066 yards passing, 22 touchdowns, six interceptions. 54 carries for 155 yards and six touchdowns.
Speaking of journeymen, Dillon Gabriel might be the ultimate one at quarterback. He started his career at UCF, where he spent 2019-21 before transferring to Oklahoma in 2022. Over two seasons with the Sooners, Gabriel threw for 6,828 yards with 55 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.
For his sixth and final year, Gabriel opted to transfer to Oregon prior to the 2024 season. He has the Ducks sitting at No. 1, 11-0 with a berth in the Big Ten title game during Oregon’s first season in the conference.
He leads the Big Ten in passing yards and touchdowns, and his 73.8 percent completion percentage is second in the FBS, right behind Ohio State’s Will Howard.
When is the Heisman Trophy ceremony?
The Heisman Trophy will be presented on Dec. 14, one week after the conference championship games. The ceremony will be televised on ESPN. The finalists invited to the ceremony in New York will be revealed on Dec. 9.
- Date: Saturday, Dec.14
- Time: 8 p.m. ET
- TV channel: ESPN
- Live stream: ESPN+, Fubo
Heisman Trophy winners history
The Heisman Trophy was first awarded in 1935 to Jay Berwanger of the University of Chicago.
Here are the winners for the past 10 years:
Year |
Player |
Total Votes |
Margin of Victory |
2023 |
QB Jayden Daniels, LSU |
2,029 |
328 |
2022 |
QB Caleb Williams, USC |
2,031 |
611 |
2021 |
QB Bryce Young, Alabama |
2,311 |
1,357 |
2020 |
WR DeVonta Smith, Alabama |
1,856 |
669 |
2019 |
QB Joe Burrow, LSU |
2,608 |
1,846 |
2018 |
QB Kyler Murray, Oklahoma |
2,167 |
296 |
2017 |
QB Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma |
2,398 |
1,098 |
2016 |
QB Lamar Jackson, Louisville |
2,144 |
620 |
2015 |
RB Derrick Henry, Alabama |
1,832 |
293 |
2014 |
QB Marcus Mariota, Oregon |
2,534 |
1,284 |