With the end of the college football season in sight, voting for the Heisman Trophy ends Dec. 9.
Two players have emerged as leaders, furthering the margin after their performances last week: Colorado wide receiver and cornerback Travis Hunter and Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty.
Meanwhile, Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel and Miami quarterback Cam Ward have fallen behind, so they will need to impress in these next two weeks before voting closes.
Travis Hunter – Colorado wide receiver/cornerback
Hunter has become a favorite to win the Heisman Trophy this year, especially after his performance last week as the only two-way player at the Power Four level.
In Colorado’s 49-24 win over Utah last week, Hunter caught five passes for 55 yards before rushing for a five-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter. At cornerback, Hunter intercepted a tipped pass and recorded three tackles.
Hunter’s versatility on both offense and defense boosted him up from +125 to -400 odds to win the award according to ESPN, impressing both fans and voters alike.
Being a playmaker on both sides of the ball would make Hunter a unique pick for the Heisman Trophy. He would become the first cornerback to win the trophy since Charles Woodson in 1997.
Ashton Jeanty – Boise State running back
With a record-breaking performance last week, Jeanty is another likely contender for the coveted trophy.
Not only does Jeanty have the most rushing yards in collegiate football right now, he broke Boise State’s single-season rushing record, overcoming Jay Ajayi’s school record of 1,823 rushing yards set in 14 games in 2014.
After Boise State’s 42-21 victory over San Jose State where he rushed for 159 yards on 32 carries, Jeanty now has 1,893 rushing yards through 10 games.
Cam Ward – Miami quarterback
Two weeks ago, Ward was arguably the frontrunner to receive the Heisman. However, after a huge 28-23 upset by Georgia Tech that gave Miami its first loss of the season, Ward’s chances of winning the Heisman fell.
Ward performed well in the game against Georgia Tech, throwing for 348 yards and three touchdowns, but it wasn’t enough to get Miami the win. He still leads college football in passing yards with 3,494 and touchdowns with 32.
Although Miami has been actively campaigning for Ward to win the Heisman, with Hunter and Jeanty in contention, it will likely be harder to achieve.
Dillon Gabriel – Oregon quarterback
Gabriel has been in the Heisman conversation since the beginning of the season; however, after an underwhelming week 12 win against Wisconsin, his odds of winning have decreased.
For the first game this season, Gabriel didn’t throw a passing touchdown. Throwing an interception and struggling to find targets, going 22-of-31 for 218 yards, in the narrow 16-13 win against the Badgers did not help his chances, especially with three other candidates performing well.
