Could the Heisman Trophy be heading west in 2024?
We have reached October, traditionally the true beginning to the college football season.
However, that day came a little earlier than usual, thanks to last weekend’s stunning game between Georgia and Alabama. That thrilling contest kicked the discussion over the upcoming 12-team college football playoff into high gear, as well as something else.
The Heisman Trophy.
Now that we have reached this point of the season, let’s kick off the Heisman campaign with our first Heisman Trophy ballot of the 2024 season.
Mark Schofield’s Heisman Ballot
1. Travis Hunter, CB/WR, Colorado
Travis Hunter continues to be one of the best players in the nation, on both sides of the football.
That alone should put him at the top of the Heisman discussion.
On a hot and humid Florida afternoon, Hunter’s full range of talents was on display against UCF. Logging 58 of a possible 64 offensive snaps, Hunter caught 9 passes for 89 yards and a touchdown. On the other side of the line of scrimmage, Hunter played 70 of a possible 79 snaps, notching a pair of tackles, one pass breakup, and this stunning interception of KJ Jefferson:
nd as you can see, he certainly believes he belongs in this discussion. But more than that, he belongs at the top of the list.
2. Jalen Milroe, QB, Alabama
By around 9:30 p.m. Eastern Time Saturday night, Jalen Milroe had put one hand on the Heisman Trophy.
Milroe threw a touchdown and ran for two more in the first half against Georgia as the Crimson Tide built a 30-7 lead at the break. The Bulldogs roared back, including taking a 34-33 lead with just over two minutes remaining, as the Georgia defense stifled Milroe and the Alabama offense through most of the second half.
But not all, as Milroe connected with dynamic freshman Ryan Williams on a 75-yard touchdown pass to save Alabama, and keep Milroe in the Heisman discussion.
3. Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State
The last time a running back won the Heisman Trophy? Derrick Henry, back in 2015 with Alabama.
Could Ashton Jeanty change all that?
Boise State is in the running to secure the Group of 5’s sole automatic bid in the inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff, and Jeanty is a massive reason why. On the season Jeanty has 845 rushing yards, most in the FBS, and his 13 touchdown runs also lead all scorers. His prowess was on full display Saturday night as he ran wild against Washington State, racking up 259 yards on the ground with four touchdowns. One of those, this 64-yard run through and around the Cougars’ defense, is already the stuff of legend:
massive game coming up? Boise State’s trip to Las Vegas near the end of October to play UNLV. That game could not only go a long way towards which team secures that automatic bid, but could also be a huge boost to his Heisman campaign.
JP Acosta’s Heisman ballot
1 . Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State
For those who like stats, here are some stats that basically solidify Jeanty’s place on this ballot.
Ashton Jeanty in FOUR games, has 845 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns. He has more rushing yards BY HIMSELF than:
Florida State
Georgia
Oklahoma State
Florida
Clemson
Just to name a few. He has more rushing touchdowns BY HIMSELF than:
Utah
Kansas State
Michigan
Penn State
Iowa
FAU
Mind you, Jeanty also missed part of the Georgia Southern game…because he was cramping after scoring too many TDs. Jeanty is resetting the record books at an insane clip to start this year and there’s no reason why he shouldn’t be invited to New York for the Heisman ceremony. What he did to Washington State is Heisman-caliber, and right now he might be the leader in the clubhouse.
2. Travis Hunter, WR/CB, Colorado
If Shohei Ohtani were a football player, he might be wearing number 12 for Colorado. Hunter is the best player in college football this year, making a massive impact on both sides of the ball for the Buffaloes. He leads Colorado in receiving yards and touchdowns, but also leads them in interceptions. He is both a phenomenal cornerback and great receiver, and good things happen when Hunter is on the field. If it weren’t for Jeanty rewriting record books to start this season, Hunter would be the runaway favorite.
3. Jalen Milroe, QB, Alabama
If the phrase “Big time players make big time plays in big time games” were a person, it would be Jalen Milroe. The Alabama signal caller accounted for 491 total yards of offense in the Crimson Tide’s victory over Georgia last Saturday, showcasing his growth in a lot of major areas. Milroe has the pedigree (he plays QB for Alabama) and the stats so far to back up this ranking, but when we talk about Heisman moments, that was THE Heisman moment of the early portion of the season. Milroe will still have marquee games as well, so he could go flying up this list. But his performance against the Dawgs puts him solidly in the top 3.
