The 2024 Heisman Trophy race is heating up as the college football season enters the month of November. Although the preseason odds favored the likes of quarterbacks like Alabama’s Jalen Milroe, Georgia’s Carson Beck and Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel, much of the race’s conversation has centered around two main candidates—Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty and Colorado’s Travis Hunter.
Colorado wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter is sitting a +200 to take home the award, tied with Miami quarterback Cam Ward. Oregon signal-caller Dillon Gabriel has +300, with Jeanty just behind him at +500.
As for Ward and Gabriel, the two having high Heisman odds isn’t all that surprising. The award has gone to a quarterback eight out of the last 10 years, and the position is by far the most consistently awarded by the Heisman Trust.
But those two signal-callers aside, we’re here to talk about Jeanty and Hunter’s respective Heisman campaigns. Both have legitimate shots to win the award, so let’s compare their respective stats, biggest performances, and individual paths to take home the Heisman next month.
Ashton Jeanty vs. Travis Hunter stats
| Ashton Jeanty | Stat | Travis Hunter |
| 190 | Carries | 1 |
| 1,525 | Rushing Yards | 0 |
| 14 | Receptions | 60 |
| 81 | Receiving Yards | 757 |
| 20 | Rushing TDs | 0 |
| 1 | Receiving TDs | 8 |
Obviously these two players play different positions, but their statistics are among some of the best in the country. Jeanty leads the nation in both rushing yards (1,525) and touchdowns (20), as well as rush yards per game (190.63).
Hunter is a top-20 receiver in receiving yards with 757 yards in eight games, along with eight touchdowns, which leads Colorado. But the reason Hunter is on a lot of Heisman ballots is that the Buffs’ star plays both offense and defense. That is definitely one reason why Hunter has slightly better odds than the equally talented, impressive and explosive Jeanty.
Let’s also take a look Travis Hunter’s defensive snaps so far this season:
| Tackles | Tackles For Loss | Interceptions | Forced Fumbles | Pass Break-Ups |
| 21 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 7 |
One of Hunter’s best games came against the Baylor Bears on Sept. 21. During the Buffs’ 38-31 victory, Hunter finished with:
- Three total tackles
- Seven receptions for 130 yards, averaging 18.57 yards per catch
- The game-sealing forced fumble that prevented Baylor from tying it up in overtime
Here’s a look at Hunter’s goal line forced fumble:
“I knew they were coming at me. They don’t think I can tackle so I had to show ’em.” đŸ˜¤
Travis Hunter breaks down the game-sealing forced fumble for @CUBuffsFootball đŸ¦¬ pic.twitter.com/NHqDRreNYt
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) September 22, 2024
A week later, Hunter had yet another remarkable game against UCF. He finished with nine catches for 89 yards with a touchdown on offense. On defense, he added two total tackles and an interception off Knights quarterback KJ Jefferson in the third quarter.
Unsurprisingly, after Hunter made the play, he flashed a Heisman pose for the crowd:
Ashton Jeanty vs. Travis Hunter Heisman comments
It’s been an interesting back-and-forth between the two. But both players have remained respectful about each other’s play so far, which is always great to see.
First, Hunter appeared on an episode of Robert Griffin III’s Outta Pocket podcast late last month. Hunter reiterated that his status as a two-way player should give him an edge for the award.
“I know I can win it, but I don’t know who’s there,” Hunter told RGIII as transcribed by Bleacher Report. “I mean y’all see Ashton Jeanty, it’s not like we haven’t seen a running back that’s good. We haven’t seen a player that plays both ways and I’m gonna keep saying that.”
Jeanty himself responded to Hunter’s comments, saying that he wasn’t offended whatsoever by what Hunter said:
“Kudos to Travis, he’s balling for real,” Jeanty said on YouTube, as transcribed by On3Sports. “He’s doing some stuff we ain’t ever seen nobody do. Personally, I don’t take no offense to it. He’s just speaking his opinion, everybody’s got an opinion.”
“For me, what I’ve been doing hasn’t been done in 36, 37 years, so that’s something special,” Jeanty added. “If I keep that up and break a record that’s been around for 36 years, I feel like you can’t really compete with that.”
What is Jeanty alluding to referring to 36, 37 years ago, you might be thinking?
Last two-way player to win the Heisman
Charles Woodson played cornerback but also played receiver and returned punts for Michigan in 1997. Woodson is the last two-way player to win the Heisman 37 years ago. No, Hunter doesn’t return punts, but his numbers to Woodson are comparable.
During Woodson’s 1997 Heisman-winning season, he had 11 receptions for 231 yards and two touchdowns, with a rushing touchdown. He also had seven interceptions on defense, including 43 tackles.
What’s most impressive about Hunter so far? He’s playing more snaps than Woodson did, averaging over 110 per game.
Heisman Trophy odds 2024
| Player | Position | School | Odds |
| Travis Hunter | WR/DB | Colorado | +175 |
| Cam Ward | QB | Miami | +190 |
| Dillon Gabriel | QB | Oregon | +300 |
| Ashton Jeanty | RB | Boise State | +520 |
| Jaxson Dart | QB | Ole Miss | +1600 |
(Odds as of Nov. 8, according to Caesars Sportsbook)
The Heisman Trophy Ceremony is set for Saturday, Dec. 14 in New York City. That’s exactly one week before Conference Championship Saturday. What’s interesting about that is that both Hunter and Jeanty have chances to play in their respective conference title games.
For Colorado, which is 4-1 in conference play, the Buffs will have to win all four of their remaining games against Texas Tech, Utah, Kansas and Oklahoma State. That paired with another conference loss by Iowa State, which is also 4-1 in the Big 12, would put Colorado in the Big 12 title game.
For Boise State, the Broncos are 4-0 in the Mountain West, and sitting atop of the conference standing alongside Colorado State. The Broncos look on-track to play in the MWC title game, assuming they win their last three conference games against Nevada, San Jose State and Wyoming.
If both guys play in the respective conference title games, that means Hunter and Jeanty can make a late-season, final impression on the Heisman Trust. What’s interesting is if only one guy plays a week before the trophy ceremony—say if Colorado doesn’t make it to the Big 12 title game—that could give an edge to the guy playing than the one staying at home.
There’s obviously still a lot of football to be played for both of these guys. But if they keep playing like they have, it’s safe to assume that the Hunter vs. Jeanty Heisman debate will continue throughout the last final weeks of the season.