The list of legitimate contenders for the 2024 Heisman Trophy has been reduced to four names. Travis Hunter, Ashton Jeanty, Cam Ward, and Dillon Gabriel were named finalists on Monday night. All four players had impressive seasons, but only one will take home the most prestigious individual award in college football. It’s no secret that one player has a clear edge over the rest of the field, but we’ll go over the key stats for each option here.
Colorado’s Hunter is the betting favorite (-2500, BetMGM) despite his preseason odds coming in at +5000. The rare two-way talent showcased elite playmaking as a wide receiver and defensive back. His value on both sides of the ball helps him affect games in a way most players can’t. He ranked second in touchdown receptions (14), sixth in receiving yards (1,152), and fifth in receptions (92) as a junior with the Buffaloes. He also led his team in passes defender (11) and interceptions (4) while recording 31 tackles. No player logged as many snaps as Hunter and his ability to be elite at two positions puts him in a unique position. He’s built a case for himself that’s hard to argue against.
Boise State’s Jeanty has the second-best odds (+1000, BetMGM) and his numbers are nothing to scoff at. The junior running back’s Hesman odds weren’t on the board during the preseason and he opened the year at +5000 before climbing the ranks. He led all players in rushing yards (2,497) and averaged 7.3 yards per carry on 344 attempts. Only Army quarterback Bryson Daily could match his rushing touchdown total of 29. He was easily the most dominant player at his position and powered his one-loss team to the College Football Playoff. But that might not be enough to make voters look away from Hunter’s heavy workload.
Ward and Gabriel’s odds are both +25000 at BetMGM, but Gabriel kicked off the year with a head start at +800 ahead of his first season with Oregon. He ranks eighth in passing yards (3,558) and passing touchdowns (28) with just six interceptions. He also rushed four 192 yards and seven scores en route to a perfect 13-0 regular season. Other signal callers had more impressive counting stats, though. Miami’s Ward finished the year first in passing touchdowns (36) and second in passing yards (4,123). His Hurricanes missed the postseason after suffering a pair of losses and quarterbacks are often burdened with the weight of winning games when it comes to big-time awards.
The consensus seems to be that Hunter, an oddity in more ways than one, will run away with the Heisman Trophy. He’s claimed the top spot across several sportsbooks for weeks and has played at a high level when healthy. Jeanty has long been considered the only player who could challenge Hunter, but the gap has only widened over time. Bettors who made bets earlier in the season can be excited about getting value in this race, but there’s none to be found on the board right now.
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