Assessing the Heisman Race Between Hunter, Jeanty

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The two most outstanding players in the 2024 college football season have separated themselves from the pack. They are both juniors, they are both projected as top-10 selections in the 2025 NFL Draft and neither is a quarterback. Ashton Jeanty is a record-setting running back for the No. 11 Boise State Broncos (11-1, 7-0 Mountain West Conference). Travis Hunter is a gifted two-way player for the No. 25 Colorado Buffaloes (9-3, 7-2 Big 12 Conference). Which of these two exceptional players will receive the sport's most coveted award, the Heisman Trophy?

The 2024 Heisman Trophy presentation is scheduled to take place at 8:00 p.m. EST on Dec. 14 in New York City. The presentation ceremony will be broadcast on ESPN. Votes for the award are to be cast between Dec. 2 and Dec. 9.

Jeanty's Heisman Credentials

Born on Dec. 2, 2003, Jeanty stands 5-foot-9 and weighs 215 pounds. He began his collegiate career at Boise State in 2022 and started two games as a true freshman. During his sophomore campaign, he started all 12 of the Broncos' games, rushing for 1,347 yards and 14 touchdowns. He also played an integral role in the team's passing attack, with 43 receptions for 569 yards and 5 TDs.

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In 2024, Jeanty is the nation's rushing leader, With 2,288 yards on 312 carries, he is averaging 7.3 yards per carry, and he has rushed for 28 TDs. In all 12 games this season, he ran for over 125 yards, and in five he rushed for over 200 yards. In only one game did he not score a rushing TD—a 56-14 rout of Portland State (3-8, 3-5 Big Sky Conference) in which he was taken out of the game after only 11 carries.

Jeanty is the overwhelming favorite to win the Doak Walker Award, given annually to the nation's best running back, as he leads the nation in virtually all rushing categories.

With the numbers he has put up this year, Jeanty is already No. 5 among the all-time single-season rushing leaders. The only players ahead of him are:

1. Barry Sanders, 2,628 yards for Oklahoma State (1988)

2. Melvin Gordon, 2,587 yards for Wisconsin (2014)

3. Kevin Smith, 2,567 yards for UCF (2007)

4. Marcus Allen, 2,342 yards for USC (1981)

Allen and Sanders won the Heisman in their record-setting seasons. Gordon won the Doak Walker Award and finished second in the Heisman voting in 2014 behind Marcus Mariota. Smith was the first-ever consensus All-American from UCF, and only the second UCF player to receive Heisman votes.

With Boise State slated to play the No. 22 UNLV Rebels (10-2, 6-1) in the MWC title game at 8:00 p.m. EST on Dec. 6 in Boise, Idaho, Jeanty will have the opportunity to pass one or more of these rushing leaders. Furthermore, if the Broncos prevail in the conference championship game, they will land a spot in the College Football Playoff. If Jeanty has two or more games, he may break Sanders' longstanding single-season rushing record.

Another rushing record set by Sanders in 1988 was 37 TDs. Because Jennings is currently 9 TDs short of that mark, equaling or surpassing that record might prove to be a more elusive task. However, he has scored 3 or more TDs in six games this season.

Hunter's Heisman Credentials

Born on May 18, 2003, Hunter is slightly more than six months older than Jeanty. He stands 6-foot-1 and weighs 185 pounds. After playing his freshman season at Jackson State of the FCS, Hunter is now in his second year with the Buffaloes.

Unlike Jeanty, Hunter is not going to have the opportunity to play in a conference championship game or the CFP. However, with nine victories thus far, his Buffaloes will be competing in a bowl game.

On defense, Hunter is an elite cornerback and leads his team in interceptions and pass breakups with 4 and 11, respectively. The fact that he leads his team in these defensive categories is particularly impressive because opponents generally avoid throwing to receivers covered by him. Indeed, as recently reported by the Pro Football Network, "Since the beginning of the season, it has been evident that opposing QBs would prefer to avoid Hunter as much as possible, resulting in minimal passes being attempted to his side of the field."

He has also made 31 tackles and forced a fumble.

On offense, Hunter is quarterback Shedeur Sanders' favorite target, leading the team with 92 receptions for 1,152 yards and 14 TDs. He added 1 rushing TD on a highlight reel play.

While Hunter is one of three finalists for this year's Biletnikoff Award, along with Arizona's Tetairoa McMillan and San José State's Steve Nash, he was controversially not selected as a finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award.

Like Jeanty, Hunter is a terrific player who has put up remarkable numbers this year.

Bright Futures

Regardless of which of these two elite athletes wins the 2024 Heisman Trophy, both have plenty to look forward to in their football careers. In a recent mock draft conducted by the Pro Football Network, Hunter and Jeanty are the No. 2 and No. 3 overall selections, respectively, in the 2025 NFL Draft.