Dash for the Heisman

By: Christopher Estill- October 17, 2024

As November looms around the corner of each brisk, chilly fall day, the college football season is anything but. Each weekend has blessed college football fans with fiery instant classics ranging from absurd 4th quarter comebacks to improbable underdog victories. 

With all this action comes the Heisman race. The Heisman trophy is the most prestigious award in college football, given to the best college football player each season. Past winners include legends, hall of famers, and future hall of famers such as Reggie Bush, Cam Newton, Barry Sanders, Tim Tebow, Derrick Henry, Baker Mayfield, among many others. In the context of this year however, the standings are neck tight. The betting odds are listed by favorites:  1. Ashton Jeanty (Boise State), 2. Dillon Gabriel (Oregon), 3. Cam Ward (Miami), 4. Jalen Milroe (Alabama), 5. Cade Klubnik (Clemson), 6. C. Beck (Georgia), and 7. Travis Hunter (Colorado). 

Running back Ashton Jeanty has put up 1,248 yards and 17 touchdowns on only 126 carries. He’s averaging a first down per carry!! Jalen Milroe, Alabama’s star QB, on the other hand has put up 1,483 yards, 12 touchdowns and only 4 interceptions. His major critique came from an absurd upset loss to #40 Vanderbilt, which not only plummeted Alabams’s ranking and Jalen’s Heisman odds, but also ensued chaos in downtown Nashville. To round out the list, Travis Hunter, Colorado’s 2 way star as both a wide receiver and cornerback, has put up some crazy numbers. He’s scored 6 touchdowns and put up 587 yards on less than 50 receptions but what makes him so special, is the amount of snaps he’s had. Travis Hunter has a college football leading 620 snaps (2nd most snaps has less than 500) around 300 more than his fellow teammates, while missing only 2 snaps the entire season. While the college football season is still young, and the Heisman script has yet to be written, (or so we think…) if the beginning of this season is any tell tale to what’s in store, don’t go anywhere, because it’s going to be one for the books.