The Heisman Trophy has long since been a QB-driven award. And as the 2024 college football season has become, the latest Heisman Odds indicate that the race for the Heisman this year is benefitting two specific quarterbacks as planned.
Cameron Ward Heisman Odds: +200 (was +270)
Cameron Ward takes the top spot away from the rest with a dominant showing against Duke in Week 10. Ward threw for 400 yards and five touchdowns, improving Miami’s record to a perfect 9-0 without a loss in sight on their remaining schedule.
It wasn’t perfect (see cross-body interception that he never should’ve thrown), but Ward is flashing his skill on the biggest of stages, improving the Hurricanes leaps and bounds from a year ago.
It’s rare when you can tie success for a program to one individual, but that’s exactly what you can do with Miami this year. After years of middling quarterback play, the ‘Canes have one of the best two quarterbacks in the country at the helm this year, and they have an undefeated record to show for it.
And that’s why Ward is your Heisman favorite right now.
Travis Hunter Heisman Odds: +220 (was +330)
The Colorado Buffaloes were on a bye week in Week 10 and Travis Hunter still saw his Heisman odds take a step forward. That’s largely because of the drop from Ashton Jeanty below him now, but Hunter’s prowess on both offense and defense is hard to ignore.
The Buffaloes are 6-2 and in the hunt for the Big 12 Championship this year, largely thanks to Hunter. If they can win out, you better believe Hunter has as good a shot as anyone to win the Heisman, if not the best shot.
Dillon Gabriel Heisman Odds: +290 (was +260)
The top player on the top team in the country, Dillon Gabriel led a cerebral attack against Michigan in Week 10. The Oregon Ducks picked apart a talented Michigan defense and feasted on a hapless Wolverines offense.
Still, it was Gabriel who played a new-perfect game from the point, leading multiple impressive and long scoring drives against a vaunted defense.
MORE: Simulate the College Football Season with CFN’s College Football Playoff Predictor
He threw for 294 yards and a touchdown, despite losing his favorite target in Tez Johnson. All eyes now point toward the rest of the season as the Ducks are the closest team to punching their College Football Playoff ticket this year.
They have winnable games from here on out and Gabriel will have a potential Heisman showcase game in what looks like a rematch with Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship at this point.
Ashton Jeanty Heisman Odds: +500 (was +400)
As good as the start to the season was for Ashton Jeanty, the talented running back hasn’t quite run into a wall just yet, but he’s certainly slow to achieve what he had achieved earlier this season.
In the past two games, he’s “only” rushed for 277 yards and three touchdowns. We say “only” because at one point this season, it felt like every game he was torching defenses for at least 250 yards and three scores.
For a Group of Five player to reach the heights of the Heisman Trophy, those are the numbers he’d have to average for essentially every game, and Jeanty sees his odds cut a bit following a two-game stretch where he hasn’t.
Still, Boise State has four games remaining on their schedule, all games they should be heavy favorites in, and a handful of which have incredibly porous defenses. Then, a potential showcase game in the Mountain West Championship could give Jeanty five more games this year to reach some astounding statistical thresholds.
Other Heisman Odds
- Jaxson Dart, QB, Ole Miss (+1600)
- Kurtis Rourke, QB, Indiana (+2200)
- Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado (+3500)
- Jalen Milroe, QB, Alabama (+5000)
College Football Network has you covered with the latest from the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, SEC, and every Group of Five conference and FBS Independent program.