Few data points underscored the craziness of the 2024 college football season quite like the current Heisman Trophy picture. When two injuries shook up the rankings, a few quarterbacks played their way into the discussion purely based on merit. Two of those run the offenses at undefeated service academies and their dual-threat prowess can’t be ignored.
In our post-Week 8 Heisman Trophy rankings, we look at how three of the top five contenders play at Group of Five schools.
Who Are the Leading Heisman Trophy Contenders in 2024?
- Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State
- Cam Ward, QB, Miami (FL)
- Dillon Gabriel, QB, Oregon
- Blake Horvath, QB, Navy
- Bryson Daily, QB, Army
- Garrett Nussmeier, QB, LSU
- Drew Allar, QB, Penn State
- Travis Hunter, CB/WR, Colorado
- Deigo Pavia, QB, Vanderbilt
- Cade Klubnik, QB, Clemson
Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State
We at College Football Network were proud of the running backs of the college football world for representing well while Boise State Broncos RB Ashton Jeanty was on a bye. In our minds, Jeanty is still the clear favorite here, and it would take a lot to unseat him at this point.
Friday, he has the opportunity to have his Heisman moment in front of a national television audience. The Broncos play what could be a preview of the Mountain West Championship against the UNLV Rebels. The Rebels’ offense is potent, and Jeanty might be needed in all four quarters Friday night.
Cam Ward, QB, Miami (FL)
While Cam Ward certainly benefits from injuries to Kurtis Rourke and Travis Hunter, he’s also surging with his play on the field. Ward put up his seventh straight 300-yard game this past Saturday as the Miami Hurricanes survived another close game — this time against the Louisville Cardinals.
Ward has a 24:5 touchdown-to-interception ratio and is averaging nearly 365 passing yards a game. He’s on pace to shatter the ACC single-season passing record, assuming the Hurricanes play at least 14 games.
Dillon Gabriel, QB, Oregon
The preseason favorite struggled early, but a huge game in a win against the Ohio State Buckeyes put Dillon Gabriel back on the map.
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The Oregon Ducks have one of the easiest remaining schedules in the Power Four, and if they finish the year undefeated, it’s a foregone conclusion that Gabriel will be invited to the ceremony. The question is whether he can do enough to unseat one of the contenders ahead of him.
Blake Horvath, QB, Navy
Blake Horvath had a modest game by his standards in a blowout win against the Charlotte 49ers, throwing for 117 yards and three touchdowns and adding 56 yards on the ground. It was the first game since the opener that Horvath failed to register a rushing TD, but he’s the first player of the year to get to double digits in both passing and rushing scores.
Horvath has a huge game against Notre Dame this week. If he performs well in a win, even voters who care more about the logo on the helmet than the quality of play will be forced to give him a look for the trophy.
Bryson Daily, QB, Army
What a wild year it is in college football when two service academy quarterbacks are in the top five of the Heisman Trophy race. The Army Black Knights are running more of a traditional triple option than the Navy Midshipmen, but Bryson Daily still has some great passing numbers to go with his nation-leading 19 rushing touchdowns.
Daily is third in rushing yardage, behind only Jeanty and Iowa’s Kaleb Johnson, and has seven passing touchdowns with no interceptions.
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