Week 6 brought the biggest Heisman shakeup we’ve seen so far this year, with one top contender tumbling all the way out of the top 10 and several players establishing themselves as legitimate candidates amid a week of upsets. There’s a group of leaders and a group of lurkers. Who are the true contenders for the Heisman Trophy after Week 6?
Who Are the Leading Heisman Trophy Contenders in 2024?
- Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State
- Travis Hunter, CB/WR, Colorado
- Cam Ward, QB, Miami (FL)
- Kurtis Rourke, QB, Indiana
- Jeremiah Smith, WR, Ohio State
- Blake Horvath, QB, Navy
- Ryan Williams, WR, Alabama
- Diego Pavia, QB, Vanderbilt
- Cade Klubnik, QB, Clemson
- Eli Holstein, QB, Pittsburgh
Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State
When Ashton Jeanty ran for 192 yards and three touchdowns against Oregon, the college football world was shocked that he could put up those numbers as a Group of Five player against a top 10 team. In hindsight, we’re more shocked that’s all he did against the now-No. 3 Ducks.
Jeanty has played just 15 quarters this season, racking up 16 touchdowns and 1,031 yards on less than 100 carries. He has a run of at least 64 yards in every game this season and has proven himself simply unstoppable. Forget just being invited. If the season ended today, the Heisman Trophy would be his.
Travis Hunter, CB/WR, Colorado
What more can we say about Travis Hunter? He’s a top-five player in the country at two different positions and plays neither halfway. Even after his bye week, he remains in the top 10 in receiving yards, and his touchdown production is up this year as he’s tied for fifth with six touchdown catches.
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Defensively, he’s covering opponents’ top receivers and had allowed just 13 catches all year to go with two pass breakups and two interceptions. Past two-way players have played each position sparingly, letting their involvement in the game be dictated by matchups, but Hunter simply doesn’t ever leave the field.
Cam Ward, QB, Miami (FL)
Things haven’t been smooth sailing for the Hurricanes in recent weeks, but they’re still setting the pace in the ACC and they’re still undefeated, largely thanks to Cam Ward. While most of you were asleep Saturday night, Ward was leading his team on an incredible 25-point road comeback. He threw for a season-high 437 yards, and it was the first time all year he failed to reach 3+ passing touchdowns (though he did add a score on the ground).
In the fourth quarter alone, he engineered a 20-point comeback with three drives of over 70 yards, running 26 plays in just seven minutes and 39 seconds of game time. He capped all three with a touchdown, turning a forgettable performance into an unforgettable comeback.
Thanks to Alabama’s struggles against Vanderbilt, he’s officially the front runner at quarterback, a position that holds plenty of sway in the eyes of voters.
Kurtis Rourke, QB, Indiana
Speaking of potential quarterbacks who might have a claim on the trophy, look no further than college football’s only bowl-eligible starter. I, as a long-time member of the Kurtis Rourke fan club, feel vindicated by his performance this season under first-year Indiana coach Curt Cignetti.
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Rourke is fifth in total passing and is one of just three players in the top 10 with two or fewer interceptions. He’s also played his best against better competition as he’s averaging nearly 350 yards and has 10 touchdowns in three conference games. If Indiana continues to roll, expect to see Rourke climb the list.
Jeremiah Smith, WR, Ohio State
The freshman phenom has lived up to the hype and then some, with at least 70 yards and a touchdown in every game this season. It’s tougher for wide receivers to win because, typically, the average voter pays more attention to the quarterback than the pass catchers. Still, even after Will Howard threw four touchdowns, with three to Emeka Egbuka, it’s Smith who is pacing the Buckeyes.
Smith has six of Howard’s 12 touchdowns and has added another on the ground. Ohio State has the schedule to put him in the spotlight too, starting with a prime-time matchup against Oregon this weekend. It’s likely Smith will continue his exceptional play, and if he does, he’s going to be a legitimate Heisman contender, even in the eyes of a quarterback-centric group of voters.
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