With the college football season winding down and bowl season quickly approaching, that also means the Heisman Trophy will be handed out soon.
A lot of players have been in the Heisman conversation throughout the season, but there a few who have separated themselves from the rest at this point.
Here are the top three Heisman favorites, according to FanDuel, and where their best opportunity awaits to cement their case as the winner next month.
Travis Hunter, WR/CB, Colorado
The two-way star from Colorado has been nothing short of spectacular this season. After a disappointing first season under head coach Deion Sanders, the Buffaloes have turned things around and currently sit at 7-2, only trailing undefeated BYU in the Big 12.
On the offensive side of the ball, Hunter has been a go-to option for quarterback Shedeur Sanders. Hunter has posted 100 or more receiving yards in five of Colorado’s nine games. In total, Hunter has 69 catches for 856 yards and nine TDs.
As impressive as Hunter has been offensively, he has been stout defensively as well. Hunter has two interceptions, one forced fumble, seven passes defended and 20 tackles. Hunter has been a major part of Colorado’s resurgence and his versatility should not go unnoticed, especially in a season when quarterbacks have not been as dominant.
The Buffaloes’ schedule is manageable down the stretch, so a Big 12 Championship berth is not out of the question. A big-time opponent in a conference title game would give Hunter an excellent shot to cap a Heisman-winning season.
Dillon Gabriel, QB, Oregon
Despite 2024 being a relatively down year for quarterbacks, Gabriel has been a huge catalyst in Oregon’s dominant campaign so far. Playing in his sixth season of college football, Gabriel broke the FBS all-time record for total touchdowns in the Ducks’ Week 11 rout of Maryland, throwing his 179th career TD pass.
Gabriel has passed for 200 or more yards in all but one of Oregon’s games while only throwing five interceptions all season. Gabriel’s QBR (86.7) is third in the nation. He leads the country in completion percentage (74.1%) and leads the Big Ten in passing yards (2,848) and touchdowns (22). Gabriel also has six TDs on the ground, showcasing his dual-threat abilities.
Oregon has a road trip to take on Wisconsin on Saturday, but its remaining schedule looks relatively easy. If the Ducks get to the Big Ten Championship game, potentially in a rematch with Ohio State, Gabriel could make a compelling case for Heisman consideration.
Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State
Jeanty has had a remarkable season. He has rushed for at least 100 yards in every game, including four games with more than 200 yards on the ground. His 1,734 rushing yards lead the country by over 400 yards.
Jeanty also has 23 rushing TDs. Per Sports-Reference, only five players all-time have rushed for more than 30 touchdowns in a single season, something Jeanty has a realistic shot of accomplishing, assuming he maintains his current pace.
While Jeanty and the Broncos lost to Oregon earlier in the season, Jeanty was phenomenal with 192 yards and three TDs. Should Jeanty win the Heisman, he would become the first non-Power Five player to hoist the trophy since BYU’s Ty Detmer in 1990.
If Jeanty can maintain his production, Boise State should reach the Mountain West title game, where Jeanty would have one final chance to showcase his talents in front of a national audience before the award is handed out on Dec. 14.
