2024 Heisman Trophy Award: Get to Know the 4 Finalists

Ashton Jeanty of the Boise State Broncos carries the ball against the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors during a game at the Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex in Honolulu on Oct. 12. Darryl Oumi/Getty Images

Nestled between college football conference championship weekend and the start of bowl season is the Heisman ceremony, one of the most prestigious events in sports.

The 2024 Heisman Trophy will be presented Saturday in New York City. Dozens of players annually receive votes, but only four finalists are invited to New York for the ceremony. This year’s finalists are Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel, Miami quarterback Cam Ward, Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty, and Colorado receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter.

While Hunter is the overwhelming favorite with sportsbooks and the general public, all four are legitimate candidaties. Here’s a look at what each has accomplished this season.

QB Dillon Gabriel, Oregon Ducks

The leader of the No. 1 and only undefeated team in college football, Gabriel already etched his name into history with the record he broke this season. He has 187 total touchdowns in his college career, passing Case Keenum (178) earlier this year for the most in FBS history. Gabriel could break a couple of more NCAA records if Oregon has an extended College Football Playoff (CFP) run, including the marks for most passing yards and most passing touchdowns in FBS history, both currently held by Keenum.

Gabriel leads the Big Ten in completion percentage (73.2), passing yards (3,558), and passing touchdowns (28) after topping the Big 12 in all three stats last year while playing for Oklahoma. But OU and UO aren’t the only schools he’s played for, as he began his college career at the University of Central Florida. Thus, he’s looking to join Cam Newton as the only “double transfer” Heisman winner and become the second Oregon Duck to take home the award, following Marcus Mariota in 2014.

QB Cam Ward, Miami Hurricanes

Speaking of transfers, Ward also did that as he spent two years at Incarnate Word, and then two years at Washington State before landing in Miami. His 36 passing touchdowns led not only the ACC, but also the nation, while he topped the conference in total yards and passer rating. Ward was the Heisman favorite at midseason, and while his Hurricanes have slipped a bit, the quarterback’s play has not. He has 16 passing touchdowns and just two interceptions over his last six games, and steers the highest-scoring offense in the NCAA, with Miami averaging 44.2 points per game.

Ward has accounted for 41 total touchdowns this season, which ranks second in FBS, trailing, ironically, the person who succeeded him at WSU, John Mateer (44). Ward has already swept the conference awards, being named both the ACC Player of the Year and the ACC Offensive Player of the Year. He’s looking to add the Heisman to his mantel, thus becoming the third Hurricane to win the award, after fellow quarterbacks Vinny Testaverde (1986) and Gino Torretta (1992).

Miami quarterback Cam Ward throws a pass against Duke on Nov. 2 in Miami Gardens, Fla. Lynne Sladky/AP Photo

RB Ashton Jeanty, Boise State Broncos

As phenomenal as Jeanty’s season has been, winning the Heisman may not be the icing on the cake. That could come during the CFP, not just with Boise potentially winning it but due to the individual records still ahead of Jeanty. Already the NCAA leader in rushing yards (2,497), rushing touchdowns (29), and touchdowns from scrimmage (30) this season, Jeanty is just 132 rushing yards away from breaking the college football single-season record, which has been held by Barry Sanders since 1988. He’s averaged 192.1 rushing yards per game and has reached 132 yards in 11 of his 13 starts.

While he has six 200-yard games this year, Jeanty’s highlight came when he failed to meet that threshold, and it came in Boise State’s lone defeat. Jeanty racked up 192 yards and three scores on the ground versus now-No. 1 Oregon back in September. He’d love to meet up with the Ducks defense again, but before then wants to etch his name into Heisman lore and end a lengthy drought for players at his level. Jeanty would be the first Heisman winner in Boise State history, and he would be the first winner from outside a power conference since Ty Detmer won at BYU in 1990.

WR/CB Travis Hunter, Colorado Buffaloes

Hunter’s work on both sides of the ball produced one of the most amazing seasons in college football history. Not only does he lead the Big 12 in both receptions (92) and receiving touchdowns (14), but he also tops the conference in passes defended (11) and is third in interceptions (four). In the Buffs’ regular-season finale versus Oklahoma State, according to many, Hunter may have locked up the Heisman with 10 catches for 116 yards and three touchdowns, while also picking off a pass. He became the first college football player since 1996 to have three receiving touchdowns and an interception in a single game.

Also a first was Hunter being named All-Big 12 First-Team on both offense and defense, as he claimed the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year award as well. Having his name announced on Saturday would make Hunter the second Colorado player to win, joining Rashaan Salaam (1994). Hunter is technically both an offensive and a defensive player, so he’d also become just the second defensive player to ever win the award, along with fellow CB/WR Charles Woodson (1997).

The 90th Heisman Trophy ceremony will take place at Jazz at Lincoln Center in Manhattan, New York.