Through 10 full weeks of the 2024 college football season, it's clear the race for the Heisman Trophy is still wide open.
Quarterbacks Cam Ward (Miami) and Dillon Gabriel (Oregon) continue to win games every weekend, and have the Hurricanes and Ducks in prime position to reach the College Football Playoff. Indiana's Kurtis Rourke solidified his place in the race with an impressive Week 10 game against Michigan State after sitting out the prior week's game against Washington following thumb surgery.
Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty and Colorado wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter have their own impressive bids for the award. Jeanty's Barry Sanders-esque yardage pace has slowed a bit, while Hunter looks to be on the upswing after an injury limited him against Kansas State and Arizona.
Here are Athlon's Heisman Trophy rankings heading into Week 11:
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1. Travis Hunter -- WR/CB, Colorado (Last week: 2)
Week 10: Bye
Season stats (6-2): 60 receptions, 757 yards (12.6 YPR), 8 TD; 20 total tackles, 2 INT, 7 PD, 1 FF
Colorado's two-way phenom vaults to the top of the rankings once again. Last week's top-ranked player, Ashton Jeanty, continues to put up great numbers, but he's fallen off of the otherworldly pace he was on through the first two months of the season. Hunter already had a unique Heisman case as one of the nation's top wide receivers and defensive backs. After a brief injury scare, he appears to be back at 100% after an impressive Week 9 showing against Cincinnati. Adding to his case is Colorado's place near the top of the Big 12. After losses by Iowa State and Kansas State in Week 10, the Buffaloes have a path to the Big 12 Championship Game if they can continue their hot play.
2. Cam Ward -- QB, Miami (Last week: 3)
Week 10 stats (53-31 W vs. Duke): 25-for-41, 400 yards, 5 TD, 1 INT
Season stats (9-0): 216-for-322 (67.1%), 3,146 yards (9.77 YPA), 29 TD, 6 INT; 45 carries, 187 yards (4.16 YPC), 3 TD
Ward had one of his best statistical outputs of the season against the Blue Devils in another come-from-behind 'Canes win. He matched a season-high with five passing touchdowns, three of which he threw in the second half to turn an 11-point deficit into a 22-point win. Ward completed a season-low 61% of his pass attempts on his way to his third 400-yard game of the year. A hefty chunk of that passing yardage went to receiver Xavier Restrepo, who became Miami's all-time leader in receptions and receiving yards on Saturday. Although Ward had two turnovers against Duke (an interception and a fumble), he leads the FBS in touchdown passes, ranks second in passing yards and is the new Heisman favorite at multiple sportsbooks.
3. Ashton Jeanty -- RB, Boise State (Last week: 1)
Week 10 stats (56-24 W vs. San Diego State): 31 carries, 149 yards, 2 TD; 2 receptions, 31 yards
Season stats (7-1): 190 carries, 1,525 yards (8.0 YPA), 20 TD; 14 receptions, 81 yards, 1 TD
Jeanty is still on pace to break 2,000 yards in the regular season and should be a shoo-in to be a finalist in New York. He's slowed down in recent weeks, however, averaging 5.2 yards per carry over his past three games against Hawai'i, UNLV and San Diego State. His numbers have been great, but in a race with Hunter putting up unprecedented numbers as a two-way player and three Power 4 quarterbacks playing elite football for undefeated teams, his case for the award has gotten weaker. A light late-season schedule against Nevada, San José State, Wyoming and Oregon State probably won't help matters unless he starts to put up regular 200-yard, three-touchdown performances again.
4. Dillon Gabriel -- QB, Oregon (Last week: 4)
Week 10 stats (38-17 W at Michigan): 22-for-34, 294 yards, 1 TD; 3 carries, 23 yards, 1 TD
Season stats (9-0): 214-for-286 (74.8%), 2,665 yards (9.32 YPA), 19 TD, 5 INT; 39 carries, 120 yards (3.1 YPC), 6 TD
Gabriel led another road rout for the Ducks last week in Ann Arbor. Though Saturday was his first game this season without multiple touchdown passes, he didn't throw an interception or take a sack for the third time this season. Oregon got out to a commanding first-half lead, punctuated by Gabriel's 23-yard touchdown run late in the second quarter. Gabriel still leads all qualified passers in completion percentage even after equaling his season high with 12 incompletions against the Wolverines. If he hangs on to the lead, it would be the second season in a row a Ducks quarterback finished with the best completion rate in the country.
5. Kurtis Rourke -- QB, Indiana (Last week: 5)
Week 10 stats (47-10 W at Michigan State): 19-for-29, 263 yards, 4 TD
Season stats (9-0): 154-for-210 (73.3%), 2,204 yards (10.5 YPA), 19 TD, 3 INT; 25 carries, 45 yards (1.8 YPC), 2 TD
Rourke needed a big outing in his return from the thumb injury that kept him sidelined against Washington, and he more than delivered. Michigan State has struggled offensively, but the defense has been solid, allowing just 194.8 passing yards per game. Rourke easily eclipsed that number and threw for four touchdowns. He ranks second in the FBS among full-time starters in completion percentage behind Gabriel. He also ranks second in yards per attempt and passer rating behind Ole Miss' Jaxson Dart. If Indiana can knock off Ohio State later this month, Rourke should find himself competing with Ward and Gabriel within the top tier of the Heisman race.
6. Jaxson Dart -- QB, Ole Miss (Last week: 8)
Week 10 stats (63-31 W at Arkansas): 25-for-31, 515 yards, 6 TD; 10 carries, 47 yards
Season stats (7-2): 198-for-275 (71.7%), 3,210 yards (11.63 YPA), 21 TD, 3 INT; 77 carries, 254 yards (3.3 YPA), 3 TD
Dart started to lose steam in October, but he kicked off November with a bang in Fayetteville. He broke Rebels records in passing yards and touchdowns, surpassing marks previously held by Eli Manning and Matt Corral. Dart threw three 60-yard touchdown passes to bring his total over 500 yards while completing more than 80% of his pass attempts. Dart leads the nation in passing yards ahead of Saturday's highly anticipated game against No. 2 Georgia, a tougher test than the Razorbacks' defense.
7. Shedeur Sanders -- QB, Colorado (Last week: 7)
Week 10: Bye
Season stats (6-2): 220-for-300 (73.3%), 2,591 yards (8.64 YPA), 21 TD, 6 INT; 61 carries, -18 yards, 3 TD
Not much has changed for Sanders over Colorado's bye week. He remains one of the most statistically impressive quarterbacks in the nation and has been vital in the Buffaloes' improvement from last year. At 6-2, Colorado is already bowl eligible and remains alive in the College Football Playoff race. At 4-1 in conference play, the Buffaloes are tied with Iowa State for the second-best record in conference -- just one game back of BYU (8-0, 5-0). The Buffs will need some help, as they don't face the Cyclones or Cougars down the stretch. Next up for Sanders is a trip to Texas Tech, which just handed ISU its first loss. He has an opportunity to put up some big passing numbers in a potential shootout. The Red Raiders have the second-worst PFF coverage rating in the Big 12 this season.
8. Will Howard -- QB, Ohio State (Last week: NR)
Week 10 stats (20-13 W at Penn State): 16-for-24, 182 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT; 12 carries, 24 yards
Season stats (7-1): 150-for-205, 1,977 yards, 19 TD, 5 INT, 53 carries, 115 yards, 5 TDs
Howard's return to his home state got off to an inauspicious start when he threw a pick-six on the Buckeyes' first possession. He settled down as the game went on, throwing touchdown passes to Emeka Egbuka and Brandon Inniss that put Ohio State ahead for good. Howard's overall stat line was underwhelming, and he took a season-high three sacks, but he led the Buckeyes to a win they had to have in a hostile environment. Upcoming games against Purdue and Northwestern, two of the worst teams in the Big Ten, are a welcome reprieve before a top-10 showdown with Indiana and the regular-season finale against rival Michigan.
Heisman stock downCade Klubnik -- QB, Clemson (Last week: 6)
Klubnik's surge in the Heisman race was tied closely to Clemson's winning streak after the Week 1 loss to Georgia. That came to an end on Saturday, with the Tigers' decisive home loss to Louisville. Klubnik was not terrible, but it was his worst performance since the Georgia loss. With Clemson's path to the ACC championship now very muddy, it seems unlikely that he'll be able to recover and make his way to New York.
Heisman sleepers to watchBryson Daily -- QB, ArmyKaleb Johnson -- RB, IowaGarrett Nussmeier -- QB, LSU
Related: College Football Group of 5 Coaches Poll: Week 10
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