Heisman Watch 2024: Breaking Down Top Candidates in the Race After Week 10

The 2024 Heisman Trophy conversation has not solely been about the top quarterbacks in the FBS.

Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty and Colorado two-way player Travis Hunter have been fantastic all season.

However, there will be momentum for some quarterbacks to compete with Jeanty and Hunter for first-place votes, especially as the games become more important in November.

Miami quarterback Cam Ward put up a massive stat line in Week 10's win over Duke to give him a slight edge over the rest of the field.

Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel has been consistent as well, as his status as the signal-caller of the top team in the country carries weight.

Other front-runners could emerge as well in the coming weeks to mirror the path Jayden Daniels took to the Heisman last season.

Ashton Jeanty

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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - OCTOBER 25: Ashton Jeanty #2 of the Boise State Broncos stiff arms Tony Grimes #0 of the UNLV Rebels during the fourth quarter of a game at Allegiant Stadium on October 25, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ian Maule/Getty Images)

Ashton Jeanty casually put up a 149-yard, two-touchdown performance in Boise State's blowout win over San Diego State in Week 10.

The top running back in the FBS is now up to 1,525 rushing yards and 20 touchdowns. He is averaging eight yards per carry.

Jeanty recorded at least 120 yards in each of his eight games this season and he has four more chances to impress Heisman voters in November.

Boise State will be in the national spotlight in Week 11 against Nevada on Saturday night. Nevada gives up 156.4 rushing yards per game, so the matchup should be ideal for Jeanty to produce one of the biggest rushing yard totals of his season.

The other three opponents on Boise's schedule give up at least 147 rushing yards per game, but in terms of the national spotlight, Saturday will be important to make an impression on voters that have not watched many Boise games in 2024.

Travis Hunter

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BOULDER, CO - OCTOBER 26: Travis Hunter #12 of the Colorado Buffaloes lines up on defense in the second half of a game against the Cincinnati Bearcats at Folsom Field on October 26, 2024 in Boulder, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)

Travis Hunter's Heisman candidacy and Colorado's College Football Playoff fortunes improved during the Buffaloes' bye week.

Colorado is now tied for second place in the Big 12 standings with Iowa State after ISU's loss to Texas Tech and Kansas State's defeat at the hands of Houston.

Hunter and the Buffaloes have a clear path to the Big 12 Championship Game with no ranked teams left on their schedule.

The next four games should allow Hunter to produce some high totals at wide receiver to pad his Heisman resume.

The Week 11 matchup with Texas Tech may not seem important on paper, but because the Red Raiders pass so much, the game will give Hunter to make a handful of highlight reel plays on defense that could help with his Heisman case too.

Cam Ward

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MIAMI GARDENS, FL - NOVEMBER 02: Miami quarterback Cam Ward (1) passes the ball in the first quarter as the Miami Hurricanes faced the Duke Blue Devils on November 2, 2024, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Samuel Lewis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Cam Ward delivered the third 400-yard passing performance of his Miami career in the 53-31 win over Duke.

Ward recorded a season high of five touchdown passes in the win that got the Hurricanes one step closer to the ACC Championship Game.

Ward is one of two quarterbacks over 3,000 passing yards after Week 10. Ole Miss' Jaxson Dart is the other 3,000-yard passer.

The Miami quarterback owns a large advantage in passing touchdowns over the rest of FBS quarterbacks.

Ward has 29 touchdown passes. That's three more than North Texas' Chandler Morris and eight more than the Dart, Shedeur Sanders and three others.

All of Ward's three remaining regular-season foes allow over 215 passing yards per game, and the Week 13 matchup with Wake Forest should be incredibly fruitful since the Demon Deacons allow the sixth-most passing yards per game in the FBS.

Dillon Gabriel

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ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN - NOVEMBER 02: Dillon Gabriel #8 of the Oregon Ducks celebrates after running the ball for a touchdown during the second quarter against the Michigan Wolverines at Michigan Stadium on November 02, 2024 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

Dillon Gabriel has been a model of consistency for top-ranked Oregon.

The senior quarterback recorded his ninth straight 200-yard passing game in the Week 10 win over Michigan.

Gabriel threw for 294 yards and a touchdown at the Big House, and while he did not match Ward's Week 10 numbers, he did not lose ground in the Heisman race.

The quarterback of the top-ranked team in the country is typically always in the Heisman mix, and over the next three games, Gabriel should be able to pad his stats.

Oregon finishes the regular season with Maryland, Wisconsin and Washington, all games the Ducks will be expected to win by double digits.

Gabriel's biggest opportunity to pad stats will come next week against the Maryland defense that allows 275.8 passing yards per contest.