Heisman Watch 2024: Ranking Top Favorites in the Race Entering Week 13

Although the Heisman Trophy is awarded to the top college football player in the country each season, the honor has most often been given to quarterbacks. In fact, 36 QBs have won it over the 89-year history of the award.

Twelve of the past 14 Heisman winners have been quarterbacks, including LSU's Jayden Daniels, the recipient during the 2023 season. He was preceded by a pair of QBs in USC's Caleb Williams (2022) and Alabama's Bryce Young (2021).

The 2024 season is shaping up to be different, though.

With two weeks to go in the regular season, the Heisman race appears to be a two-man competition between Colorado wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter and Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty. There are a few quarterbacks still in the mix, but Hunter and Jeanty have emerged as clear front-runners.

Let's break down the Heisman favorites heading into Saturday's Week 13 action.

3. Cam Ward, QB, Miami

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ATLANTA, GA - NOVEMBER 09: Miami Hurricanes starting quarterback Cam Ward #1 prepares to pass during the Saturday afternoon college football game between the Miami Hurricanes and the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets on November 9, 2024 at Bobby Dodd Stadium in Atlanta, GA. (Photo by David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

If any quarterback can still win the Heisman Trophy this season, it's likely Miami's Cam Ward. The senior QB who previously played two years at Washington State (2022-23) has taken his game to another level since joining the Hurricanes for the 2024 campaign.

Through 10 games, Ward has passed for 3,494 yards, 32 touchdowns and six interceptions while also scoring three rushing TDs. He led Miami to nine consecutive wins to open the season before losing at Georgia Tech on Nov. 9.

Coming off a Week 12 bye, Ward and the Hurricanes should regroup and finish the regular season strong, with a home matchup vs. Wake Forest on Saturday and then a road contest at Syracuse next week. They're also competing for the ACC championship as the top-ranked team from the conference in the College Football Playoff rankings.

Ward has overtaken Oregon's Dillon Gabriel as the top QB in the Heisman race. However, there's a wide gap to close for Ward to become a serious contender, so he'll need to put up some big numbers the rest of the way.

2. Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State

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SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 16: Ashton Jeanty #2 of the Boise State Broncos runs the ball during a game against the San Jose State Spartans in the third quarter at CEFCU Stadium on November 16, 2024 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Eakin Howard/Getty Images)

Jeanty is building quite a strong case for Heisman Trophy consideration. The junior running back is a big reason why Boise State has stormed out to a 9-1 record, sits atop the Mountain West standings and could even earn a first-round bye for the College Football Playoff.

Through 10 games, Jeanty has rushed for 1,893 yards and 26 touchdowns, both of which lead the nation. His 27 total touchdowns are the most in the country, as are his 256 rushing attempts, which show how much the Broncos are leaning on him to power their offense.

There's no question that Jeanty is the top running back in the country this season. And his final numbers are going to be quite impressive, as he should continue to rack them up over the next two weeks (at Wyoming and vs. Oregon State).

At this point, Jeanty is slightly out of the lead in the Heisman race. But he could still run his way to the award, which hasn't been won by an RB since Alabama's Derrick Henry in 2015.

1. Travis Hunter, WR/CB, Colorado

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BOULDER, COLORADO - NOVEMBER 16: Travis Hunter #12 of Colorado Buffaloes celebrates catching a pass during the second quarter against the Utah Utes at Folsom Field on November 16, 2024 in Boulder, Colorado. (Photo by Andrew Wevers/Getty Images)

No player is impacting his team's games in more ways than Hunter this season. The Colorado junior is a standout player on both sides of the ball again this year, and his numbers are even more impressive than they were during his 2023 sophomore campaign.

On offense, Hunter has recorded 74 catches for 911 yards and nine touchdowns in 10 games. On defense, he has 24 tackles (one for a loss), three interceptions, one forced fumble and eight passes defended.

The Buffaloes are 8-2 (6-1 in the Big 12) and making a late push for the CFP, which they could get into by winning the conference championship. Hunter should help that continue over the next two weeks, when Colorado plays at Kansas and then at home vs. Oklahoma State.

It's hard to argue against Hunter's all-around game and the way he's played at a high level at two positions. He could soon become the first Heisman winner to play wide receiver since Alabama's DeVonta Smith (2020) and the first to play cornerback since Michigan's Charles Woodson (1997), who was also a two-way player.