Shedeur Sanders, Travis Hunter, Ashton Jeanty Headline 2024 CFB Awards Finalists

The finalists for the top individual awards in college football fans are beginning to roll out and fans are already wondering what the list says for the Heisman Trophy race.

Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty, Colorado wide receiver/defensive back Travis Hunter and Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel are up for the Maxwell Award, which goes to the best all-around player and often foreshadows the Heisman vote.

Jeanty and Hunter are also finalists for the Walter Camp Player of the Year along with Miami quarterback Cam Ward.

It could be a big year for Hunter, who's in the hunt for the Chuck Bednarik Award on the defensive side.

Colorado teammate Shedeur Sanders is in the mix for the Davey O'Brien Award with Ward and Gabriel.

Perhaps the voting proves to be more lopsided than expected, but Hunter and Jeanty could have a tightly contested Heisman battle right up until the end.

As a two-way player, Hunter is achieving something college football hasn't seen in decades. Champ Bailey in 1998 is the closest recent parallel, and Bailey wasn't the receiving threat that Hunter is now.

The Buffs star has 82 receptions for 1,036 yards and 11 touchdowns along with 31 tackles and three interceptions.

Jeanty, meanwhile, is a one-man wrecking crew on offense for the Broncos.

He's the FBS leader in rushing yards (2,062) and rushing touchdowns (27). His 187.5 yards per game potentially put him on pace to break Barry Sanders' single-season record (2,628 yards), depending on how long Boise State's year lasts.

Ward is all but guaranteed to at least get an invitation to New York City for the Heisman ceremony. However, his omission from the Maxwell finalist list hints that he could be a much bigger outsider for the award than fans realize.

Gabriel is the starting quarterback for the No. 1 overall team, but it's hard to argue he's having a better individual season than Ward, who's second in FBS in passing yards (3,774) and first in touchdowns (34).

With any luck, Miami and Oregon will meet in the College Football Playoff so fans are treated to a QB duel between Ward and Gabriel for ultimate bragging rights.