As the college football season heats up, the spotlight intensifies on the Heisman Trophy candidates vying for one of the most prestigious individual awards in sports. The race showcases exceptional talent, skill, and resilience each year, highlighting players who have significantly impacted their teams and the game itself. In this article, we’ll explore the leading contenders for the Heisman Trophy, examining their statistics, standout performances, and the narratives that could propel them to victory as the season unfolds.
Surprisingly, the Heisman Trophy race this year seems to favor players outside the traditional quarterback spotlight, challenging the longstanding narrative of the position’s dominance in the award. In fact, some of my top five candidates hail from schools that aren’t even ranked yet, showcasing the depth of talent across the college football landscape. These not-so-under-the-radar athletes have made significant impacts on their teams, proving that standout performances can emerge from unexpected places. Let’s dive into the profiles of these intriguing contenders and what makes them worthy of consideration for this coveted accolade.
No. 1) Travis Hunter, WR/CB (Colorado)
Love him or hate him, Travis Hunter's production as a two-way player has been downright insane. He has produced 536 yards and six touchdowns as a wide receiver through Week 7. Do we all not remember his touchdown catch against North Dakota State late in the fourth quarter? I've seen a lot of spectacular catches in college football, but that one was something else.
As a cornerback, Hunter has done exceptionally well in coverage, with 10 solo tackles, five assists, one forced fumble, and two interceptions. The gas tank on the kid cannot be matched, but that can be the issue with his Heisman ranking: how long can he keep this pace? There is still a lot of college season left to play, and at this rate, Hunter is at risk of burning out by week 10, negatively impacting his Heisman candidacy place. But I guess we will have to see what happens as we get to the mid-point.
No. 2) Ashton Jeanty, RB (Boise St.)
What a season it has been for Jeanty. The Boise State Junior has ranked first in the nation for rushing yards with 1,031 yards per carry with 10.9 and in rushing touchdowns with 14. If an NFL team needs a running back for the 2025 draft, this is the first kid to get picked. Jeanty is every NFL coach's dream running back, with the speed and athleticism to run through opposing defenses.
Here is why Jeanty is not my first: an argument can be made that any college elite-level running back can produce the numbers he has with the same schedule. The only team Boise St has faced that is ranked is Oregon, and they lost. Boise St does not have any ranked competitors for the rest of the season, so it should be easy for Jeanty to break Barry Sander's most rushing yards in a season record with 2,678 yards, set back in 1988 when college football only had 11 games. Sure, I will probably get criticism that rankings sometimes don't matter regarding talent, but the what-if factor still lingers.
No. 3) Cam Ward, QB (Miami)
A quarterback at No. 3 is uncommon, but again, hear me out. Ward leads all national QBs in passing yards with 2,219 and touchdowns with 20. He has only thrown five interceptions and has rushed for 161 yards and three rushing touchdowns. Ward is the reason why Miami has a chance to make the college football playoffs, even with a couple of losses. I am not saying he can pull off an absolute miracle and take his team to the National Championship, but the kid has had a year and can will his team to the playoffs. In my opinion, Ward is the best quarterback in the country.
No. 4) Jeremiah Smith, WR (Ohio State)
The only freshman on this list. You cannot deny that Smith has been one of the best wide receivers to watch. With 453 receiving yards and six receiving touchdowns, Smith has been a kid to watch. He has produced highlight after highlight, and when he catches the football, it is like floating. He is, in my opinion, WR1 in college football and the best deep threat in the nation. Smith is a kid whose stock will only go up, especially since he is doing all of this as a freshman.
No. 5) Cade Klubnik: QB (Clemson)
Here is the argument on why a QB who struggled early in the season is on my list: because they overcame early-season struggles and produced on an impressive level. Klubnik, in the first game of the season, had two interceptions and was sacked twice. Not a great start on a quest for the Heisman. But since then, Klubnik has gone a perfect 14-0 in touchdowns and interceptions. What a turnaround for the kid. While his accuracy is still struggling at 63%, he has come through for his team, put up points, and rode a 4-game winning streak—a dark horse in the Heisman contention.
My pick: Ashton Jeanty
Unless something drastic happens, Jeanty should be the clear favorite at the end of the season. With his consistent running game, he will break many college football rushing records by the end of this season. I do not think Travis Hunter can keep up with the pace he is currently on, and Jeanty will overtake him by the end of the season. He rightly deserves a college player's most prestigious award.
Honorable Mentions: Jalen Milroe, Quinn Ewers.
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