Travis Hunter and Ashton Jeanty give this year’s Heisman Trophy ceremony a different vibe.
Leading the pack this year are two-way star Travis Hunter from Colorado and Boise State’s dynamic running back Ashton Jeanty, who are breaking the mold as Heisman Trophy contenders.
While seasoned quarterbacks Dillon Gabriel from the top-ranked Oregon Ducks and Cam Ward of the No. 15 Miami Hurricanes also vie for college football’s highest honor, the 90th annual ceremony at Lincoln Center in New York City promises a fresh and exciting atmosphere.
Notably, none of the finalists hail from the powerhouse Southeastern Conference, which has dominated the awards with four of the last five Heisman winners coming from Alabama and LSU.
[Related: Boise State RB Ashton Jeanty’s historic 2024 season by the numbers]
“The running back position has been overlooked for a while now,” remarked Jeanty, who is set to enter the 2025 NFL Draft.
“Many great running backs before me should have been recognized here in New York, so I feel like I’m representing the entire position.”
As the votes have been cast, the finalists spent Friday engaging in interviews and exploring the vibrant streets of New York. They received custom, commemorative watches to celebrate their achievements.
“I’m not a watch guy, but I like it,” Hunter said with a grin.
The athletes captured memories beneath the dazzling billboards of Times Square and later posed with the iconic Heisman Trophy, awarded since 1935 to the nation’s most outstanding player.
Hunter, a strong favorite, made sure to admire the trophy without touching it just yet.
A versatile athlete who excels on both offense and defense, Hunter is a rare talent who rarely leaves the field, reminiscent of football greats from earlier eras.
[Related: Why Colorado’s Travis Hunter is an unprecedented NFL prospect]
On offense, he recorded 92 receptions for 1,152 yards and 14 touchdowns this season, helping the 20th-ranked Buffaloes (9-3) secure their first bowl appearance in four years. On defense, he notched four interceptions, broke up 11 passes, and forced a crucial fumble that clinched an overtime win against Baylor.
He is often compared to baseball’s two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani for his exceptional contributions on both sides of the ball.
Hunter also took home the Walter Camp Award as the national player of the year, along with the Chuck Bednarik Award for the top defensive player and the Biletnikoff Award for the best wide receiver.
“It just goes to show that I did what I had to do,” Hunter stated.
Next on his agenda is to secure the Heisman Trophy, aiming to become the second recipient in Buffaloes history, following the late running back Rashaan Salaam in 1994.
“I worked so hard for this moment, so winning the Heisman would solidify my legacy in college football,” Hunter expressed. “Being here now is like a dream come true.”
[Related: 2024 Heisman Trophy odds: Ashton Jeanty closing in on Travis Hunter]
Jeanty propelled No. 8 Boise State (12-1) to a Mountain West Conference championship, securing the Broncos a third seed in this year’s College Football Playoff. They enjoy a first-round bye before facing the winner of the SMU-Penn State matchup in the Fiesta Bowl quarterfinal on New Year’s Eve.
The 5-foot-9, 215-pound junior from Jacksonville, Florida, earned the Maxwell Award as college football’s top player and the Doak Walker Award for best running back. Jeanty has recorded five touchdown runs of at least 70 yards and has amassed the fourth-most rushing yards in a season in FBS history, surpassing the totals of 115 teams this year. He is just 132 yards shy of breaking the FBS record set by Heisman winner Barry Sanders at Oklahoma State in 1988.
In a predominantly pass-oriented era, Jeanty seeks to become the first running back to win the Heisman Trophy since Derrick Henry of Alabama nine years ago. Quarterbacks have claimed the award all but four times this century.
Gabriel, a transfer from Oklahoma, guided Oregon (13-0) to a Big Ten title in its inaugural season in the league, securing the No. 1 seed in the College Football Playoff.
The reliable senior from Hawaii passed for 3,558 yards and 28 touchdowns with just six interceptions. His impressive 73.2% completion rate ranks second in the nation, and he aims to join quarterback Marcus Mariota (2014) as the only Ducks players to win the Heisman Trophy.
“I think all the memories start to roll back in your mind,” Gabriel reflected.
Ward threw for 4,123 yards and led the nation with a school-record 36 touchdown passes for the high-scoring Hurricanes (10-2) after transferring from Washington State.
The senior from West Columbia, Texas, received the Davey O’Brien National Quarterback of the Year award and aims to join QBs Vinny Testaverde (1986) and Gino Torretta (1992) as Miami players to capture the Heisman.
“I think there’s a recklessness that you have to play with at the quarterback position,” Ward stated.
