On Monday evening, the finalists for the prestigious Heisman Trophy were revealed, showcasing Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel, Colorado’s Travis Hunter, Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty, and Miami’s Cam Ward.
Since its inception in 1935, the Heisman Trophy has celebrated the most exceptional players in college football. The announcement of this year’s winner will take place on Saturday in New York City. The finalists were determined based on votes from a panel that includes over 900 voters, comprising media representatives and former Heisman recipients.
Here is a closer look at each finalist’s journey to this significant nomination, presented in alphabetical order.
**Dillon Gabriel, Oregon**
Gabriel, who made the move from Oklahoma during the offseason, has played a pivotal role in leading the undefeated and top-ranked Oregon team to the Big Ten championship in their inaugural season within the conference. This success has secured them the No. 1 seed in the College Football Playoff.
The quarterback has averaged 274 passing yards per game, boasting an impressive record of 28 touchdowns against only six interceptions. With a completion rate of 73.2%, he ranks second nationally. His 35 total touchdowns are tied for seventh in the country, while his career total of 187 touchdowns holds the record as the highest in NCAA history.
Gabriel also set the all-time Football Bowl Subdivision record for career quarterback starts, reaching his 62nd during the Big Ten championship game.
**Travis Hunter, Colorado**
Hunter stands out as one of the remarkable two-way athletes in college football history, drawing comparisons to Charles Woodson—the first primarily defensive player to win the Heisman in 1997.
While Woodson had some offensive involvement, Hunter’s contributions on offense far surpass Woodson’s. He achieved All-Big 12 first-team recognition as a receiver and was an honorable mention for offensive player of the year. Leading the Big 12, Hunter has recorded 92 receptions and 14 receiving touchdowns, along with racking up 1,152 yards, making him second in the conference. His 21 receptions of 20 yards or more lead the nation.
Defensively, he earned the title of Big 12 defensive player of the year and was unanimously selected as a first-team defensive back, boasting 31 tackles, leading the conference with 11 pass breakups, and tying for second with four interceptions.
**Ashton Jeanty, Boise State**
Jeanty, a junior running back, has had an outstanding season, recording one of the most impressive rushing totals in college football history. With 2,497 rushing yards, he ranks fourth for a single season in the Football Bowl Subdivision. His average of 192.1 rushing yards per game not only leads the nation but is also significantly higher than the next best average. Jeanty has achieved a minimum of 125 rushing yards in 13 consecutive games.
In his last two outings, Jeanty has surpassed 200 rushing yards, marking the sixth time this season he has accomplished this feat. Averaging 7.26 yards per carry, he has the most carries in the FBS over the past two seasons, tallying 344 attempts. Both he and Army’s Bryson Daily lead the nation with 29 rushing touchdowns each.
**Cam Ward, Miami**
Ward, the quarterback for Miami, was recently honored as the Associated Press offensive player of the year and newcomer of the year in the Atlantic Coast Conference. He tops the nation with a school-record 36 passing touchdowns and ranks high with 4,123 passing yards and 41 total touchdowns, which places him second in total yardage at 4,319 yards.
Leading the highest-scoring offense in the nation, averaging 44.2 points per game, Ward has made history by becoming the first quarterback in Miami’s history to achieve seven straight games with over 300 yards passing. He has consistently delivered impressive performances, with a total of 10 games surpassing 300 yards, combined with three or more touchdown passes in each of those games.
As college football enthusiasts eagerly await the announcement of the Heisman Trophy winner, these four extraordinary athletes have undeniably made their mark on the sport this season.
