Heisman Trophy

Colorado head coach Deion Sanders told reporters on Tuesday that he realized Travis Hunter had a Heisman Trophy in his future from his very first practice three years ago at Jackson State.

"When he went out there at receiver and did his thing, then went from receiver to defensive back and shut it down. I knew right then it was something special," he said (4:20 mark). "It's one thing to watch highlights of a young man in high school, it's another to see it in person. And when you know the game, you know athleticism, you know what I know, you come where I come from—you know when you see something that is abnormal. This kid, from day one, has been abnormal with an appetite to dominate."

Hunter's 2024 season has been the stuff of legends—92 catches for 1,152 yards and 14 touchdowns on offense and 31 tackles, four interceptions, 11 passes defensed and one forced fumble on defense.

Almost every conceivable award followed, with Hunter earning the Heisman Trophy, Walter Camp Award (college player of the year), Biletnikoff Award (best receiver) and the Bednarik Award (best defensive player).

More importantly, Colorado went from 4-8 in Sanders' first year as the head coach in 2023 to a 9-3 record this season, the No. 20 ranking to close the year and a berth in the Alamo Bowl against BYU on Saturday, Dec. 28.

Yes, the Buffaloes blew the chance to reach the Big 12 Championship Game—which would have given them a chance at the College Football Playoff—by losing to Kansas on Nov. 23. But the 2024 season was nonetheless a resounding success.

As for Hunter's personal success, he attributed a ton of it to the coaching of Sanders and the quarterback play of Shedeur Sanders.

"Coach Prime, Shedeur, y'all changed my life forever," he said during his Heisman speech.

"Coach Prime told me this journey would be bigger than anything before," he added. "He believed in me, not just as a player but as a person."

That faith was more than rewarded.

Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty fell just short of the Heisman Trophy but believes the results "should've" been different even though he praised Colorado star Travis Hunter for taking home the award.

"I really felt like I should've walked away with the award, but kudos to Travis for winning," he told reporters Saturday after finishing in second place in the voting. "But yeah, it's simple as that. Work harder, go harder."

While Hunter turned heads throughout the season by thriving at multiple positions as a wide receiver and cornerback, the Heisman ended up being anything but a formality given the voting breakdown.

ESPN noted Hunter received 552 first-place votes and 2,231 overall points to Jeanty's 309 first-place votes and 2,017 overall points. That made it the closest margin of victory since Alabama running back Mark Ingram defeated Stanford running back Toby Gerhart in 2009.

Jeanty will not walk away from this season empty-handed, though, as he won the Maxwell Award as college football's top player and the Doak Walker Award as the nation's top running back.

What's more, his Broncos are in the College Football Playoff as the No. 3 overall seed, which meant they earned a first-round bye and are three victories away from being national champions.

Hunter's Colorado team settled for an Alamo Bowl matchup against BYU.

"There's a lot more to come," Jeanty told reporters when revealing falling short in the Heisman race is motivating him moving forward. "This isn't the end, this is just the beginning. So I just have to do that much more to get the things that I want."

Barry Sanders set the gold standard for running back seasons when he won the 1988 Heisman Trophy at Oklahoma State with 2,628 yards and 37 touchdowns on the ground in just 11 games. While Jeanty has played 13 games this season heading into the CFP, he threatened those marks ahead of Saturday's Heisman ceremony.

He posted 2,497 yards and 29 touchdowns on the ground, which was all the more notable since he wasn't even on the field at the end of a number of Boise State blowout wins.

It wasn't enough to defeat Hunter in the Heisman race, but he still has his eye on a national championship run as the Broncos wait to see who their opponent will be between Penn State and SMU.

Heisman winner Travis Hunter has his fiancée to thank for introducing him to Lil Wayne.

The 21-year-old admitted during his 2024 Heisman Trophy acceptance speech on Saturday that he was unfamiliar with Lil Wayne's music before meeting his fiancée, Leanna Lenee.

"Wayne, you don't know how you came into our life. My fiancée loves you," Hunter said as the rapper sat alongside Colorado coach Deion Sanders and teammate Shedeur Sanders. "I didn't know none of your songs until she let me know because I don't listen to music. She let me know, she told me, 'You gotta listen to this. If you're going to listen to (music), listen to Wayne.'"

As he pumped himself up for games where he averaged 96 yards per game offensively and dominated on defense, Hunter admitted he was plugged into Wayne's music.

"From that day on, that is all I listen to," Hunter said. "Pregame music, those are the songs I'm listening to. When I get in that TRX and I blast that music, I'm listening to Wayne."

The Colorado Buffaloes star was born in 2003, making him just five-years old when Wayne's best-selling album "Tha Carter III" was released. It would be three more years until Hunter's acclaimed favorite song, 6 Foot 7 Foot was released on "Tha Carter IV."

"It's crazy. 6 Foot, 7 Foot, 8 Foot... That's my song," Hunter added. "I respect you for coming out here and supporting me man."

Wayne, a five-time Grammy Award winner, was recently passed over for the 2025 NFL Super Bowl halftime performance in favor of Kendrick Lamar, much to Hunter's dismay, as he shared on his podcast, The Travis Hunter Show.

"Kendrick Lamar being the halftime Super Bowl 59 halftime performance, it's gonna be in New Orleans, which is kind of crazy cause I was thinking it was gonna be Lil Wayne all the way, and I'm about to be out there running on the field 'six foot, seven foot, eight foot bunch. Tryna go out there and be lit with Lil Wayne."

Travis Hunter was named the recipient of the 2024 Heisman Trophy on Saturday night.

Colorado's two-way standout edged out Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty, who finished No. 2 in voting. Hunter received 552 first-place votes, while Jeanty earned 309 first-place votes (h/t Ralph D. Russo of The Athletic).

Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel received 24 votes for first place to finish at No. 3, while Miami's Cam Ward rounded out the four finalists with six votes of his own.

Hunter, who starred at cornerback and wide receiver for the Buffaloes throughout his 2024 campaign, became the first two-way player to win the Heisman since Pro Football Hall of Fame defensive back Charles Woodson in 1997.

The 21-year-old already garnered recognition for his efforts prior to his win on Saturday. He earned hardware including the Biletnikoff Award for the title of the best receiver in college football and the Chuck Bednarik Award as the top defensive player in the country.

Hunter caught 92 passes for 1,152 yards as a wideout, while his 14 receiving touchdowns were the second-most in the nation. He played a crucial role on a Buffaloes offense that helped the team finish with a 9-3 record, an impressive mark after Colorado reached nine total wins over the previous three years combined.

He also flourished on the boundary by recording 32 tackles, 11 passes defensed, four interceptions and a forced fumble.

While Jeanty ultimately fell short of Heisman honors, he still deserves recognition for his 2024 campaign. The 21-year-old has operated as the driving force behind a Boise State team that is currently preparing for the College Football Playoff, dominating on the ground throughout the year.

Jeanty rushed for an impressive 2,497 yards while averaging 7.3 yards per carry, scoring 30 total touchdowns. He racked up six separate 200-yard rushing games in 2024.

His 309 second-place votes were the most by a Heisman runner-up since former Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te'o narrowly fell to former Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel in 2012.

Gabriel remained efficient on an Oregon team that owns a perfect 13-0 record heading into the CFP, throwing for 3,558 yards and 28 touchdowns compared to six interceptions.

While Miami faltered down the stretch of the season and missed out on a playoff spot, Ward still exceeded expectations during his first year with the Hurricanes. He completed 67.4 percent of his passes for 4,123 yards and 36 touchdowns while getting picked off seven times.

All four players presented intriguing cases to win the Heisman, but Hunter ultimately earned the trophy.

With each of the four Heisman Trophy finalists preparing for Saturday night's award presentation, the list containing the rest of the 10 players to receive votes was released on Friday.

The players ranked No. 5 through No. 10 included four quarterbacks, one running back and one tight end.

Heisman Trophy Voting Results 5-10

5. Cam Skattebo, RB, Arizona State

6. Bryson Daily, QB, Army

7. Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State

8. Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado

9. Kurtis Rourke, QB, Indiana

10. Kyle McCord, QB, Syracuse

Skattebo just missed the cut as a finalist after campaigning for the award throughout the year, but his 2024 season with the Sun Devils is still worthy of recognition. The 22-year-old rushed for 1,568 yards and 19 touchdowns while operating as an option in the pass game, hauling in 37 receptions for 506 yards and three more scores.

The Sun Devils own a record of 11-2, securing the No. 4 seed to go along with a first-round bye in the College Football Playoff after taking down Iowa State in the Big 12 Championship game.

Daily spearheaded Army's imposing rushing attack, helping the Black Knights reach 11 wins for the first time since 2018. The senior quarterback picked up 1,480 yards and 29 touchdowns on the ground.

Daily also remained efficient when asked to stand in the pocket and throw, completing 57.7 percent of his passes for 877 yards and eight touchdowns compared to one interception.

Warren's 1,062 receiving yards were the second-most among all tight ends in the nation, finding the end zone six times. He also played an important role out of the backfield, rushing for 191 yards and eight scores while averaging 8.3 yards per carry.

Sanders was one of the key reasons for Colorado's bounce-back season in 2024, completing 74.2 percent of his throws for 3,926 yards. His 35 touchdown passes were the most in the Big 12, and he was picked off just eight times.

Rourke threw for 2,827 yards of his own in 2024, posting a 70.4 completion percentage and averaging 9.9 yards per attempt. He also racked up 27 touchdowns compared to a mere four interceptions.

McCord led the country with 4,326 passing yards, averaging 360.5 yards per game through the air. While he also led the nation in attempts, he still completed 65.8 percent of his throws and helped Syracuse achieve a 9-3 record.

Remaining finalists include Colorado's Travis Hunter, Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty, Miami quarterback Cam Ward and Oregon signal-caller Dillon Gabriel. One of the four will receive the top individual honor in the sport on Saturday.

When asked to choose between his fellow Heisman Trophy finalists to win the award, Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel picked Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty.

"I'm going to get some heat for this one, but I'm going to say Ashton Jeanty," Gabriel said on the Dan Patrick Show (8:00 mark). "I say that because me being in the Group of Five once, knowing the challenges that come with that. Of course, I played against Ashton this year, I think he's a talented individual. His story is unique, and what he's been able to do is pretty impressive."

Gabriel, Jeanty, Miami quarterback Cam Ward and Colorado two-way standout Travis Hunter were selected as the four finalists for Heisman honors on Monday night.

While Gabriel and Ward both deserve recognition for leading the Ducks and Hurricanes to 13-0 and 10-2 records respectively, the race for the award could come down to Jeanty and Hunter due to their uniquely stellar seasons.

The Broncos earned a College Football Playoff spot due to the heroics of Jeanty, who showcased his blazing speed and the ability to fight through contact on a weekly basis. He picked up 2,497 yards on the ground in 13 games, scoring 30 total touchdowns.

Jeanty was able to stay efficient despite his large volume of carries, averaging 7.3 yards per attempt.

Hunter shined at both cornerback and wide receiver for the Buffaloes during his 2024 campaign. He recorded 32 tackles, 11 passes defensed and four interceptions while catching 92 passes for 1,152 yards and 14 touchdowns.

On Thursday, Hunter won the Biletnikoff Award for being the nation's top receiver as well as the Chuck Bednarik Award, which is given to the best defensive player in the country. Earning both honors is impressive and could provide insight into his Heisman Trophy candidacy.

As for Gabriel himself, he completed 73.2 percent of his throws for 3,558 yards and 28 touchdowns compared to six interceptions. The Ducks finished with an undefeated record in their first year as a member of the Big Ten, entering the CFP as the No. 1 seed.

If Gabriel isn't the winner, he believes that the Heisman should go to Jeanty.

Heisman Trophy finalists Travis Hunter, Ashton Jeanty, Cam Ward and Dillon Gabriel were announced Monday afternoon. However, notable names such as Colorado's Shedeur Sanders and Arizona State's Cam Skattebo did not make the cut, much to fans' dismay.

Sanders has significantly aided Hunter's ability to keep 9-3 Colorado afloat, throwing for 3,926 yards—third-best in college football—and 35 touchdowns with a 78.2 quarterback rating.

Sanders' father and coach, Deion Sanders, has been making the case for his son since early in the season.

"It's just funny to me," Coach Prime told reporters in October. "I just think it's just ignorant, but it's funny to us because Shedeur could care less. Shedeur wants to be drafted in a wonderful city. He wants to win out. That's what he thinks about. He ain't thinking about no darn Heisman, man."

Along with Coach Prime, Hunter has also questioned the lack of Heisman hype around Shedeur.

"How can you be the top quarterback pick in the NFL draft, and you're not even considered to be in the Heisman race?" Hunter questioned during last Wednesday's episode of The Travis Hunter Show (13:20 mark). "How does that even work?"

Despite Shedeur's apparent indifference toward the award, fans were in disbelief that Ward received the Heisman nomination over Sanders.

Skattebo has been a key player for the 11-2 Big 12 champion Sun Devils' remarkable turnaround season, recording 1,568 yards—fifth in college football—and 19 touchdowns.

Following Arizona State's 45-19 blowout win over Iowa State in the Big 12 Championship game on Saturday, Skattebo made a strong case for himself to be included in the "best running back" conversation.

"I've always been the underdog and nobody respects the fact that I'm the best running back in the country," Skattebo told reporters after the game. "I'm going to stand on that and if people want to disrespect that, I'm going to keep going and I'm going to keep proving people wrong. And whatever NFL team takes me is going to get a gem, and I'm going to give everything I got for them."

Leaving the media with the clearest sentiment of all, Skattebo said, "Whether I win the Heisman or lose the Heisman, I should still be in that conversation."

With the snubs noted, let's take a look at the finalists' stats.

Jeanty and Hunter have been clear front-runners all season. Boise State's Jeanty has racked up 2,497 yards and 29 touchdowns, leading the FBS by 837 yards. Colorado's Hunter is a dual threat, accumulating 1,152 yards and 14 touchdowns on offense, along with 31 tackles, 11 passes defended and four interceptions on defense.

Oregon's Gabriel has led the team to an undefeated season, recording 3,558 yards and 28 touchdowns while boasting a 73.2 completion percentage and an 86.5 quarterback rating. Miami's Ward has thrown 36 touchdown passes this season, leading the FBS, to go with 4,123 yards, an 88.0 completion percentage and an 88.0 quarterback rating.

The winner will be announced at the Heisman ceremony Saturday in New York, which begins at 8 p.m. ET.