Who Really Should Have Won the CFB Heisman Trophy?

Should it have Hunter, Jeanty, or Ward?

By: Rohan Patel

https://twitter.com/NFLNotify/status/1910488366145298434

The Heisman Trophy is the most coveted award in all of college sports. In 2024, the race for the award was one of the most competitive in recent memory. Travis Hunter, a wide receiver and cornerback for Colorado, ended up winning, as he led the Buffaloes to their first winning season since 2016. His duality on offense and defense made him a fan-favorite across America, but other candidates made the race extremely close. The close second, who many believed should have won, was Ashton Jeanty, a running back for Boise State. Jeanty led the country in rushing yards, an astounding 2,601, and was second in rushing touchdowns with 29. He also led Boise State to the CFB Playoff as a three seed. Finally, the third candidate was the number one overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft: Cam Ward. His impressive stats through the air and on the ground led Miami to a 10-3 record, and an appearance in a bowl game. With Jeanty, Hunter, and Ward’s outstanding performances resulting in winning records, they all had great cases to win the Heisman.

The Case for Travis Hunter:

Hunter’s two-way dominance was something college football hasn’t seen since Champ Bailey in 1998, when he played the same positions as Hunter at Georgia. However, Hunter has been so remarkable at both positions that he was a legitimate draft prospect for both positions. Hunter is complete as a receiver, making spectacular catches, running deadly routes, and having some of the best hands in the country, all leading to his gaudy stats. As a cornerback, he showed similar traits: second-to-none IQ, elite coverage, and regularly disrupting passing lanes. The physical toll that playing on both sides of the ball takes on your body is a lot to overcome, but for someone to play like a top five player at both positions is legendary. It’s a feat that no one has ever done, which deservedly gave him the Heisman.

The Case for Ashton Jeanty:

Ashton Jeanty’s remarkable statistics as a running back shocked fans across the country. Though his offensive line can take some credit, most of the work can be attributed to Jeanty himself. This cannot completely be said for other candidates such as Hunter, who has one of the premier quarterbacks in the country, Sheduer Sanders, throwing him the ball. Jeanty nearly single handedly took Boise State to the Playoff, their first ever. Even with nearly every opposing team stacking the box trying to stop him, it didn’t work. He didn’t go for less than 127 yards in a game all year, displaying consistency. Competition was a discrediting factor to Jeanty’s success. However, when he played the number one seed, Oregon, he rushed for 192 yards and three touchdowns, numbers other premier running backs failed to reach when playing the Ducks. The fact that Jeanty had one of the best college football seasons at any position shouldn’t go overlooked, which was why he should’ve won the Heisman.

The Case for Cam Ward:

With all of the talk about the two premier candidates, Jeanty and Hunter, Cam Ward went under the radar as a Heisman winner. But Ward was a legitimate candidate for the award. For starters, he led Miami to a ten win season for only the second time since 2003. In short, he brought football back to Miami. Ward’s flair, personality, and style were factors that caused Miami to attract media, fans, and most importantly, hype. Additionally, even though not qualifying for the ACC Championship or CFB Playoff hurt his case, it likely wasn’t his fault. In a crucial game against Syracuse, for example, Mario Cristobal, Miami’s head coach, opted for a field goal while down seven. Their defense failed to get a stop, and the Hurricanes lost the game. A win in this game would’ve likely helped Miami’s case for the Playoff, and in turn, Ward’s case for the Hesiman was damaged. Also, Ward was the best quarterback in the country, which is typically a recipe for winning the Heisman. After all, the quarterback position is the most important in football. All of these factors add up to an excellent case for the Heisman.

AND THE WINNER SHOULD’VE BEEN… Ashton Jeanty