Sat Nov 30 21:50:00 UTC 2024: **Heisman Hopefuls Vie for Top Honors as Hunter Holds Lead**
**NEW YORK, NY** – The Heisman Trophy race continues to heat up, with Travis Hunter of Colorado maintaining a commanding lead despite a recent loss, according to The Athletic’s latest straw poll. Hunter, the oddsmakers’ favorite, accumulated 78 points, significantly ahead of Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty with 52 points.
While Hunter’s impressive performance against Kansas (eight receptions for 125 yards and two touchdowns, plus contributions on defense) solidified his position, Colorado’s loss to Kansas dampened their playoff hopes. Jeanty, meanwhile, propelled his Heisman candidacy with a remarkable 169-yard rushing performance against Wyoming, including a crucial 60-yard drive in Boise State’s 17-13 victory. However, Jeanty suffered a leg injury during the game. He still leads the nation in rushing yards and touchdowns, but closing the gap on Hunter remains a challenge.
Miami quarterback Cam Ward earned a first-place vote after breaking Bernie Kosar’s single-season passing records. He sits third in the poll with 15 points.
The Athletic’s straw poll, mirroring the official Heisman voting, saw slight shifts. Hunter lost two first-place votes, while Jeanty gained two. The race, though technically a two-man contest, remains heavily in Hunter’s favor. Jeanty has a chance to improve his standing in the upcoming regular season finale and Mountain West title game, but needs to close a substantial gap to surpass Barry Sanders’ single-season rushing record.
Remarkably, Jeanty’s presence in the Heisman conversation highlights his exceptional achievement. Only ten players from non-Power 4 schools have reached the Heisman ceremony in the past 40 years.
The poll also saw the emergence of Kansas running back Devin Neal, whose strong performance against Colorado added another name to the conversation. Meanwhile, Indiana’s Kurtis Rourke and Ole Miss’ Jaxson Dart fell out of the poll following their teams’ recent losses.
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