Ashton Jeanty received. Travis Hunter misplaced. These outcomes did impression The Athletic’s Heisman Trophy straw ballot — ever so barely, with Hunter shedding two first-place votes to drop to 24, and Jeanty doubling his first-place votes to get to 2.
Miami quarterback Cam Ward acquired the opposite first-place vote, choosing it up after throwing for 280 yards and two touchdowns in a rout of Wake Forest, breaking Bernie Kosar’s single-season information for completions (263) and passing yards (3,774) within the course of.
However this stays a two-man race, technically, and a rout in actuality.
Hunter is oddsmakers’ overwhelming favourite to take dwelling the award and leads this ballot with 78 factors to Jeanty’s 52. Ward is third with 15 factors, and Penn State tight finish Tyler Warren and Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel have seven and 6 factors, respectively.
The Athletic follows the identical voting protocol as that of the Heisman: three factors for a first-place vote, two factors for a second-place vote, one level for a third-place vote.
| Participant | Staff | Pos | 1st | 2nd | third | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Travis Hunter |
WR/CB |
24 |
3 |
0 |
78 |
|
|
Ashton Jeanty |
RB |
2 |
22 |
2 |
52 |
|
|
Cam Ward |
QB |
1 |
0 |
12 |
15 |
|
|
Tyler Warren |
TE |
0 |
0 |
7 |
7 |
|
|
Dillon Gabriel |
QB |
0 |
1 |
4 |
6 |
|
|
Kaleb Johnson |
RB |
0 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
|
|
Devin Neal |
RB |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
|
|
Cam Skattebo |
RB |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
Hunter had one other massive night time offensively for Colorado, catching eight passes for 125 yards and two touchdowns towards Kansas. He additionally had seven tackles and a go break-up on protection, however the Buffaloes had been collectively dominated on that aspect of the ball in a 37-21 loss. Deion Sanders’ staff misplaced management of its School Soccer Playoff hopes within the course of, however that doesn’t change the prevailing perception that Hunter is one of the best participant within the nation.
Jeanty prolonged his nation-leading totals to 2,062 yards and 27 speeding touchdowns in a 17-13 win over Wyoming, through which he suffered a leg damage, missed time, returned and completed with 169 yards — 60 of them on three vital runs in Boise State’s successful landing drive. That’s compelling stuff, however not compelling sufficient.
Jeanty has a regular-season finale towards Oregon State and the Mountain West title recreation to offer himself a jolt. If he might break Barry Sanders’ single-season NCAA speeding report, he’d be arduous to beat. That’s 567 yards away.
Jeanty is a possible lock to make it to the ceremony in New York, although, and that’s no small factor for a participant exterior an influence convention. Prior to now 40 years, simply 10 gamers at colleges that aren’t at the moment in a Energy 4 league have made it to New York. The final to do it was Northern Illinois quarterback Jordan Lynch in 2013.
That record additionally consists of Temple operating again Paul Palmer in 1986, Holy Cross operating again/defensive again Gordie Lockbaum in 1987, Air Power quarterback Dee Dowis in 1989, San Diego State operating again Marshall Faulk in 1992, Alcorn State quarterback Steve McNair in 1994, Marshall receiver Randy Moss in 1997, Marshall quarterback Chad Pennington in 1999, Hawaii quarterback Colt Brennan in 2007 and one other Boise State Bronco, quarterback Kellen Moore, in 2010.
Two quarterbacks who had been receiving votes within the ballot — Indiana’s Kurtis Rourke and Ole Miss’ Jaxson Dart — are absent this week after losses to Ohio State and Florida, respectively. There’s a new title, courtesy of Colorado’s face plant: Kansas operating again Devin Neal, who had 287 yards of offense and 4 touchdowns towards the Buffs.
(Picture: Loren Orr / Getty Pictures)