Travis Hunter on Top as Regular Season Ends

• Colorado’s Travis Hunter has emerged as the clear favorite in the Heisman odds after a dominant two-way season
• Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty continues to pile up historic rushing numbers but faces long odds as a Group of Five candidate
• Oregon QB Dillon Gabriel has fallen out of serious contention despite leading the Ducks to the Big Ten Championship

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The 2024 Heisman Trophy race has been wild to follow, with several standouts making their case throughout the college football season. As we wrap up the regular season, one player stands head and shoulders above the pack: Travis Hunter, the electric two-way star from the Colorado Buffaloes.

Hunter’s ability to change games as both a receiver and cornerback has made him the clear Heisman favorite. Over on the blue turf in Boise, Ashton Jeanty has put together a rushing season for the ages. But playing outside the Power Five spotlight hasn’t done his Heisman hopes any favors.

Let’s dive into the final Heisman odds and break down why this race will be remembered as a showdown between a generational talent and a small-school sensation.

Heisman Odds

Heisman odds as of December 7th, 2024 at DraftKings. Use our DraftKings promo code to make a Heisman bet while there’s still time.

Travis Hunter Heisman Odds

You won’t find better Heisman odds than Hunter’s current -2500 line. The oddsmakers have spoken, and they’re telling us this race is all but over. That 96.2% implied probability of winning tells you everything you need to know about the gap between Hunter and the field.

The numbers back up the hype. Hunter’s hauled in 92 passes for 1,152 yards and 14 scores as a receiver. On defense, he’s locked down his side of the field with 31 tackles, four interceptions, and a forced fumble. We haven’t seen this kind of two-way impact since Charles Woodson brought home the hardware in ’97.

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TRAVIS HUNTER WITH THE EARLY INTERCEPTION‼️

His Heisman Trophy campaign continues ➡️ pic.twitter.com/6JSXGICw9C

— ESPN (@espn) November 29, 2024

That Oklahoma State game put an exclamation point on his campaign. Three touchdown grabs and a pick in a 52-0 statement win. When he struck the Heisman pose on multiple occasions this year following interceptions, it felt right.

This has been Hunter’s award to lose all season, as he’s doing things we haven’t seen any player do in a very long time. The Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year honor just adds to a trophy case that’s about to get a lot more crowded.

Ashton Jeanty Heisman Odds

Lost in Hunter’s shadow, Boise State’s Jeanty is having a season straight out of NCAA Football 25. The junior back has racked up 2,497 yards and 29 touchdowns, putting him fourth all-time in FBS single-season rushing. He needs just 132 more yards to pass Barry Sanders for the top spot.

But even video game numbers can’t overcome Group of Five bias. Jeanty sits at +1000 despite a historic campaign. Jeanty’s implied probability of winning the Heisman is only 9.1%.

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𝗧𝗥𝗘𝗡𝗗𝗜𝗡𝗚: Boise State RB Ashton Jeanty took his ENTIRE offensive line out for dinner this week.

“You don’t get 2,000 yards rushing by yourself…I really appreciate them.”

Give this kid the Heisman ❤️👏pic.twitter.com/twNcaIdUOA

— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) December 6, 2024

Broncos head coach Spencer Danielson hasn’t been shy about stumping for his star, calling Jeanty “the best football player in the country.” Jeanty’s loyalty to Boise State – turning down big NIL money from Power Five programs – makes you want to root for him even more.

With Boise State securing a playoff spot and potential first-round bye, fans are thinking Jeanty’s got one more chance to make his case. However, it’s important to note that Heisman ballots are due before the playoff starts, so postseason games won’t have any impact.

Dillon Gabriel Heisman Odds

Remember when Gabriel was getting real Heisman buzz? Those +800 odds feel like ages ago. Now he’s at +25000, even after leading Oregon to the Big Ten Championship with four touchdowns through the air against Penn State.

Gabriel’s regular season stats show incredible efficiency. The OU transfer finished with 3,275 passing yards, 24 touchdowns, and only six interceptions, while also contributing seven rushing touchdowns.

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DILLON GABRIEL AND THE DUCKS ARE READY TO CELEBRATE! pic.twitter.com/UTBjVCRBQO

— CBS Sports College Football 🏈 (@CBSSportsCFB) December 8, 2024

Penn State’s James Franklin praised Gabriel’s veteran presence, but a rough outing against Wisconsin derailed his momentum at the worst possible time. In that game, Gabriel struggled to connect on mid to deep-range passes and failed to throw a touchdown.

After the conclusion of the regular season, Gabriel’s campaign has simply lost steam. He’s been consistently solid, but he lacks the wow factor of a Hunter or Jeanty. Gabriel could have several hypothetical Heisman moments in the playoffs, but as mentioned before, this is a regular-season award.

The Final Word

The Heisman finalists get announced Monday, December 9th, but this feels like a done deal. Hunter’s two-way brilliance has overshadowed everything else – Jeanty’s assault on the record books, Gabriel’s steady leadership, all of it.

When they hand out the trophy in New York on December 14th, expect Hunter to join college football’s most exclusive club. The way he’s dominated both sides of the ball this season, he’s earned every bit of it.