I’d like to preface this article by saying that these rankings are not my own personal rankings on who I believe should win the Heisman. Instead, these rankings are based on how I think the voters will view these players as the season goes on.
Ashton Jeanty | RB | Boise State (-)
Jeanty continues to scorch a path through the American Northwest this year with a great performance when Hawaii came to town this past weekend. Jeanty recorded 217 yards and a touchdown on 31 carries for Boise State against the Aggies. He averaged seven yards per carry, which is his lowest mark of the season. Yet, that’s still ridiculous when compared to the normal human beings daring to play the same sport as him. Jeanty always seems primed to come back down to Earth and return to being human at some point this season, but it hasn’t happened yet. Until that day comes, Jeanty will remain at the top of this list. This weekend, Jeanty and the Broncos play their biggest remaining opponent before the Heisman ceremony in UNLV, a game that could be the turning point where voters will say, “Maybe this guy truly is different from others” or “He’s just another running back taking advantage of lesser competition.”
Cam Ward | QB | Miami (+1)
Ward is the definition of a playmaker and has met the moment every time it has arrived so far this season. He managed to get a well-deserved break from the chaos this past weekend with a bye week for the Hurricanes. Ward’s path moving forward seems to remain mediocre at best with no more ranked opponents left to play, but if Ward continues down this same path of big plays and elite statistical performances, then Ward has a chance to outlast the others in this marathon of a Heisman race.
Jalen Milroe | QB | Alabama (-1)
Milroe continues to be a statistical and physical wonder on the field for the Alabama Crimson Tide this year despite the team’s overall disappointing play over the past few weeks. This week Milroe had his first multi-turnover performance with two interceptions thrown against South Carolina. However, this doesn’t cause his Heisman odds to waver in my eyes. Milroe still performed well and led the Tide to a close 27-25 victory over the Gamecocks. His 245 total yards and three total touchdowns keeps him in the race for the time being. However, there’s no rest for the wicked or SEC quarterbacks in this case. Milroe gets #11 Tennessee with the second-best defense in the SEC this coming Saturday in a hostile Neyland stadium environment that can break many a quarterback, but the truly great ones seem to meet the challenge. We’ll see if Milroe joins that list this weekend.
Travis Hunter | WR/DB | Colorado (-)
Hunter remains at the four after a down game against the #18 Kansas State Wildcats. A season stat line of 587 yards and six touchdowns, combined with being a top three corner in the nation will keep Hunter in the conversation for Heisman for the rest of the season. Next up on the young phenom’s schedule is Arizona. The Wildcats are currently home to two big tests for Hunter with a top NFL prospect receiver in Tetairoa McMillan and a top NFL prospect corner Tacario Davis for Hunter to line up with on both sides of the ball. Last year, McMillan put up 107 yards and a touchdown on Hunter in a 34-31 win over the Buffaloes and Davis projects to be a top corner taken in this year’s draft. Hunter and the Buffaloes will look to exact revenge on the Wildcats and doing so might move Hunter up a few spots on this list.
Shedeur Sanders | QB | Colorado (New)
Teammate of Travis Hunter, and more notably son of NFL Hall of Famer Deion Sanders, Shedeur Sanders has been one of college football’s most efficient and show-stopping quarterbacks for two years now. So far, Sanders has recorded 2,018 yards and 17 touchdowns through five games. Sanders throws one of the most accurate balls you’ll find in the country, and it’s obvious he can live up to the big moment with a last-second touchdown throw against Baylor earlier this season to get the Buffaloes to overtime and eventually win.
