October is traditionally the true beginning of the college football season.
But that day came a little earlier than usual thanks to last weekend's great game between Georgia and Alabama. This thrilling contest kicked into high gear the discussion about the upcoming 12-team College Football Playoff and other matters.
Heisman Trophy.
Now that we're here in the season, it's time to kick off your Heisman campaign with the first Heisman Trophy voting of the 2024 season.
Mark Schofield Heisman Vote
1. Travis Hunter, CB/WR, Colorado State
Travis Hunter continues to be one of the best players in the country on both sides of the football.
That alone should put him at the top of the Heisman discussion.
On a humid Florida afternoon, all of Hunter's talents were on display against UCF. logging 58 of 64 potential offensive snapsHunter caught nine passes for 89 yards and one touchdown. On the other side of the line of scrimmage, Hunter played 70 of 79 snaps, recording two tackles, one pass breakup, and a spectacular interception of KJ Jefferson.
As you can see, he certainly believes he can participate in this discussion. But more than that, he's at the top of the list.
2. Jalen Milroe, QB, Alabama
By about 9:30 p.m. ET on Saturday night, Jalen Milroe had one hand on the Heisman Trophy.
Milroe scored a touchdown and two more runs in the first half against Georgia, giving the Crimson Tide a 30-7 lead at halftime. The Bulldogs fought back to take a 34-33 lead with just over two minutes left as Georgia's defense stifled Milroe and the Alabama offense for most of the second half.
But not all, Milroe connected with dynamic freshman Ryan Williams on a 75-yard touchdown pass, saving Alabama and keeping Milroe in Heisman discussion.
3. Ashton Giunty, RB, Boise State
Who was the last running back to win the Heisman Trophy? Derrick Henry returned to Alabama in 2015.
Can Ashton Jeanty change everything?
Boise State is looking to earn the sole automatic bid from Group 5 in the inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff, and Giunty is a big reason why. During the season, Giunty had an FBS-leading 845 rushing yards and led all scorers with 13 touchdowns. He was on full display Saturday night as he ran wild against his opponent. washington stategained 259 yards on the ground with four touchdowns. One of them, this 64-yard run that ran through the Cougars' defense, is already legendary.
Will there be a big game? Boise State will travel to Las Vegas to take on UNLV near the end of October. This game could go a long way toward determining which team earns the automatic bid, as well as give his Heisman campaign a huge boost.
JP Acosta's Heisman vote
1. Ashton Giunty, RB, Boise State University
For those of you who like statistics, here are some stats that basically solidify Gentil's place in this poll.
Ashton Giunty appeared in four games and had 845 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns. He has more rushing yards himself than:
I'll list a few. He has more rushing touchdowns than:
As a reminder, Giunty also missed part of the game against Georgia Southern…because he had cramps after scoring too many TDs. Giunty is looking to break records at an alarming rate to start this year, and there's no reason he shouldn't be invited to New York for the Heisman ceremony. What he did against Washington State was Heisman-like, and now he might be a leader in the clubhouse.
2. Travis Hunter, WR/CB, Colorado State
If Shohei Ohtani were a football player, he might wear number 12 for the Colorado national team. Hunter has been the best player in college football this year and has had a tremendous impact on both sides of the ball for the Buffaloes. He leads Colorado in receiving yards and touchdowns, but he also leads in interceptions. He's a phenomenal cornerback and a great receiver, and good things happen when Hunter is on the field. Hunter would have been the clear favorite to win if Genty hadn't started the season breaking records.
3. Jalen Milroe, QB, Alabama
If there was a person to describe the phrase “big-time players make big-time plays in big-time games,” it would be Jalen Milroe. The University of Alabama signal-caller had 491 yards of total offense in last Saturday's game against the Crimson Tide and Georgia, showing his growth in a number of key areas. Milroe has the pedigree and stats to back up this ranking (he was a QB at Alabama), but his Heisman moment came early in the season. Milroe is expected to continue appearing in major games, so he could quickly move up this list. However, his performance against the Dawgs definitely puts him in the top three.
