The third Saturday in October is upon us. We are starting to see separation in our Week 7 Heisman poll. This week, our poll has more movement in spots two through five. Can anyone catch our #1 vote-getter?
Strike the Pose: Week 7 Heisman Poll
A new week and a new number one. Our Last Word on Sports writers believe the Heisman is more than just a quarterback award. We will continue to track whose stock is rising and whose stock is falling in our Week 7 Heisman poll. While we have no new candidates this week, we had considerable movement from everyone on our list. Before we get to the poll, please stand at attention, and gentlemen, remove your covers to salute our Week 7 Heisman Honorable Mention.
Honorable Mention: Bryson Daily, QB, Army
Here come the Black Knights. Army is thriving under Jeff Monken, none more so that athlete stand-out Bryson Daily. Army has returned to the Top 25 due largely to the play of Daily. Daily has helped transform Army’s offense on the ground and in the air in 2024. Daily rushed for 136 yards and a career-high four touchdowns, and he passed for another score as Army beat UAB 44-10 on Saturday. The win helped Army climb back into the AP’s Top 25.
#5 Carson Beck, QB, Georgia Bulldogs
After a few weeks off, Carson Beck returns to the Week 7 Heisman poll. Beck helped lead Georgia to a closer-than-expected 41-31 win over Mississippi State on Saturday in Athens. Kirby Smart and Mike Bobo have handed him the keys, realizing he will be the key to how far the Bulldogs can go this season. On Saturday, he set a personal record with 36 completions on 48 attempts for 459 yards. Beck and Georgia can make a statement on Saturday night as they take on the #1 Texas Longhorns in Austin.
#4 Dillon Gabriel, QB, Oregon Ducks
There is an argument to be made that Dillon Gabriel might end up being the top quarterback in 2024. Gabriel is now on his third team in his college career. Save me the pearl-clutching about how the Transfer Portal is destroying the game. At each stop, Gabriel has elevated his own game and improved his new team’s performance—a sharp contrast to the struggles of his former team in Norman. On Saturday night, Gabriel delivered his best performance and had all the right moves against the Buckeyes, throwing two touchdown passes and running for a late score.
His efforts helped third-ranked Oregon edge out No. 2 Ohio State in a 32-31 victory. Gabriel’s standout performance earned high praise from his current head coach, Dan Lanning.”Every time I went and looked at his eyes tonight I saw a guy who was composed and ready for his next moment,” Lanning said. “He played really really well tonight in some really big moments.” Gabriel will now face the unique challenge of taking on the Boilermakers Friday Night in West Lafayette. As we’ve learned in years past, tread carefully.
#3 Travis Hunter, ATH, Colorado Buffaloes
Travis Hunter‘s Heisman hopes took a hit on Saturday night against Kansas State. Hunter left the game in the second quarter after a 14-yard completion with an apparent shoulder injury. Hunter was one of three Buffaloes injured in the 31-28 loss to the Wildcats. Coach Prime commented on how the loss of Hunter and his teammates impacted the team after the game. “Certainly losing Travis and Jimmy and the others was tremendous,” Prime said. “Because they’re a vital part of our team, a vital part of our identity, they’re a vital part of who we are. That took a lot out of us. But other guys had the opportunity to step up and they did.”
#2 Cam Ward, QB, Miami (FL.)
Cam Ward and the Hurricanes were on a bye last week. Miami is off to one of its best ACC history starts and sits atop the conference with a perfect 6-0 record. The schedule is manageable for Ward and the Hurricanes for the rest of the season. A quick look at their schedules shows that Miami could realistically be favored in the rest of their games, setting them up for a spot to play in the ACC Championship in Charlotte. The Hurricanes may be their biggest obstacle going forward. They needed Herculean efforts from Ward in their last two games against Virginia Tech and California to remain unbeaten. Gino Toretta was the last Miami quarterback to win the Heisman Trophy in 1922.
#1 Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State
What will Ashton Jeanty do for an encore? While we may not know for certain, it is safe to assume that whatever Jeanty does will involve lots of rushing yardage and touchdowns. On the season, Jeanty has been without peer. The junior running back has 1248 rushing yards on 126 carries and 17 touchdowns. Jeanty continues to put himself in a place by himself this season.
He is currently #1 in the nation in yards per carry, total touchdowns, and all-purpose yards, to name a few. Fox Sports greatly compared how good the 2024 season is for Jenaty. Just how good is he doing this year? If we can compare Jeantry’s performance to Alabama’s last three Heisman winners, Jeantry is in good shape. Beware Mountain West, Jeanty, and the Broncos are headed back!
