College Football 2024 Heisman Trophy Watchlist After Week 9

Justin's NCAA college football top Heisman Trophy contenders after Week 9 of the 2024 season. Top candidates include Ashton Jeanty and Cameron Ward.

Week 9 of the college football season is in the rearview mirror and the 2024 Heisman race saw the player at the top have the closest thing he's had to a tumble. Will that shake up the race at all, or is it still a certain player from the Pacific Northwest to lose?

No trophy in college sports means as much as the Heisman Trophy, which recognizes the best player in college football. That's why each week, I'll be taking stock of the top 10 contenders for the trophy.

Below are the top 10 Heisman contenders after Week 9 of the college football season. These are the 10 players who I view as having the best shot to win the trophy based on their performances this season.

10. Garrett Nussmeier - QB, LSU

LSU's Garrett Nussmeier takes a bit of a fall this week after the Tigers suffered their second loss of the season, falling to Texas A&M. Nussmeier had 405 yards in the defeat, but he also threw three interceptions and completed just half of his passes. It was the second time in the last three games that Nussmeier had multiple picks.

So far this season, Nussmeier is leading the SEC in touchdown passes, but he's also leading the SEC in interceptions, so it's been a bit of a mixed bag. Those turnover issues are getting a little tougher to ignore.

Season Stats: 62.5% completion rate, 2,627 yards, 20 passing touchdowns, nine interceptions, three rushing touchdowns

9. Jaxson Dart - QB, Ole Miss

Jaxson Dart has such a weird resume right now. He leads the SEC in passing yards with 2,695 and leads the FBS in yards per attempt, but this week's win over Oklahoma marked the third time in the last four games that Dart was held to just a single touchdown pass.

These two throws from Jaxson Dart to set up the TD to get Ole Miss up by 9 against Oklahoma were SO good. pic.twitter.com/LMowfvlFZR

— Travis May (@FF_TravisM) October 27, 2024

And in the other game in that span? He didn't have a single one. It's been a weird little stretch for Dart, and the Rebels are just 2-2 since his touchdown passes dried up.

Season Stats: 70.6% completion rate, 2,695 yards, 15 touchdowns, three interceptions, three rushing touchdowns

8. Jalen Milroe - QB, Alabama

Alabama's Jalen Milroe didn't throw a pick this weekend, ending a four-game stretch of throwing at least one interception. He also hasn't thrown more than one touchdown since Sept. 28 against Georgia. Following that Jaxson Dart's path of just not throwing for scores, I guess.

But Milroe makes up for it with his legs. He had 11 carries for 50 yards and a touchdown in the win over Mizzou and now has 12 touchdowns on the ground, which makes up for having just 13 passing scores.

Season Stats: 67.5% completion rate, 1,937 passing yards, 13 passing touchdowns, six interceptions, 12 rushing touchdowns

7. Shedeur Sanders - QB, Colorado

A new name arrives in the top 10 this week. Travis Hunter has been getting most of the attention for Colorado's surprising success, but it's time to acknowledge quarterback Shedeur Sanders.

Sanders currently leads the Big 12 in completion percentage and passing yardage this season and is coming off a strong showing in a 34-23 win over Cincinnati, going 25-for-30 for 323 yards and two touchdowns. He scored a rushing touchdown for the second game in a row.

Season Stats: 73.3% completion rate, 2,591 passing yards, 21 passing touchdowns, six interceptions, two rushing touchdowns

6. Carson Beck - QB, Georgia

Georgia had a bye this week. Here's ea brief recap of what I wrote about Carson Beck after Week 8:

Honestly, I'm not sure what to make of Carson Beck right now. His numbers on Saturday were terrible, as he was 23-for-41 for 175 yards with zero touchdowns and three interceptions against Texas.

But Georgia won and took down the No. 1 team in the country. The Bulldogs have won three in a row after its loss to Alabama. How much of that is because of Beck? Unclear. His high spot on this list remains tentative for now.

Season Stats: 66.0% completion rate, 1,993 passing yards, 15 passing touchdowns, eight interceptions

5. Cade Klubnik - QB, Clemson

Clemson was also off this weekend. I feel kind of bad for dropping a player after an off week, but Travis Hunter needed to be moved up, so...yeah. Klubnik has thrown multiple touchdown passes in six consecutive games.

Season Stats: 66.7% completion percentage, 1,836 passing yards, 20 passing touchdowns, three interceptions, four rushing touchdowns

4. Travis Hunter - WR/CB, Colorado

After a couple of down weeks where his numbers didn't pop, Travis Hunter had a huge game this week against Cincinnati, catching nine passes for 153 yards and two touchdowns. He now leads the Big 12 in receptions and receiving touchdowns, plus continues to be one of the nation's best defenders.

The start-stop ability is exceptional but Travis Hunter looking back as he catches the ball so he can see where the defender is at is elite stuff.#Colorado pic.twitter.com/1QpEzpKJKH

— Kendell Hollowell (@KHollowell_) October 27, 2024

Season Stats: 60 receptions, 757 receiving yards, eight receiving touchdowns, 21 tackles, two interceptions

3. Dillon Gabriel - QB, Oregon

Dillon Gabriel had another huge game for the Ducks this week, going 18-for-26 for 291 yards with three touchdowns and a pick in a 38-9 win over a really good Illinois team. He also rushed for a touchdown.

The Ducks are now 8-0 on the season and Gabriel has multiple touchdown passes in each game. He's thrown five picks in the past five games so that might be worth monitoring, but Gabriel is neck and neck with the top two in the race at this point.

Season Stats: 76.2% completion rate, 2,371 passing yards, 18 passing touchdowns, five interceptions, five rushing touchdowns

2. Ashton Jeanty - RB, Boise State

Ashton Jeanty didn't even have a bad game this week. It was just a normal game for a running back, but with how his season had been going, 33 carries for 128 yards and a touchdown is a disappointment.

Ashton Jeanty is so good that a “down game” for him is running for 104 yards after contact with eight forced missed tackles. Last night only reaffirmed he should be the Heisman front-runner pic.twitter.com/IOKo6gGlJu

— Bobby Football (@Rob__Paul) October 26, 2024

Can Jeanty afford one disappointment and still win the award? For sure, especially if Miami and Oregon lose a game, as that would mar the resume of Dillon Gabriel and Cameron Ward.

But Jeanty, who is averaging 196.6 rushing yards this season, can't have many more games where he doesn't look otherworldly, since he's up against two factors: the "not being a QB" thing and the "not playing in a power conference" thing.

Season Stats: 159 carries for 1,376 yards, 18 rushing touchdowns, one receiving touchdown

1. Cam Ward - QB, Miami

Cam Ward didn't throw a touchdown pass against Florida State, but he did catch one off a trick play from Elijah Arroyo. Ward still leads the ACC in touchdown passes and passing yards and has the Hurricanes undefeated.

Like Jeanty, Ward had a disappointing showing, which has allowed Dillon Gabriel to make this a three-horse race. The Heisman race will be a lot of fun down the stretch.

Season Stats: 68.0% completion rate, 2,746 passing yards, 24 touchdowns, five interceptions, three rushing touchdowns, one receiving touchdown

More College Football Analysis