Five Heisman Trophy candidates to watch in 2024

College football is right around the corner and the Heisman Trophy watch is already on. After LSU’s Jayden Daniels won the award in 2023, a quarterback has now the award three years in a row. Daniels was also the second straight winner from a non-playoff team.

That most likely won’t be the case this season as the College Football Playoff expands to 12 programs. What does that mean more broadly for the Heisman? Additional big games for players to make a statement. 

Here are five players who look primed to be in contention for college football’s most prestigious award.

Quinn Ewers | QB | Texas

Ewers led Texas to the CFP in 2023 and now leads the Longhorns into the SEC. Last season, he completed 69 percent of his passes for 3,479 yards, 22 touchdowns and six interceptions. Ewers has one of the best offensive lines in the country protecting him and he’ll be throwing to a deep roster of pass catchers. Ewers and the Longhorns have some mega matchups to watch, including Sept. 7 at Michigan and Oct. 19 against Georgia.

Carson Beck | QB | Georgia

Speaking of Georgia, Carson Beck got his opportunity last season and made the most of it. The redshirt junior posted 24 touchdowns and six interceptions with 3,941 yards. He completed 72 percent of his passes. His numbers were just a hair better than Ewers’, which means this should be a fun SEC quarterback matchup to watch.

Jalen Milroe | QB | Alabama

Milroe and the Tide are now under new head coach Kalen DeBoer after Nick Saban’s retirement. But the dual-threat quarterback should be just as difficult to stop in 2024. Last season, he passed for 2,834 yards and 23 touchdowns, while running for 531 yards and 12 touchdowns. Milroe will most likely be throwing the ball more under DeBoer.

Jaxson Dart | QB | Ole Miss

The fourth SEC quarterback on this list is Dart, who is primed for a big season under head coach Lane Kiffin. As a junior, Dart threw for 3,364 yards and 23 touchdowns while completing 65 percent of his passes. Ole Miss brought in the top transfer class in the nation and is hoping to fight its way into the SEC championship game. Dart will have plenty of chances to prove himself worthy of the Heisman, but none bigger than Nov. 9 when Georgia comes to town.

Travis Hunter | WR/DB | Colorado

There are other quarterbacks who could be on this list, but for the sake of diversity, Hunter is the top Heisman candidate who is not a QB. The do-it-all Colorado Buffalo played only nine games last season, but caught 57 passes for 721 yards and five touchdowns on offense. On the defensive side of the ball, he made 30 tackles with three interceptions. A full season of that production and voters are going to have to give him a hard look to go to New York.