Heisman Trophy Rankings: Travis Hunter Expands Lead With Two-Way Excellence

Week 12 Stats (49-24 W vs. Utah): 5 receptions, 55 yards; 1 carry, 5 yards, 1 TD; 3 total tackles, 1 INT, 1 PD
Season Stats: 74 receptions, 911 yards (12.3 YPC), 9 TD; 2 carries, 5 yards (2.5 YPC), 1 TD; 24 total tackles, 3 INT, 8 PD, 1 FF

Hunter’s Heisman odds shortened significantly over the weekend as he wowed once again in a win over the Utes that brought the Buffs one step closer to the Big 12 title game. Hunter became the first FBS or NFL player since Champ Bailey in 2000 to have 50 receiving yards, a rushing touchdown and an interception in the same game. Winners of four straight, Colorado can clinch a spot in the conference championship game with wins at Kansas on Saturday and at home against Oklahoma State in the season finale. That kind of turnaround — for a team that went 1-11 in 2022 — would do well to further bolster Hunter’s Heisman case.

Week 12 Stats (41-21 W at San Jose State): 32 carries, 159 yards, 3 TD; 1 reception, 5 yards
Season Stats: 256 carries, 1,893 yards (7.4 YPC), 26 TD; 17 receptions, 98 yards (5.8 YPC), 1 TD

The Broncos were on upset watch on Saturday against the Spartans, but Jeanty’s hat trick kept their playoff hopes alive, along with his outside shot at winning the Heisman. Boise State tied the game in the second quarter on a short Jeanty touchdown run and took its first lead in the third quarter when he found the end zone again from 36 yards out. Jeanty punched in another score for good measure in the final quarter to seal the win. The Broncos can clinch a spot in the MWC Championship Game with a win Saturday at Wyoming or a UNLV loss. As for Jeanty, he’s just over 100 yards shy of becoming the 30th player to run for 2,000 yards in a single season with two regular-season games remaining.

Week 12 Stats: Bye
Season Stats: 241-for-361 (66.8%), 3,494 yards (9.7 YPA), 32 TD, 6 INT; 50 carries, 182 yards (3.6 YPC), 3 TD

The idle week worked out well for the Hurricanes, who moved up one spot in the AP Top 25, and Ward, who’s back among the top three Heisman contenders. Miami, which has never won the ACC championship, can get back to the conference title game if it beats Wake Forest this week at home and wins at Syracuse in two weeks. Ward is chasing ’Canes legend Bernie Kosar’s single-season passing record of 3,642 yards, having already broken Steve Walsh’s single-season touchdown passes record.

Week 12 Stats (16-13 W at Wisconsin): 22-for-31, 218 yards, 1 INT; 11 carries, 7 yards
Season Stats: 259-for-351 (73.8%), 3,066 yards (8.1 YPA), 22 TD, 5 INT; 54 carries, 155 yards (2.9 YPC), 6 TD

Gabriel and the Ducks barely escaped Madison, Wisconsin, with a win on Saturday. It wasn’t pretty, as Gabriel was held without a touchdown for the first time all year, and Oregon’s high-flying offense was held under 20 points. But coach Dan Lanning’s team did just enough to stay undefeated. Gabriel, however, hurt his Heisman hopes with a pedestrian performance. With the offense struggling, running back Jordan James was the difference-maker, scoring Oregon’s only touchdown. After the near-upset, the Ducks have a week off before their regular-season finale against Washington at Autzen Stadium.

Week 12 Stats: Bye
Season Stats: 171-of-238 (71.8%), 2,410 yards (10.1 YPA), 21 TD, 4 INT; 30 carries, 17 yards (0.6 YPC), 2 TD

Rourke’s standing in the Heisman race remained unchanged with his team on bye, and the Hoosiers held their spot in the AP Top 25. Indiana’s magical season has been building up to Saturday’s game at Ohio State for some time now. It’s an opportunity for Rourke to rocket up the Heisman race and for the Hoosiers to further validate what’s already been the best season in program history.

Week 12 Stats: Bye
Season Stats: 211-of-298 (70.8%), 3,409 yards (11.4 YPA), 22 TD, 4 INT; 85 carries, 304 yards (3.6 YPC), 3 TD

The Rebels had a well deserved off week after their season-defining win over Georgia. Ole Miss doesn’t control its own destiny in the SEC, needing chaos above it in the standings to have a shot at a trip to Atlanta. However, Dart can help the Rebels to their second straight 10-win season — and likely an at-large CFP bid — if they win out on the road against Florida on Saturday and at home against rival Mississippi State the week after that. Dart also can solidify his spot in Ole Miss history as he’s just 372 yards shy of Eli Manning’s record for career passing yards.

Week 12 Stats (49-24 W vs. Utah): 30-for-41, 340 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT; 7 carries, -9 yards
Season Stats: 280-for-384 (72.9%), 3,222 yards (8.4 YPA), 27 TD, 7 INT; 77 carries, -11 yards (-0.1 YPC), 4 TD

Hunter has received plenty of praise for his two-way play, but Sanders has been one of the best quarterbacks in college football this season. He threw three more touchdown passes against the Utes and is now tied for the second-most in the FBS this season. Sanders carries much of the offensive load for the Buffs, who have one of the worst rushing offenses in the country but one of the best passing attacks. He has two more opportunities to add to his impressive passing totals, against Kansas and Oklahoma State before a potential Big 12 title game.

Week 12 Stats (52-7 W vs. Mercer): 11-for-16, 186 yards, 2 TD; 6 carries, 43 yards, 1 TD
Season Stats: 160-for-237 (67.5%), 2,232 yards (9.4 YPA), 15 TD, 6 INT; 120 carries, 608 yards (5.1 YPC), 17 TD

After three straight games against top-25 teams, the Crimson Tide had a tune-up game against Mercer at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Milroe accounted for three touchdowns in the blowout win despite leaving early with the game well in hand. Only six FBS players have more rushing touchdowns than Milroe this season, who has scored six times on the ground during Alabama’s three-game winning streak. The Tide are still very much alive in the SEC championship race as long as they take care of business at Oklahoma and at home against rival Auburn.

• Will Howard, QB, Ohio State
• Cade Klubnik, QB, Clemson
• Bryson Daily, QB, Army