Heisman Trophy Watch: On3 expert analysis after Week 13

Only one week remains in the regular season, so the time to make a compelling Heisman Trophy case is rapidly shrinking. Once again, there’s a clear favorite following Week 13’s games.

Throughout the season, experts at On3 have and will continue to provide analysis and discussion on the race for the Heisman Trophy. Today we break down the latest following the weekend’s action.

Here’s a look at what players the experts from On3 have at the top of the rankings for the Heisman Trophy race, with their top three listed as well as analysis from each below.

Andy Staples

1. CB/WR Travis Hunter, Colorado
2. RB Ashton Jeanty, Boise State
3. QB Cam Ward, Miami

Travis Hunter: Hunter continues to be the best player in the sport. His teammates didn’t tackle well on Saturday, but he caught eight passes for 125 yards and two touchdowns while also playing most of the game at cornerback.

Ashton Jeanty: Jeanty is the engine that drives Boise State. He was banged up near the end of the Wyoming game but kept trying to play. Without Jeanty’s 19-carry, 169-yard, one-touchdown day, the Broncos would have been upset.

Cam Ward: Ward threw for 280 yards and two touchdowns with one interception against Wake Forest. To ensure Miami makes the ACC title game, he probably will have to top those numbers at Syracuse.

Ari Wasserman

1. CB/WR Travis Hunter, Colorado
2. RB Ashton Jeanty, Boise State
3. QB Cam Ward, Miami

Travis Hunter: Colorado came into the weekend controlling its own destiny for the College Football Playoff. It didn’t turn out how Colorado would have liked, but the Buffaloes aren’t in this position without the best player in college football. Hunter has been spectacular on both sides of the ball and has proven time and time again he’s worthy of the game’s most prestigious award, the Heisman Trophy.

Ashton Jeanty: There is no question Jeanty is one of the best running backs of the College Football Playoff era. In Boise State’s win over Wyoming, Jeanty rushed 19 times for 169 yards and a touchdown. He now has 2,062 rushing yards and 27 touchdowns. Jeanty has been the model of consistency.

Cam Ward: Miami is right in the thick of the College Football Playoff race. Does that happen if it doesn’t have a Ward — who now is the single-season record-holder for passing yards in school history — at quarterback? No. Miami is good. Ward is putting up huge numbers. It all makes sense.

Charles Power

1. CB/WR Travis Hunter, Colorado
2. RB Ashton Jeanty, Boise State
3. QB Cam Ward, Miami

Travis Hunter: Even with Colorado falling to Kansas, Travis Hunter did nothing to dissuade Heisman votes. The presumptive Heisman Trophy favorite made a number of highlight plays on both sides of the ball, including two receiving touchdowns. With over 1,000 yards, 12 touchdowns and three interceptions, Hunter is having one of the more unique college football seasons in recent memory

Ashton Jeanty: He eclipsed the 2,000 yard mark, rushing for 169 yards and a touchdown in Boise State’s tight win over Wyoming. The Broncos are sitting at 10-1 in large part due to Jeanty’s historic season.

Cam Ward: With many of the other top quarterbacks seeing some late season ups and downs, Ward continues to look like the steadiest signal caller on a week-to-week basis. Ward had a workmanlike 280 passing yards and three total touchdowns in Miami’s 42-14 win over Wake Forest.

JD PicKell

1. CB/WR Travis Hunter, Colorado
2. RB Ashton Jeanty, Boise State
3. QB Cam Ward, Miami

Travis Hunter: Even in a loss, what Hunter is doing is ridiculous. Over 100 yards receiving and 2 touchdowns. Hunter doesn’t deserve the Heisman Trophy because he plays both ways. He deserves the Heisman because he’s the best player on either side of the ball in every game he plays.

Ashton Jeanty: In any other season, Jeanty would be running away with the Heisman. The consistency is incredible with another 100+ yard game in Week 13 but I don’t see a world where he’s able to close the gap with Hunter to win the award.

Cam Ward: Ward is having the best season of any Miami QB in history as he broke Bernie Kosar’s record for passing yards in a single season at The U yesterday against Wake Forest. He will absolutely be invited to NYC regardless of how Miami finishes the season against Syracuse.