On3 Heisman Trophy Poll: Top 10 player rankings after Week 10

Two weeks ago we briefly had a unanimous No. 1 in our Heisman Trophy polling, but that commanding lead has once again dissipated and the race appears quite competitive between the top four candidates.

On3’s national experts have been closely monitoring some of the biggest outings of the season and have started to look for consistency from week to week. Today, they compile their poll of the top 10 candidates.

Each of the five national experts submitted a ballot with his top 10 players on it, and we’ve compiled the results to create a complete ranking using points — 10 points for a first-place vote, nine for second, etc. Let’s get into how the rankings unfolded below.

1. CB/WR Travis Hunter, Colorado – 46 points

Colorado was on a bye this week but that does nothing to diminish Hunter’s candidacy for the Heisman Trophy at this point. He’s coming off an insane week, one in which he became the first player ever named both the Big 12 Offensive and Defensive Player of the Week.

Hunter had nine catches for 153 yards and two touchdowns against Cincinnati, while also racking up two tackles and four pass breakups on the defensive side of the ball. His continued brilliance remains on display each week.

2. RB Ashton Jeanty, Boise State – 44

Jeanty’s numbers have steadily looked a little more “normal” in recent weeks, where normal equates to highly productive for any other running back. He logged 31 carries for 149 yards and two touchdowns this week, while also tallying two catches for 31 yards.

The season numbers for Jeanty remain absolutely absurd. He’s compiled 1,525 yards rushing and 20 touchdowns, while averaging 8.0 yards per carry. No one else has come close to those figures.

3. QB Cam Ward, Miami – 43

There remain the occasional head scratching, ‘no, no, no!’ interceptions, but Ward simply gets the job done when the game is on the line. He helped the ‘Canes overcome a second-half deficit against Duke to win in a blowout this week.

Ward threw for five touchdowns in the win, his second game with five touchdown passes and third with five total touchdowns. He has 29 passing touchdowns and three rushing touchdowns so far this year, against only six interceptions.

4. QB Dillon Gabriel, Oregon – 37

If Oregon keeps winning, you have to assume Gabriel will be a shoo-in as a Heisman Trophy finalist. His play has been up to that standard, and he’s doing it on arguably the best team in the country.

On Saturday it was a comfortable 38-17 win at Michigan in which Gabriel threw for 294 yards and a touchdown without an interception. He also ran for 23 yards and a score, bringing his touchdown total to 25 this season.

5. QB Kurtis Rourke, Indiana – 28

The Indiana quarterback missed a week with a thumb injury but came back looking no worse for the wear in a blowout win over Michigan State. Rourke threw for 263 yards and four touchdowns in the 47-10 win this weekend.

More importantly, Indiana is now 9-0 and is a definite College Football Playoff contender. Any time that’s the case you’d expect a special season like the one Rourke is having, with 2,204 passing yards, 19 passing touchdowns and just three interceptions. That’s elite stuff.

6. QB Shedeur Sanders, Colorado – 20

Colorado has thoroughly outperformed expectations, currently at 6-2 and within striking distance of a Big 12 title. Sanders is a huge part of that, the engine behind an offense that has kept the team on track this season.

Sanders has logged 2,591 yards passing and 21 touchdowns, against six interceptions. He’s also run for three scores and he’s remarkably hard to bring down in the pocket on first contact, helping him extend plays and make things happen when plays break down.

7. QB Diego Pavia, Vanderbilt – 15

Another week, another win for Vanderbilt. The Commodores are now bowl-eligible at 6-3, a fantastic turnaround after a thoroughly disappointing 2023 campaign. And most of it can be traced to Pavia’s arrival.

The quarterback is one of the grittiest players in the country, a fiery competitor who gets the most out of the guys around him. He’s also putting up excellent numbers: 1,677 passing yards and 15 touchdowns, 563 rushing yards and four more scores on the ground.

8. RB Dylan Sampson, Tennessee – 10

Sampson is as consistent as they come. He’s eight yards against Oklahoma from having topped 100 yards in every contest this season. And he has rushed for multiple touchdowns in all but that Oklahoma game too.

On the year, Sampson has logged 980 yards and 19 touchdowns. He also has 11 catches for 97 yards. He’s the glue in the Tennessee offense, the steady presence the Volunteers have been able to lean on week in and week out.

9. QB Jaxson Dart, Ole Miss – 8

Dart has the highest raw yardage output in the country through the first 10 weeks of the season. He has thrown for 3,210 yards and 21 touchdowns, against just three interceptions. He’s also rushed for 254 yards and three touchdowns.

This week against Arkansas he really went off. Dart threw for 515 yards and six touchdowns, while also rushing for 47 yards. Those are Heisman Trophy type numbers, and if Ole Miss can avoid a loss the rest of the way and get into playoff contention, he might start to get more mention.

10. RB Cam Skattebo, Arizona State – 7

Arizona State has quietly emerged as a potential Big 12 title contender, sitting at 6-2 on the season. Skattebo has been a huge weapon, capable of going off at any point.

He’s coming off one of his best games of the season, going for 153 yards and a touchdown on the ground against Oklahoma State, while also catching four passes for 121 yards and two touchdowns. That brings his season totals to 1,001 rushing yards and 404 receiving yards.

Also Receiving Heisman Trophy Votes

RB Kaleb Johnson, Iowa – 4
WR Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State – 4
QB Bryson Daily, Army – 4
QB Riley Leonard, Notre Dame – 3
WR Ricky White III, UNLV – 2

There are a handful of players who might be able to vault themselves into the mix with a strong close to the season among the others receiving votes. However, some will suffer from the lack of a quality stage (Daily and White, for example), while others simply have a tough road remaining. In any case, it makes for some fun Heisman Trophy debate as we get set to head into Week 11.