Screw the September Heisman Trophy curse, why we're in store for epic race for CFB's most prestigious award
As one of our On3 national experts, every Sunday morning I submit my Top 10 Heisman Trophy candidates with an explainer for my Top 3 picks.
After a spectacular Week 5 where a slew of candidates delivered their latest “Heisman moments” — from Cam Ward saving Miami’s undefeated season, to Jalen Milroe and Ryan Williams savagely ripping out Georgia’s heart, to Travis Hunter and Ashton Jeanty doing unspeakable things to opposing teams — I was legitimately befuddled at how I would narrow down my list of contenders.
Through 5 weeks, we have too many awesome players and not enough spots for even a 10-player ballot!
And that’s what makes the 2024 Heisman Trophy race so fun.
Typically, the “September Heisman Syndrome” is a pejorative award.
History loves to joke about Texas A&M quarterback Kenny ‘The Thrill’ Hill winning a September Heisman with 17 touchdowns the first month of the season (including 516 yards against South Carolina in the opener), only to get benched by November and transfer at the end of the season.
Michigan Denard ‘Shoelace’ Robinson (over 500 yards rushing the first month) and LSU’s Leonard Fournette (multiple 220+ yard games, eight touchdowns) were other famous September Heisman’s whose candidacies fizzled.
Perhaps most famously, in 2012, Geno Smith threw eight touchdowns in a win over Baylor to finish the month with 20 scores and zero picks for a Top 10 West Virginia team. Then the Mountaineers lost five straight games, Smith’s stats regressed and he didn’t even finish as a Top 10 finalist.
So what does that mean for 2024?
Nothing!
The 2024 Heisman Trophy race was primed to be wide open and wild this fall because there was no returning winner for the first time in three years — and no obvious frontrunner, either.
And after the first month, there’s no shortage of fun, elite candidates — September Heismans be damned.
While the preseason favorites — Dillon Gabriel, Carson Beck, Quinn Ewers and Jaxson Dart) have slipped down the board, Milroe, Ward, Jenty and Hunter have surged up the odds list.
Top 10
- 1Breaking
Gonzaga joining Pac-12
Bulldogs set to announce move to Pac-12 later today, per report
- 2Trending
Ryan Williams NIL
Alabama WR sees massive On3 NIL Valuation growth following Georgia game
- 3New
Alabama-Georgia TV Ratings
ESPN announces game was network's most-watched regular season matchup since 2017
- 4
High School NIL Ruling
North Carolina judge rules public school athletes can profit from NIL
- 5
Playoff Greed?
SEC & Big Ten looking for 4 automatic bids each to College Football Playoff
Milroe and Ward are leading College Football Playoff contending teams, while Hunter is doing things we haven’t really since seen the advent of color television. Oh and Jeanty? He’s putting together the best season from a tailback in modern history, and is on pace to break Barry Sanders’ single-season rushing record with over 2,600 yards!
Even after the first month, it’s way too early to count out Gabriel, Beck & Co,. and we can’t write off Nico Iamaleava, Garrett Nussmeier and Kalel Mullings becoming viable contenders, too.
Depending on the next six weeks, Drew Allar, Miller Moss and Shedeur Sanders could all emerge as candidates down the line as well.
Looking for a few darkhorse candidates? What about freshmen wideouts Jeremiah Smith and Ryan Williams, who look like generational players, or Arch Manning, if Ewers doesn’t return in two weeks against Oklahoma?
For now, Jalen Milroe has jumped to the front of the line with his sensational performance in the win over Georgia (over 500 total yards and four touchdowns). With the way he’s racking up touchdowns (18 on the season) and continues to look better and better in Kalen DeBoer’s system, he seems like a lock to make it to New York City.
But who knows? Milroe has set the pace for now. That’s it. Is he simply another September Heisman, or will he cement an amazing first month with a bronze statue come December?
Stay tuned.