It finally happened. For years, the college football world argued about whether a two-way player could ever truly dominate the modern era. We talked about snap counts. We worried about fatigue. Then Travis Hunter stepped onto the field in Boulder and basically told the record books to take a hike.
If you’re looking for the short answer: Travis Hunter, the Colorado Buffaloes' superstar cornerback and wide receiver, won the Heisman Trophy in 2024.
Honestly, it wasn't just a win; it was a statement. On December 14, 2024, at the Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City, Hunter hoisted that bronze trophy, ending a nearly 30-year drought for defensive-leaning players and making history as the first true full-time two-way player to win since the early 1960s.
What Really Happened With the 2024 Heisman Vote
The race was tighter than a lot of people expected. For a while there, it looked like Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty might actually pull off the upset. Jeanty was putting up video-game numbers on the ground—we’re talking 2,497 rushing yards and 30 touchdowns. Most years, that's an automatic win. But 2024 wasn't "most years."
Hunter finished with 2,231 points, while Jeanty came in second with 2,017 points. That 214-point margin was the closest we've seen since 2009. You've got to feel a little for Jeanty; he broke almost every record in the book, yet he ran into a literal unicorn.
✨ Don't miss: Lo que nadie te cuenta sobre los próximos partidos de selección de fútbol de jamaica
Rounding out the top four were:
- Travis Hunter (Colorado) – 552 first-place votes.
- Ashton Jeanty (Boise State) – 309 first-place votes.
- Dillon Gabriel (Oregon) – 516 total points.
- Cam Ward (Miami) – 229 total points.
It's kinda wild when you look at the regional breakdown. Hunter won five out of the six voting regions. The only one he lost? The Far West, where Jeanty’s Boise State fans and the West Coast media pushed the running back just barely ahead.
Why Travis Hunter Was Different
We see great athletes every Saturday. But Hunter was playing nearly 130 snaps a game. Think about that for a second. While other stars were catching their breath on the oxygen tank, Hunter was switching jerseys—figuratively—and going right back out to lock down the opponent's best receiver.
His stats were almost offensive to logic:
🔗 Read more: Listen to Dodger Game: How to Catch Every Pitch Without a Cable Bill
- On Offense: 92 catches, 1,152 yards, and 14 touchdowns.
- On Defense: 31 tackles, 4 interceptions, and a game-clinching forced fumble against Baylor that basically saved Colorado's season.
He didn't just play both ways; he was the best player on the field at both positions. He won the Biletnikoff Award (best receiver) and the Bednarik Award (best defensive player). Doing that in the same season is something we probably won't see again for another few decades.
The "Coach Prime" Factor
You can't talk about who won the Heisman Trophy 2024 without mentioning Deion Sanders. The hype machine in Boulder was real, but Hunter actually backed it up. Skeptics thought the "Prime Effect" would fatigue the kid or that the media attention was just fluff.
Instead, Hunter became the first player to win the Heisman after starting their career in the FCS (Jackson State). He followed Sanders to Colorado, stayed loyal when the program was 4-8, and led them to a 9-3 regular season in 2024. That narrative—loyalty plus historic production—is exactly what Heisman voters love.
Common Misconceptions About the 2024 Race
A lot of folks think Dillon Gabriel or Cam Ward were "robbed" because they had better team records. Oregon was the No. 1 seed in the playoffs, after all. But the Heisman isn't the "Best Player on the Best Team" award—even though it often feels that way.
💡 You might also like: LeBron James and Kobe Bryant: What Really Happened Behind the Scenes
Gabriel broke the NCAA record for career touchdowns, which is massive. But by the time December rolled around, the conversation had shifted. People weren't asking who the best quarterback was; they were asking if they’d ever seen anyone do what Travis Hunter was doing. The answer was a resounding "no."
Also, there's this idea that Hunter only won because of his offensive stats. Not true. His 15 passes defended and his ability to take away half the field as a corner were arguably more valuable to Colorado than his touchdowns.
Actionable Insights for College Football Fans
If you're following the trajectory of the Heisman or looking at how the award is changing, keep these things in mind:
- The "Two-Way" Door is Open: Hunter proved that voters will reward versatility. Expect more high school recruits to demand the chance to play both sides of the ball.
- Stats vs. Value: While Jeanty had more "raw" yardage, Hunter had more "impact" per snap in the eyes of the media.
- Transfer Success: Hunter is the sixth player in the last eight years to win the award after transferring schools. The portal is officially the Heisman factory.
- Draft Stock: If you're an NFL fan, take note—Hunter was selected 2nd overall in the 2025 NFL Draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars. The "Heisman hangover" didn't touch him.
To truly understand the 100-year history of this award, you have to look at 2024 as the year the "specialist" era ended. We went back to the roots of football, where the best player just stayed on the field until the whistle blew.
Check out the official Heisman Trust archives to see how Hunter's 80.14% of possible points stacks up against legends like Charles Woodson or Reggie Bush. Seeing the point totals side-by-side really puts into perspective how dominant this Colorado junior actually was.