Travis Hunter might as well have brought a broom to New York City as he cleaned up this college football awards season, claiming multiple awards, including the Bednarik, Biletnikoff and Walter Camp. He capped it off on Saturday by winning the Heisman Trophy. GoJo and Golic dive into Hunter’s incredible season and his narrow Heisman victory.
Travis Hunter’s Heisman win capped off one of the most impressive college football careers we’ve ever seen. Mike Golic Jr. broke down his voting process, placing Hunter first, Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty second and Miami quarterback Cam Ward third. GoJo also addressed the narrowly close margin between Hunter and Jeanty in the final results, with Hunter edging out Jeanty 2,200 to 2,000. For GoJo, the margin between the two was warranted, given how remarkable both seasons were. However, GoJo added that there’s no question Hunter earned it with his dominance on both sides of the ball this season. Mike Golic Sr. was astonished at just how close the race was. Jeanty’s 2,000 points was the most by a second-place finisher since Tua Tagovailoa in 2018 and marked the tightest race since Mark Ingram edged out Toby Gerhart in 2009 (1304-1276). Despite the narrow margin, Senior saw no controversy in the outcome. While Jeanty had an incredible season and voiced that he deserved to win afterward, Senior believed Travis Hunter was the clear and deserving choice this year.
G&G discuss Travis Hunter winning the 2024 Heisman Trophy Award 🏆
"Capping one of the most prolific college careers we have ever seen. I am a voter. I put out my ballot. I did vote for Travis Hunter, No. 1, Ashton Jeanty, No. 2, and Cam Ward, No. 3.
But the margin between… pic.twitter.com/9mk3OgXlNV
— GoJo and Golic (@GoJoandGolic) December 16, 2024
GoJo reflected on how special this year’s Heisman race was, saying the close final vote perfectly captured the greatness of both seasons. He appreciated the rare opportunity to celebrate non-quarterbacks on the award stage. Highlighting Jeanty’s incredible year, GoJo praised his ability to lead a Group of Five team to the College Football Playoff with a first-round bye, all while being the focal point of every defense. Jeanty’s tackle-breaking dominance stood out, and while he paid his respects to Arizona State’s running back Cam Skattebo, GoJo made it clear that Jeanty is the best running back in college football, period.
GoJo also addressed the criticism that Hunter’s snap count played a major role in his Heisman win, calling it an oversimplification of an extraordinary season. He compared Hunter’s rarity to what the Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani represents in baseball — a once-in-a-generation player. While Jeanty had an incredible year, GoJo emphasized that we’ve never seen anything like Hunter’s accomplishments. Hunter wasn’t just logging snaps, GoJo explained, he was excelling at an elite level on both sides of the ball. Winning the Biletnikoff as the nation’s best wide receiver, leading Colorado in receptions, dominating as their best defensive back with four interceptions and the most pass breakups on the team — it wasn’t just about quantity, but quality. GoJo also highlighted the physical and mental toll of playing at such a high level in two positions while keeping Colorado competitive in the Big 12, even up to the Kansas game, where they controlled their own destiny with a route to the CFP. The critics focusing on snap count, he said, overlook the unmatched level of preparation, conditioning and execution Hunter brought week after week. Few players at any level could manage that workload, let alone thrive the way Hunter did. For GoJo, this narrative was more about people clinging to an easy criticism than any legitimate knock on Hunter’s season.
Senior dismissed the notion that Travis Hunter’s Heisman win was solely due to his snap count, calling it unjustifiable given what Hunter proved on both sides of the ball. While his offensive stats speak for themselves, Senior pointed out the challenges of evaluating defensive players, especially cornerbacks. He compared Hunter’s performance to Charles Woodson’s Heisman-winning season in 1997, noting that while Woodson played both ways, it wasn’t to the extent that Hunter did. To Senior’s point, as a cornerback, the better you are, the fewer stats you’ll rack up since quarterbacks avoid throwing your way. Despite limited interception opportunities, Hunter’s ability to dominate in coverage is a testament to his skill. Senior highlighted the grueling toll of Hunter’s workload, praising his durability, especially after bouncing back from injury last year. While acknowledging Ashton Jeanty’s confidence in his Heisman candidacy, Senior felt there was zero argument for why Hunter should not win the Heisman.
As we shift gears to bowl season, another interesting caveat is that Hunter, Ward and Shedeur Sanders have publicly said they will play in their respective bowl games. GoJo, this is a surprising move in an era where many top NFL prospects have opted out. Ultimately, this signals what could be a shift in the trend. He suggested that NIL contracts might be a factor, with financial incentives tied to bowl game participation. GoJo also shared that the less-heralded quarterback class of 2025 could be motivated to take advantage of opportunities to get more film to improve their NFL Draft. However, Hunter, projected as a top-five pick regardless, stands out by bucking the recent norm and choosing to play.
With Travis Hunter, Shedeur Sanders, and Cam Ward suiting up for bowl games, could we see more top NFL draft prospects ditch the trend of sitting out?
— DraftKings Network (@DKNetwork) December 16, 2024
“This quarterback class, as we've talked about, not as heralded as ones in previous years. And so maybe there's a thought that… pic.twitter.com/fcbjp4WcrT
Watch or listen to the full show below and tune into GoJo and Golic weekday mornings from 8-10 a.m. ET on DraftKings Network! See more about how to watch DraftKings Network here.
SHOW BREAKDOWN
Hour 1: Mahomes & Geno’s Injuries, Sassy Hurts & Cheeky Lamar in Mike’d Up Monday + Pete Sampson on Marcus Freeman’s Contract Extension
VIDEO
Watch GoJo and Golic every weekday on Samsung TV Plus, Roku, Xumo Play, Google TV and DraftKingsNetwork.com from 8 to 10 a.m. ET. The show is also available via audio on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also follow Mike Golic Sr. on X at @golic and Mike Golic Jr. on X at @mikegolicjr.
I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and may sometimes play on my personal account in the games that I offer advice on. Although I have expressed my personal view on the games and strategies above, they do not necessarily reflect the view(s) of DraftKings and do not constitute a representation that any particular strategy will guarantee success. All customers should use their own skill and judgment in building lineups. I may also deploy different players and strategies than what I recommend above. I am not an employee of DraftKings and do not have access to any non-public information
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