Wisconsin Badgers running back legend Montee Ball commented on the 2024 Heisman Trophy race on Sunday.
With the college football regular season officially in the books, the conversation surrounding the 2024 Heisman Trophy race has started to ramp up.
As of Dec. 1, Colorado Buffaloes’ wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter is the heavy favorite to pocket the award. Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty, who has registered 2,288 rushing yards and 28 rushing touchdowns, is considered to be firmly in second.
Hunter, who projects to land in the top five of the 2025 NFL draft, is responsible for 92 catches, 1,152 receiving yards and 14 receiving touchdowns this season. On defense, he recorded four interceptions, 11 pass deflections and 31 total tackles.
Ball sides with Jeanty, but connects it back to Melvin Gordon not receiving award in 2014:
“Jeanty deserves the Heisman but it is a popularity contest,” Ball said. “The award lost its legitimacy when Melvin Gordon lost.”
Jeanty deserves the heisman but it is a popularity contest. The award lost its legitimacy when Melvin Gordon lost.
— Montee Ball (@MonteeBall28) December 1, 2024
Most notably, the UW alumnus played alongside fellow running back legend Gordon from 2011-2012.
Gordon, who enjoyed a multi-year NFL career with the Chargers and Broncos, finished second to Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota for the Hesiman Trophy in 2014. That season, the Badger star tallied 2,587 rushing yards and led nation in rushing at 184.8 yards per game.
In retrospect, Gordon may have been snubbed. Only Oklahoma State legend Barry Sanders rushed for more yards in a single season. Mariota led the Football Bowl Subdivision in virtually every major statistic for a quarterback, but Gordon produced arguably the greatest season by any running back in college football history.
We’re seeing a similar situation with Hunter and Jeanty. The precedent heavily favors the more popular player. In this case, that’s Hunter.
The Heisman Trophy ceremony is slated for Dec. 14 in New York City.