Why Ashton Jeanty received my Heisman Trophy vote in 2024

No, I did not place Travis Hunter at the top of my Heisman ballot.

As I have repeatedly stated, Deion Sanders may be my favorite sports personality of all time, despite the occasional bully pulpit issue with the media.

I unsuccessfully tried to persuade my son to consider the University of Colorado, I am not one of those Never Hunters who refused to vote for him because of the Buffaloes’ overhype, and…

Welcome to my brutal pretentiousness about the Heisman.

I voted for Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty.

I am well aware that it goes to the most “outstanding” player, but for me, it is always about that player’s contribution to the season. Who is THE guy in a particular campaign?

That includes being the most valuable and important player in determining how events unfold. That is why I disagree with those who vote before the conference championships; I can not persuade anyone that we should vote on the Heisman after the bowl games, because those games are the most important.

Yes, Ashton Jeanty and others played an extra game, but there was a reason for it: the worthy players got their teams there. It is actually a punishment for the best players to not consider what they do when it counts the most.

I am not knocking Hunter, but here’s why he finished third on my ballot. 1) He was not the most outstanding or important player on his own team; that honor went to Shedeur Sanders, who had the Heisman moment in the late-game victory over Baylor.

2) In terms of importance, Hunter was not the best player in the Big 12 – more on that later – and 3) Colorado is not competing for anything significant.

Yeah, it is about the player, not the team, but if we are splitting hairs, two guys carried their teams to the College Football Playoff, while Hunter didn’t, and it was not for a lack of trying.

All of this, and Jeanty was simply the best and most important college football player this season.

No, he is not 1988 Barry Sanders, and yes, in addition to that game against Oregon, he piled up yards and production against Group of Five programs, but everyone knew he was getting the ball, and he still obliterated the field, averaging 53.75 rushing yards per game more than the No. 2 guy, Omarion Hampton of North Carolina.

With everything on the line and the entire UNLV defense prepared to stop him, Jeanty rushed for 209 yards, one touchdown, and 32 carries in the Mountain West Championship, and Boise State is now the third seed in the College Football Playoff.

Hunter was exceptional this season. Jeanty had 2,497 yards, 7.3 yards per carry, and 30 total touchdowns, which was better.

Jeanty was my one. Second on the list was the player who accumulated 2,074 total yards from scrimmage, finishing second in the nation behind Jeanty, and finished with 170 rushing yards and two touchdowns in the Big 12 Championship to propel Arizona State to fourth place in the College Football Playoff.

Cam Skattebo carried the team on his back during the stretch run.

Skattebo not only blasted his way through the Cyclones, but his consistency as an all-around battering ram – he was a far better receiver than Jeanty – was overlooked by the national media until it was too late.

And I gave Hunter three points over Sanders, primarily because Hunter is just that good. Again, he exemplifies what the Heisman Trophy should be about, and I will not argue against him winning it.

1. Ashton Jeanty, 2. Cam Skattebo, and 3. Travis Hunter

(By the way, I have no idea what I would have done if Jeanty and Skattebo were terrible in their respective conference championships, but…)

Ashton Jeanty was the most outstanding college football player in 2024.

Pete Fiutak last 21 Heisman Ballots

(Before mocking and ridiculing, again, I go by who was the most important player in the most important moments, along with being “outstanding.”

2024 Heisman Trophy

1) Ashton Jeanty, RB Boise State
2) Cam Skattebo, RB Arizona State
3) Travis Hunter, CB/WR Colorado
Actual Heisman Finish: Hunter; Jeanty; Dillon Gabriel, QB Oregon

2023 Heisman Trophy

1) Jalen Milroe, QB Alabama
2) Jayden Daniels QB LSU
3) Michael Penix Jr., QB, Washington
Actual Heisman Finish: Daniels, Penix Jr.; Bo Nix, QB Oregon

2022 Heisman Trophy

1) Caleb Williams, QB USC
2) CJ Stroud, QB Ohio State
3) Max Duggan, QB TCU
Actual Heisman Finish: Williams; Duggan; Stroud

2021 Heisman Trophy

1) Bryce Young, QB Alabama
2) Aidan Hutchinson, DE Michigan
3) CJ Stroud, QB Ohio State
Actual Heisman Finish: Young; Hutchinson; Kenny Pickett, QB Pitt

2020 Heisman Trophy

(I can explain this one. Everyone forgets that Trask was pushing 2019 Joe Burrow stats for most of the season. I thought Alabama was as much about Najee Harris and Mac Jones as DeVonta Smith. Again, I believe we should be voting for the Heisman after the bowls.)

1) Kyle Trask, QB Florida
2) Najee Harris, RB Alabama
3) Mac Jones, QB Alabama
Actual Heisman Finish: DeVonta Smith, WR Alabama; Trevor Lawrence, QB Clemson; Jones

2019 Heisman Trophy

1) Joe Burrow, QB LSU
2) Justin Fields, QB Ohio State
3) Jalen Hurts, QB Oklahoma
Actual Heisman Finish: Burrow; Hurts; Fields

2018 Heisman Trophy

1) Kyler Murray, QB Oklahoma
2) Dwayne Haskins, QB Ohio State
3) Tua Tagovailoa, QB Alabama
Actual Heisman Finish: Murray; Tagovailoa; Haskins

2017 Heisman Trophy

1) Baker Mayfield, QB Oklahoma
2) Bryce Love, QB Stanford
3) Mason Rudolph, QB Oklahoma State
Actual Heisman Finish: Mayfield; Love; Lamar Jackson, QB Louisville

2016 Heisman Trophy

1) Deshaun Watson, QB Clemson
2) Lamar Jackson, QB Louisville
3) Baker Mayfield, QB Oklahoma
Actual Heisman Finish: Jackson; Watson; Mayfield

2015 Heisman Trophy

1) Derrick Henry, QB Alabama
2) Christian McCaffrey, RB Stanford
3) Deshaun Watson, QB Clemson
Actual Heisman Finish: Henry; McCaffrey; Watson

2014 Heisman Trophy

1) Marcus Mariota, QB Oregon
2) Melvin Gordon, RB Wisconsin
3) JT Barrett, QB Ohio State
Actual Heisman Finish: Mariota; Gordon; Amari Cooper, WR Alabama

2013 Heisman Trophy

1) Jameis Winston, QB Florida State
2) Andre Williams, RB Boston College
3) Bryce Petty, QB Baylor
Actual Heisman Finish: Winston; AJ McCarron, QB Alabama; Jordan Lynch, RB Northern Illinois

2012 Heisman Trophy

1) Manti Te’o, LB Notre Dame
2) Johnny Manziel, QB Texas A&M
3) Braxton Miller, QB Ohio State
Actual Heisman Finish: Manziel; Te’o; Collin Klein, QB Kansas State

2011 Heisman Trophy

1) Robert Griffin IIII, QB Baylor
2) Trent Richardson, RB Alabama
3) Andrew Luck, QB Stanford
Actual Heisman Finish: Griffin; Luck; Richardson

2010 Heisman Trophy

1) Cam Newton, QB Auburn
2) Andrew Luck, QB Stanford
3) Justin Blackmon, WR Oklahoma State
Actual Heisman Finish: Newton; Luck; LaMichael James, RB Oregon

2009 Heisman Trophy

1) Ndamukong Suh, DT Nebraska
2) Mark Ingram, RB Alabama
3) Toby Gerhart, RB Stanford
Actual Heisman Finish: Ingram;, Gerhart; Colt McCoy, QB Texas

2008 Heisman Trophy

1) Tim Tebow, QB Florida
2) Sam Bradford, QB Oklahoma
3) Colt McCoy, QB Texas
Actual Heisman Finish: Bradford; McCoy; Tebow

2007 Heisman Trophy

1) Tim Tebow, QB Florida
2) Darren McFadden, RB Arkansas
3) Colt Brennan, QB Hawaii
Actual Heisman Finish: Tebow; McFadden; Brennan

2006 Heisman Trophy

1) Troy Smith, QB Ohio State
2) Colt Brennan, QB Hawaii
3) Steve Slayton, RB West Virginia
Actual Heisman Finish: Smith; Darren McFadden, RB Arkanas; Brady Quinn, QB Notre Dame