Travis Hunter, Ashton Jeanty headline 2024 Heisman Trophy finalists

Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel, Colorado's two-way star Travis Hunter, Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty and Miami quarterback Cam Ward were named finalists for the Heisman Trophy on Monday.

The Heisman Trophy is "annually awarded to the most outstanding college football player in the United States, whose performance epitomizes great ability combined with diligence, perseverance, and hard work."

The winner will be announced Saturday during a ceremony at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City starting at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN.

Last year, LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels won the award, making 20 of the 23 winners this century having played the position. While the result wasn't close in 2023 (Daniels beat Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. by 328 total points), this year's vote is expected to come down to Hunter and Jeanty and might challenge the 2009 results when Alabama's Mark Ingram beat Stanford's Toby Gerhart by just 28 points.

Who are Heisman Trophy finalists?

Dillon Gabriel, senior quarterback, Oregon

• Hometown: Mililani, Hawai'i

• Height, weight: 6-0, 200

• 2024 stats: 73.2% completion percentage, 3,558 yards, 28 touchdowns, six interceptions; 192 rush yards, seven touchdowns

• Gabriel, the Big Ten offensive player of the year and the FBS career holder with 187 total touchdowns and second with 18,423 passing yards, led the way for the Ducks, who climbed to No. 1 in late October and held on to that ranking, earning the top seed in the College Football Playoff. Gabriel is seeking to become Oregon's second Heisman winner, following Marcus Mariota in 2014.

Travis Hunter, junior wide receiver/cornerback, Colorado

• Hometown: Suwanee, Georgia

• Height, weight: 6-1, 185

• 2024 stats: 92 receptions, 1,152 yards, 15 total touchdowns; 32 total tackles, four interceptions, seven pass breakups

• Hunter did things never seen before, playing almost every snap on offense and defense. He is a finalist for the Biletnikoff Award, given to the nation's best receiver and a finalist for numerous others, including the Maxwell Award (best all-around player), Bednarik Award (best defensive player), Hornung Award (most versatile player) and Walter Camp Award (most outstanding player).

Ashton Jeanty, junior running back, Boise State

• Hometown: Jacksonville, Florida

• Height, weight: 5-9, 215

• 2024 stats: 344 carries, 2,497 yards, 29 touchdowns; 20 receptions, 116 yards, one touchdown

• Jeanty is the best running back in the nation, and it's not particularly close. Whether purists acknowledge if he breaks Barry Sanders' single-season rushing record is a discussion for another day, but Boise State doesn't even sniff the CFP without him. No Boise State player has ever won the Heisman. Ian Johnson in 2006 (eighth) and Kellen Moore (fourth) in 2010 are the only Broncos players to finish in the top 10 in Heisman voting.

Cam Ward, senior quarterback, Miami (Fla.)

• Hometown: West Columbia, Texas

• Height, weight: 6-2, 223

• 2024 stats: 67.4% completion percentage, 4,123 yards, 36 touchdowns, seven interceptions; four rushing touchdowns

• Ward, a transfer from Washington State and Incarnate Word, led the nation's most prolific offense. The Hurricanes were first in total and scoring offense, and Ward, who is a finalist for the 2024 Manning Award, led the NCAA in touchdown passes and set school records for touchdowns and passing yards.

When is Heisman Trophy winner announced?

• Saturday, Dec. 14, 8 p.m. ET

• TV: ESPN

• Live stream: ESPN

(This story has been updated to add a photo gallery)

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Heisman Trophy 2024 finalists: Travis Hunter, Ashton Jeanty top list