Heisman Trophy Race Heating Up Between Dillon Gabriel, Travis Hunter, Ashton Jeanty

Does Oregon Ducks quarterback Dillon Gabriel trail Colorado Buffaloes two-way star Travis Hunter and Boise State Broncos running back Ashton Jeanty in the Heisman Trophy race? Oregon beat Maryland 39-18 on Saturday night, and Gabriel threw three touchdowns and zero interceptions.

Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel carries the ball as the Oregon Ducks host the Maryland Terrapins at Autzen Stadium Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024 in Eugene, Ore. / Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The Oregon Ducks defeated the Maryland Terrapins 39-18 to improve to 10-0 on the season, and Ducks quarterback Dillon Gabriel had another good outing in the win. 

With Gabriel's performance this season and Oregon's undefeated record, is he the front-runner to win the Heisman Trophy?

Gabriel’s Heisman Trophy Odds and Competition

Oct 26, 2024; Boulder, Colorado, USA; Colorado Buffaloes wide receiver Travis Hunter (12) carries the ball in the second quarter against the Cincinnati Bearcats at Folsom Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images / Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

Dillon Gabriel is currently tied for the second-best odds to win the Heisman with Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty. Gabriel and Jeanty are +300 to win the award. The current favorite is Colorado wide receiver and defensive back, Travis Hunter, with odds of +130. 

Colorado is ranked below both Oregon and Boise State, but what Hunter is doing is rare. He is one of the best in the country on both sides of the ball, winning Big 12 Player of Week on offense and defense at different points this season.

The Buffaloes have had a resurgent season under second-year coach Deion Sanders and sit 7-2. Coach Prime said Hunter should be the Heisman trophy winner on Fox’s “Big Noon Kickoff’ before their game against Texas Tech on Saturday. 

“Travis gets my vote,” Sanders said. “Travis is the best player in college football.”

After Colorado’s win over Texas Tech on Saturday, Hunter has 69 receptions for 856 yards and nine touchdowns on the season. Add this to being a lockdown corner on the other side of the ball, he has a great case to be Heisman.

“Travis Hunter is doing something we’ve never seen before,” Sanders said.

Ashton Jeanty, also has his own argument for the prestigious award. Jeanty has led Boise State to an 8-1 record, and their lone loss was a 3-point defeat at Oregon. He has rushed for 1,734 yards and 23 touchdowns in nine games. If Boise State can run the table and get into the College Football Playoff, Jeanty might very well win it. 

Duck fans have seen firsthand how talented Jeanty is when Boise State gave Oregon all they could handle in a 37-34 thriller in earlier in September.

Gabriel will have to continue playing well and leading the Ducks to wins in order to overtake both Hunter and Jeanty. 

Gabriel’s Performance vs. Maryland Puts Him in the Record Books

Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel, left, and coach Dan Lanning embrace after defeating Maryland at Autzen Stadium. / Chris Pietsch/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Dillon Gabriel has done just about everything coach Dan Lanning and the Ducks could have asked for when he transferred from Oklahoma. Gabriel has thrown for 2,848 yards, 22 touchdowns, and five interceptions in his ten games this season. 

Against Maryland, Gabriel went 23 for 34 with 183 passing yards, 3 touchdowns, and zero interceptions, giving him 180 career touchdowns. On his second score against Maryland, Gabriel broke the FBS record for career touchdowns with 179, surpassing former Houston Cougars quarterback Case Keenum’s 178.

MORE: Oregon Ducks' Dan Lanning Addresses Jordan Burch Injury After Beating Maryland

MORE: Questionable Officiating Oregon Ducks vs. Maryland Terrapins: Unsportsmanlike Conduct

MORE: Oregon Ducks' Dillon Gabriel's Cool Reaction to Breaking NCAA Career Touchdown Record

MORE: Oregon Ducks' Dan Lanning Addresses Jordan James Injury After Beating Maryland

MORE: Oregon Ducks' Dan Lanning Earns One-Year Contract Extension Worth $9.4 Million

MORE: Oregon Ducks Five-Star Commit Dakorien Moore Visiting LSU Tigers: Flip Threat?

MORE: What Pat McAfee Said About Oregon Ducks Coach Dan Lanning’s Viral Motivation Tactic

MORE: Nick Saban, Kirk Herbstreit, Pat McAfee Detail Why Oregon Ducks, Dan Lanning Are Elite

MORE: Oregon Ducks Recruiting: Nation's No. 2 Overall Recruit Visiting Eugene For Maryland

MORE: Texas Longhorns' Johntay Cook To Transfer: Oregon Ducks, Georgia, Ole Miss Interested