The Heisman Trophy may grab the headlines, but ESPN’s College Football Awards has its own distinct brand of off-season pigskin pageantry. The finalists for the 2024 awards have been announced, and, frankly, some of these categories are tighter than a four-down conversion attempt on fourth-and-inches.
Colorado’s Travis Hunter, a human highlight reel who somehow finds time to excel on both sides of the ball, is a double nominee, competing for both Defensive Player of the Year and Outstanding Receiver. Is this the year a player breaks the mold and takes home hardware from two completely different realms of the game?
The Player of the Year award shapes up to be a three-way showdown between Ashton Jeanty (Boise State), Hunter, and Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel. Gabriel also finds himself vying for Best Quarterback, alongside Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders (yes, that Sanders) and Miami’s Cam Ward. The quarterback battle looks to be a clash of styles, with Gabriel’s precision passing contrasting sharply with Sanders’ improvisational flair and Ward’s dual-threat capabilities.
Elsewhere, the Outstanding Receiver category includes some familiar names, with Tetairoa McMillan and Nick Nash looking to snag the award. And for those who appreciate the often-overlooked art of punting, the finalists are Alex Mastromanno, Brett Thorson, and Eddie Czaplicki. May their hang times be long, and their directional punting impeccable.
Tune in to ESPN on Thursday, December 12, 2024, at 9:00 PM to witness the crowning of college football’s best. Will Hunter make history? Can Gabriel add another accolade to his already impressive resume? Only the broadcast will tell.
Don’t forget to catch the 2024 College Football Awards on Thursday, December 12, at 9:00 PM on ESPN.
