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- Jacob Rhee

The Heisman Trophy race always feels wide-open before the college football season, and it should. Anything can happen; Joe Burrow was probably researching which CFL teams were in need of a quarterback before that magical 2019 campaign that landed him at the podium in New York.

Things seem even more unclear than usual this year. Only two of the players that finished in the top 10 of the 2023 Heisman voting came back to school. But my job is to provide confident takes, no matter how daunting it is to make an accurate prediction. Here are the four guys that I think will be invited to the Big Apple as Heisman finalists in December.

Dillon Gabriel, Oregon QB

This one is the most straightforward to me. Oregon is dominant up front, has a fantastic running back duo, and possesses arguably the best wide receiver room in America. Plug in Gabriel - a guy with 152 total touchdowns and just 26 interceptions in his career - and you have a potentially historic offense. The Ducks could roll out of bed and drop 50 on the vast majority of teams on this rather friendly schedule.

Ohio State and Michigan are the two key matchups; if Gabriel deals in those contests, he should be in the driver’s seat for the award.

Carson Beck, Georgia QB

The quarterback of the best team sometimes gets an invite, even if we all collectively understand that they’re probably not one of the four best players in college football. Stetson Bennett snuck into the ceremony in 2022, and Mac Jones did the same two years prior. Beck is more talented than both of those guys, and he happens to play for a squad that should be ranked No. 1 in the preseason AP poll tomorrow.

Georgia lost its two best weapons, so Beck will be asked to do a little bit more this season. But the dude has a cannon, and I suspect that he’s excited to show it off against some stiff competition. He’ll be a first-round pick in 2025.

James Pearce Jr., Tennessee EDGE

This kid looks like Von Miller 2.0 every time I watch Tennessee. The burst, the smoothness, the feel. Everything is special. There’s a reason why the NFL scouts are drooling.

It’s not that bold to predict that a defensive player will be a Heisman contender. Fellow edge rushers Chase Young and Aidan Hutchinson were both finalists within the last five years. But one thing is clear; you need a signature performance on a massive stage to force your way into the conversation. Young had his against an awesome Wisconsin team in 2019, and Hutchinson beat up my Buckeyes in 2021.

Pearce is going to have a few golden opportunities for his moment. I have my eye on the Vols’ clash with Alabama on October 19th. If Pearce is dominant and Tennessee wins that one, look out.

Travis Hunter, Colorado WR/CB

Allow me to explain before snickering at this selection. A big component of the Heisman race is the storylines that are involved. Whether you like Deion Sanders or not - I happen to be a fan - he has made people pay attention to Colorado football. Let’s say the Buffaloes jump from four wins to eight in 2024, which is absolutely possible. These guys are going to be in every headline.

Shedeur Sanders may be a more logical pick for this exercise, but I think the media will embrace the fact that Hunter is elite on both sides of the ball. Remember in 2016, when people decided to shove Jabrill Peppers into the Heisman debate because he was also a two-way guy? Hunter is a significantly better player, and he’ll ride the momentum of a resurgent Colorado season. I really believe that this kid is going to New York.

I can’t just give you the four finalists without picking a winner. I have Dillon Gabriel taking home the 2024 Heisman Trophy. College football is 13 days away. We’re almost home!

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