Paul Finebaum says Travis Hunter has the Heisman locked up entering the final weekend of the regular season.
Speaking Friday morning on ESPN’s Get Up, the SEC Network host said there was nothing more Hunter needed to show to Heisman voters and all that was needed was a “good” game against Oklahoma State on Friday for the defensive back/wide receiver from Colorado to bring home the Heisman Trophy.
“There is nothing more (Hunter can do) other than impress the Jim Thorpe committee, which didn’t put him in their final list,” Finebaum said. “That’s only for the best defensive back in the country. He’s the best everything in the country. He just needs to have a good game (Friday). He will win the Heisman Trophy in 2 weeks.”
.@finebaum has called the Heisman race in favor of Travis Hunter pic.twitter.com/csLpHzWyyz
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) November 29, 2024
As Finebaum noted, Hunter is not a finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award, which is presented annually to the top defensive back in the country. That decision from the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame has drawn plenty of controversy, but it also offers insight into the conversation that has raged around the Heisman in recent weeks.
Boise State tailback Ashton Jeanty is the best at his position. He’s the nation’s leading running back and is putting up a season unlike any in recent history. He’s likely to win the Doak Walker Award.
Hunter is not the best cornerback. And he’s not the best receiver in the country. (Though he is a finalist for the Biletnikoff.) He doesn’t lead the nation in passes defended, or interceptions, or receptions, or receiving yards, or receiving touchdowns.
But he’s in the conversation as one of the best at both positions. And that’s something we haven’t seen in recent college football history.
Entering Friday’s game against Oklahoma State (noon ET, ABC), Hunter is the overwhelming favorite to win the Heisman. He sits at -850 on FanDuel. Jeanty is +550 to win the award.
Derek Peterson does a bit of everything, not unlike Taysom Hill. He has covered Oklahoma, Nebraska, the Pac-12, and now delivers CFB-wide content.
