With Week 9 of college football now in the books, the playoffs are one step closer. This also means one step closer to determining the 2024 Heisman Trophy winner, and this college football season has been nothing short of thrilling. There have been plenty of unexpected — and a few unsurprising — rises and falls of the most prominent teams and underdogs across the nation.
Incredible athletes have led their teams each week, ranging from quarterback to wide receiver to running back. As of Nov. 4, junior signal-caller Cade Klubnik is sitting at the No. 11 slot on the Heisman leaderboard, according to DraftKings.
The Heisman has been the most coveted trophy in college football since 1935 when University of Chicago halfback Jay Berwanger was honored with the first award. The iconic trophy is a testament to the winner’s prestigious athletic abilities, perseverance, leadership and hard work.
This year, the ceremony will be held in New York on Dec. 14 after members of the media who consistently cover college football vote on who they believe has proved to be best suited for the award.
This season, the Heisman conversation has looked a little different than typical. The odds currently favor University of Miami quarterback Cam Ward, followed by Travis Hunter from Colorado, Dillon Gabriel for Oregon, running back Ashton Jeanty — who brings Group of Five powerhouse Boise State into the mix — and Jaxson Dart under center for Ole Miss to round out the top five.
Last week, Klubnik had the No. 5 slot, but following the end of their six-game win streak with a 33-21 loss to Louisville, he fell down the list. He completed 33 of 56 pass attempts for 228 total yards in the game.
With 21, Klubnik sits third for the most passing touchdowns in the country, a result of his 2,064 throwing yards and four runs to the end zone. The Texas native is producing promising results, but offensive struggles revealed by the Cardinals may hurt his chances.
With four more games in the season and only two against conference opponents, Clemson continues to inch closer to the ACC Championship game. The question of contenders is shaping up to be a tougher battle than previously thought after the loss to Louisville — the Tigers need the Hurricanes or SMU to lose two of their next three games to make it in. Should Clemson make it in, a matchup against Miami might just make or break the Heisman odds for Klubnik and Ward.
Clemson’s upcoming schedule is no cakewalk. This weekend, they travel to Blacksburg, Virginia, to take on the Hokies, followed by another week on the road to play No. 23 Pitt. They then welcome The Citadel to Death Valley, followed by another classic rivalry game against a talented South Carolina team after Thanksgiving.
Only time will tell how Klubnik and company recover from last weekend’s loss and whether or not he will be in New York City come December.
