This weekend felt like “opposite week” if you listened to the latest episode of the College Football Roundup. Everything I thought would happen didn’t happen. Maybe I should hang up the microphone. I don’t know…maybe I’ll get through this week’s Heisman Watch and then decide…
Heisman Watch: Week 4, 2024
5. QB John Mateer, Washington State – This man had 501 yards of total offense in a thrilling double overtime win over San Jose State Saturday night. That alone is worth a mention in the Heisman Watch this week. Though he had two picks, Mateer was 26/46 for 390 passing yards and four passing touchdowns with 111 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown to boot. Washington State is a surprising 4-0.
4. QB Luke Altmyer, Illinois – Props to Illinois and the fighting Bret Bielemas. They’re 4-0, having beaten two ranked teams this season, for the first time in 13 seasons. I called ’em frauds on last week’s College Football Roundup, but I don’t think it’s wise for me to doubt them any longer. This looks like a team that’s going to be stubborn as hell as we get into the thick of Big Ten play. A big part of that has been the steady play of quarterback Luke Altmyer. On Saturday, Altmyer was 21/27 for 215 yards and four touchdowns, with 21 rushing yards, and a fumble. He’s experienced, and if he keeps this train rolling, Illinois could have a say in how this year’s Big Ten race shakes down.
3. QB Cam Ward, Miami – Ward is really starting to pull away with this year’s Heisman race with one prolific performance after another. Against South Florida, Ward was 24/34 for 404 yards, three passing touchdowns, a pick, and 43 rushing yards. He’s up to 15 total touchdowns on the season and Miami is rolling all the way to #7 in the AP poll.
2. QB Shedeur Sanders and CB/WR Travis Hunter, Colorado – I make the rules here on the Heisman Watch, and I say it’s a tie for second place after that insane thrilling ending in the Baylor-Colorado game. Sanders is 4th in the FBS in passing yards with 1,340 on the season. Hunter is 6th in the FBS in receiving yards with 472, not to mention the fact that he’s playing cornerback too. Tip of the cap to both of these Buffalos.
1. RB Kaleb Johnson, Iowa – Don’t look now, but there’s a new leader in the FBS in rushing yards. Johnson is now up to 685 on the season. He and Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty are tied for second in rushing touchdowns on the season with nine, behind only Tennessee’s Dylan Sampson, who has 10. If Iowa doesn’t drop that nail-biter to Iowa State, Johnson is probably among the Heisman favorites at this point in the season. I think he can still get there as Iowa continues to win. They rocked Minnesota 31-14, with Johnson posting a gaudy stat line of 206 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 21 carries.
Heisman Watch 2024 Standings
- Cam Ward – 12 (total points)
- Ashton Jeanty, Jalen Milroe – 6
- Quinn Ewers, Kaleb Johnson – 5
- Jaxson Dart, Travis Hunter, Shedeur Sanders – 4
- Dillon Gabriel, Tetairoa McMillan, Jam Miller – 3
- Luke Altmyer, Luther Burden III, Miller Moss – 2
- Ethan Hampton, Arch Manning – 1
If you haven’t already, be sure to go subscribe to the College Football Roundup Podcast, on which Steven McCash and myself break down all the action from the college football world and look ahead to the week to come.
Stoney Keeley is the Editor in Chief of The SoBros Network, and a Dogs Playing Poker on velvet connoisseur. He is a strong supporter of Team GSD, #BeBetter, and ‘Minds right, asses tight.’ “Big Natural” covers the Tennessee Titans, Nashville, Yankee Candle, and a whole wealth of nonsense. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley.
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