Canes Warning
Fansided

How should we feel about Cam Ward finishing fourth in Heisman Trophy voting?

Cam Ward was honored as a Heisman Trophy finalist on Saturday night but how should we feel about him finishing fourth?

By Alan Rubenstein

Dec 14, 2024; New York, NY, USA; From left, Heisman Trophy nominees Oregon Ducks quarterback Dillon Gabriel, Colorado Buffaloes wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter, Boise State Broncos running back Ashton Jeanty and Miami Hurricanes quarterback Cam Ward pose for a photo during a press conference before the 2024 Heisman Trophy Presentation. Mandatory Credit: Lucas Boland-Imagn Images
Dec 14, 2024; New York, NY, USA; From left, Heisman Trophy nominees Oregon Ducks quarterback Dillon Gabriel, Colorado Buffaloes wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter, Boise State Broncos running back Ashton Jeanty and Miami Hurricanes quarterback Cam Ward pose for a photo during a press conference before the 2024 Heisman Trophy Presentation. Mandatory Credit: Lucas Boland-Imagn Images / Lucas Boland-Imagn Images
facebooktwitterreddit

Cam Ward was honored for a great season becoming the first Miami Heisman Trophy Finalist since Ken Dorsey and Willis McGahee in 2002. Ward traveled to New York for the Heisman Trophy as a long shot to win the award. Travis Hunter of Colorado won with Ashton Jeanty of Boise State third, Oregon's Dillon Gabriel third and Ward fourth.

Hunter won the 2024 Heisman Trophy with 2,231 points, 552 first-place votes, 261 second-place votes and 53 third-place votes. Jeanty finished a close second with 2,017 points, 309 first-place votes, 517 second-place votes and 56 third-place votes. There was a huge dropoff to Gabriel for third place.

Dillon received 516 points, 24 first-place votes, 52 second-place votes and 340 third-place votes. Ward had 229 points, six first-place votes, 24 second-place votes and 163 third-place votes. There is not a set for how Heisman Trophy voters are supposed to rank candidates.

Hunter and Jeanty were expected to finish first and second and did so after historic seasons. Ward had a far more prolific season than Gabriel. The advantage Gabriel had over Ward is he led Oregon to a 13-0 season, the Big 10 regular season championship and win in the title game.

Ward was first nationally with 36 touchdown passes, an 88 QB rating and he was second with 4,123 passing yards, points responsible with 254 and 359.9 yards of total offense per game. Ward set Miami single-season records for passing touchdowns, passing yards and total offense.

Gabriel threw for 3,558 yards, 28 TDs, six interceptions, an 86.5 QBR and 13th nationally averaging 288.5 yards of total offense per game. Ward eclipsed Gabriel in every stat except the team's overall record. With Ward at QB Miami was first nationally averaging 44.2 points per game and with 538.3 total yards per game.

In the end, the winner is really all that matters. Some will view Ward finishing behind Gabriel as a slight. Ward won the Davey O'Brien Award as the best QB nationally on Thursday. Ward has already been named the first-team QB All-American QB on several teams. When the 2024 season is analyzed, most will consider Ward the best QB nationally.

feed

Home/Miami Hurricanes Football