The Heisman Trophy will be awarded Saturday night, but there's plenty of other hardware to hand out in the meantime. Here are the winners from the 2024 College Football Awards show:
Davey O'Brien Award (best quarterback)
Winner: Cam Ward, Miami
Ward shined in his first season with the Hurricanes and almost led the team to the College Football Playoff. He led the nation with 36 touchdown passes while ranking second with 4,123 passing yards, behind only Syracuse's Kyle McCord. Miami suffered a costly loss in its regular-season finale, but Ward was crucial to the school posting its first 10-win season since 2017.
Other finalists: Dillon Gabriel (Oregon), Shedeur Sanders (Colorado)
Chuck Bednarik Award (best defensive player)
Winner: Travis Hunter, CB, Colorado
Hunter enjoyed a season for the ages, shining on both sides of the ball to establish himself as one of the sport's best wide receivers and cornerbacks. Defensively, he led the Big 12 with 11 pass breakups to go along with 32 tackles, four interceptions, and one forced fumble. Hunter allowed only a 42 passer rating in 38 targets this season, according to PFF.
Other finalists: Abdul Carter (EDGE, Penn State), Caleb Downs (DB, Ohio State)
Doak Walker Award (best running back)
Winner: Ashton Jeanty, Boise State
Jeanty ran away with this award after putting together a historic season that's also made him a finalist for the Heisman Trophy. The Boise State star had 344 carries for 2,497 rushing yards and 29 TDs in 2024. He's just 132 yards short of passing Barry Sanders' FBS season rushing record. Jeanty had at least 125 yards on the ground in every contest this season, failed to score just once, and posted 200 yards six times. We'll remember his 2024 campaign for a long time.
Other finalists: Omarion Hampton (North Carolina), Kaleb Johnson (Iowa)
Outland Trophy (best interior lineman)
Winner: Kelvin Banks Jr., OT, Texas
Banks showed why he'll likely be a first-round pick in the NFL draft, posting another excellent season with the Longhorns in their first year in the SEC. He claimed a first-team All-SEC nod in 2024 and was the highest-graded pass-blocker in the conference after giving up just one sack all year, according to PFF.
Other finalists: Mason Graham (DT, Michigan), Walter Nolen (DT, Ole Miss)
Jim Thorpe Award (best defensive back)
Winner: Jahdae Barron, Texas
The Longhorns' move to the SEC wasn't an issue for Barron, who had arguably his best college season in 2024. The versatile defensive back led the SEC with five interceptions while also recording 47 tackles, nine pass breakups, and one sack to help Texas finish the season as the No. 1 team in passing yards allowed.
Other finalists: Caleb Downs (Ohio State), Malaki Starks (Georgia)
Biletnikoff Award (best receiver)
Winner: Travis Hunter, Colorado
Hunter claimed his second award of the night, and no one should be surprised. The Colorado two-way star - who was also named college football's best defensive player - dazzled at wide receiver in 2024, finishing the campaign in the top 10 in the nation for receptions, receiving yards, and touchdown catches. His 92 catches and 14 TDs led the Big 12. Hunter was the main target for one of the nation's top QBs and passing offenses.
Other finalists: Tetairoa McMillan (Arizona), Nick Nash (San Jose State)
Coach of the Year
Winner: Curt Cignetti, Indiana
Not even the biggest Hoosiers fan could've expected a season this good in their first year with Cignetti. The 63-year-old joined Indiana after the 2023 season and made a huge impact, helping the school post a shocking 11-1 record in 2024 just a year after winning only three games. The Hoosiers started the campaign 10-0 and only lost to Ohio State before securing the school's first-ever 11-win season and a spot in the College Football Playoff.
Ray Guy Award (best punter)
Winner: Eddie Czaplicki, USC
Czaplicki became USC's first Ray Guy Award winner after finishing the 2024 season ranked second in the country for net yards per punt (45.7). He also placed third in yards per punt with 48.5.
Other finalists: Alex Mastromanno (Florida State), Brett Thorson (Georgia)
Lou Groza Award (best kicker)
Winner: Kenneth Almendares, Louisiana
Almendares was a beast for the Ragin' Cajuns in 2024, converting 27 field goals and scoring 127 points to lead all FBS kickers in both categories. Overall, he went 27-for-29 on FGs and missed just one of his 47 extra points.
Other finalists: Ryan Fitzgerald (Florida State), Alex Raynor (Kentucky)
Maxwell Award (best player)
Winner: Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State
Jeanty claiming this award over Hunter was one of the night's biggest surprises. It's not hard to understand why the Boise State tailback deserves it, though. He posted one of the most spectacular seasons by a running back in college football history, finishing the year with 2,497 rushing yards and 29 TDs on the ground to help the Broncos reach the College Football Playoff. As expected, he won the Doak Walker Award on Thursday as the nation's best RB. Jeanty and Hunter will also be in contention for the Heisman Trophy next. Can the Boise State superstar upset Colorado's two-way phenom one more time Saturday in New York?
Other finalists: Travis Hunter (Colorado), Dillon Gabriel (Oregon)