Former Ohio State quarterback Kyle McCord was recognized for an impressive season at Syracuse this year when he finished 10th in Heisman Trophy voting.
Colorado cornerback and wide receiver Travis Hunter was named the winner of the award on Saturday night over finalists Gabriel of Oregon, Ashton Jeanty of Boise State and Cam Ward of Miami after receiving 2,231 points (552 first-place votes), 214 more than Jeanty (2,017 points, 309 first-place votes).
McCord received seven third-place votes and one second-place vote for a total of nine points after a sensational regular season at Syracuse in which he threw for an FBS-leading 4,236 yards along with 29 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. Those stats helped him earn second-team All-SEC honors and guide the Orange to a strong 9-3 record (5-3 in ACC), their best season since 2010, and a berth to the Holiday Bowl against Washington State on Dec. 27 (8 p.m., FOX).
McCord’s individual stats with the Orange have helped him emerge as a potential late-round NFL draft selection if he opts to forgo his final season of eligibility and enter the draft this offseason, a status that he did not necessarily have after his one season starting for the Buckeyes in 2023.
He completed 229 of his 348 passes for 3,170 yards and 24 touchdowns to six interceptions for the Scarlet and Gray last season, leading the Buckeyes to an 11-1 regular season record before entering the transfer portal just nine days after the team’s loss to Michigan.
Joining McCord on the Heisman Trophy ballot this season was Indiana quarterback Kurtis Rourke (ninth place, 22 points, two first-place votes), Colorado quarterback Shadeur Sanders (eighth, 47, one), Penn State tight end Tyler Warren (seventh, 52, one), Army quarterback Bryson Daily (sixth, 68, three), Arizona State running back Cam Skattebo (fifth, 170, three), Ward (fourth, 229, six), Gabriel (third, 516, 24), Jeanty and Hunter.
