One fateful afternoon in Atlanta may have shaped the course of the 2024 Heisman Trophy race.

While a poor defensive effort certainly didn't help Cam Ward, the standout Miami quarterback endured his first loss of the season. That value of team success—the 'Canes had entered that matchup with an unbeaten record—was a key separating factor in Ward's advantage.

As a result of Miami's loss to Georgia Tech, the Heisman scale is beginning to tilt in Travis Hunter's favor.

Colorado star Travis Hunter isn't the only front-runner, of course, but he's solidly the favorite as college football hits Week 12.

The tiers are a personal view but consider a player's production, team success and more historical Heisman trends.

Tier 3: May Receive Votes

Bryson Daily, QB, Army: One entertaining what-if scenario is Army beating Notre Dame behind a big performance from Daily. He's not going to win this award. But if Army maintains an unbeaten record and celebrates an AAC title, Daily will definitely be getting votes. He's rushed for 1,062 yards and 21 touchdowns for the 9-0 Black Knights.

Cade Klubnik, QB, Clemson: The forgettable version of Clemson's offense has reappeared in November. Klubnik tossed three scores in the recent win at Virginia Tech, but he's barely averaged five yards per attempt so far this month. As you'll see is a theme for the chasers, Klubnik could really use a spotlight moment in a conference championship.

Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado: Sanders is overshadowed by his teammate, yet he's already said Hunter deserves the Heisman. If the Buffs keep winning, Sanders will be a top-10 finisher. He threw for 291 yards and three touchdowns in CU's recent win at Texas Tech.

Will Howard, QB, Ohio State: As the Buckeyes cruised past Purdue, Howard padded his stats nicely. Along with 260 passing yards and three scores, he rushed in a fourth touchdown. Ohio State travels to play Northwestern in Week 12.

Dylan Sampson, RB, Tennessee: Sampson has merely been an All-American running back who isn't a major Heisman threat. Simultaneously, he's the most consistent weapon on what's currently a one-loss Tennessee roster. Sampson has eight 100-yard performance in nine games, scampering for 1,129 yards and 20 scores so far.

Quinn Ewers, QB, Texas: After missing two games and a rough showing in a loss to Georgia, Ewers isn't a winning candidate, either. Nevertheless, he just threw for 333 yards and five touchdowns as UGA's Carson Beck and LSU's Garrett Nussmeier exited the Heisman radar. Ewers fits the classic mold of "good QB on a great team" that traditional voters love.

Tier 2: Still in the Race

Jalen Milroe, QB, Alabama: Since an ugly stretch in October, Milroe has responded well. He totaled 265 yards and a touchdown in a rout of Missouri, then amassed 294 yards and four scores in a blowout of LSU. Alabama ends the season with Mercer, Oklahoma and Auburn, so Milroe probably needs the Tide to make the SEC Championship Game to have a legitimate shot. But he can't be counted out quite yet.

Kurtis Rourke, QB, Indiana: I believe it's improbable that Rourke wins the Heisman, no matter what happens. I also am certain that if Indiana—which is idle in Week 12—beats Ohio State behind a fantastic effort from Rourke, we'll be required to take him seriously.

Jaxson Dart, QB, Ole Miss: The most important takeaway for Ole Miss is upsetting Georgia kept the Rebels in the College Football Playoff race. Dart totaled 249 yards and threw one touchdown in the win. Put simply, his resume lacks a Heisman moment, and finding one against Florida or Mississippi State is unlikely. But if the SEC standings somehow work out perfectly, it could happen in the SEC title game.

Tier 1: The Favorites

Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State: Ho-hum, another 200-yard performance with three touchdowns from Jeanty. The standout runner has sprinted to 1,734 yards and 23 scores in nine games. Boise State absolutely must continue winning to reinforce Jeanty's case, but the Broncos are 8-1 and should be favored in each remaining game.

Travis Hunter, WR/CB, Colorado: In a critical matchup for Colorado, Hunter collected nine receptions for 99 yards and a touchdown. If the Buffs win out—against Utah, Kansas State and Oklahoma State—they'll earn a spot in the Big 12 Championship Game, which may serve as Hunter's crowning moment.

Cam Ward, QB, Miami: Perhaps you're wondering why he remains a top-tier candidate. The simple version is Ward threw for 348 yards and three touchdowns in a loss to GT that can largely be attributed to the defense's horrendous day. He'd been bailing out that unit for a month. If any other front-runners have a similar misstep and Ward ignites a hot finish for Miami, he can still win. Ward leads the nation in passing yards (3,494) and touchdowns (32).

Dillon Gabriel, QB, Oregon: Said it before, I'll say it again. The reliability of Gabriel for the country's top-ranked team is his primary appeal. Though he averaged a season-worst 5.4 yards per attempt, Gabriel posted 211 total yards and three touchdowns in a win over Maryland. He likely needs a resume jolt to truly contend for the Heisman—a rematch with Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship Game, for example—but that path is reasonable.