Four Heisman Trophy finalists will be named Monday afternoon, but Arizona State running back Cam Skattebo is likely to be left out as a candidate despite making a strong case in the Big 12 title game.

The top eight players in FanDuel’s odds as of Monday morning do not include ASU’s Skattebo.

Colorado receiver-slash-cornerback Travis Hunter and Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty are on the short list of finalists. Quarterbacks like Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel and Miami’s Cam Ward are next in the pecking order.

Skattebo is a dark horse in the Heisman conversation, as the running back ranks second in scrimmage yards (2,074) behind Jeanty (2,613) during conference championship week.

The ASU defender struck the Heisman pose after scoring a touchdown in the Sun Devils’ 45-19 win over Iowa State on Saturday, then commented on his candidacy for the award at the postgame podium is awarded to the most outstanding player in college football.

“I’ve always been the underdog and no one respects the fact that I’m the best running back in the country,” he said. “I will stand by it and if people want to disrespect that, I will go ahead and continue to prove people wrong. And whichever NFL team takes me, they’re going to get a gem, and I’m going to give everything I have for them.

“Whether I win or lose the Heisman, I should still be in this situation.”

It’s not that Skattebo was out of sight, just that he entered the Heisman conversation late.

Jeanty, for example, was clearly in the picture after running for 267 yards in Boise State’s opening game, followed by 192 more in a 37-34 loss to the Oregon Ducks on Sept. 7.

It also didn’t help that Heisman ballot papers can be submitted before conference title games, something college football analyst Brock Huard criticized when Jeanty beat the UNLV Rebels on Friday night.

Heading into the Big 12 title game, ESPN’s college football writers placed Skattebo fifth in the Heisman hierarchy, but Andrea Adelson pointed out that may be too late.

As Arizona State rose, so did Skattebo. After receiving zero votes in our midseason poll, Skattebo is ranked No. 5, thanks in large part to his impact on the Sun Devils offense. With 1,681 yards (1,221 yards rushing, 460 yards receiving), he ranks second nationally in all-purpose yards behind Jeanty.

According to TruMedia, Skattebo ranks second in the country in forced fumbles on rushes, behind Jeanty, with a whopping 86 through Week 12. (Also consider: He has 49 fewer runs than Jeanty.) Another particularly impressive stat: Skattebo was most effective in the fourth quarter. In this quarter, Skattebo has 337 rushing yards, more than any other quarter. Particularly eye-opening considering he missed a game and sat out the fourth quarter with two blowout wins.

Skattebo also averages the highest yards per carry in the fourth quarter (6.1) and has more runs of 10 yards in the fourth quarter than any other quarter.

What’s notable is that, aside from the writers mentioning Skattebo, ESPNBet didn’t even list odds for Skattebo’s candidacy.

The Heisman winner will be announced on Saturday.

The FanDuel 2024 Heisman Trophy winning odds do not include ASU RB Cam Skattebo being in the top 8

Travis Hunter (Colorado) -4000
Ashton Jeanty (Boise State) +1100
Dillon Gabriel (Oregon) +40000
Kurtis Rourke (Indiana) +50000
Jalen Milroe (Alabama) +50000
Shedeur Sanders (Colorado) +50000
Cameron Ward (Miami, Florida) +50000
Bryson Daily (Army) +50000

Heisman odds as of Monday morning before the finalists are announced.

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