In a season filled with remarkable performances, Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty has emerged as a bona fide Heisman Trophy contender. His latest feat? Shattering the school’s single-season rushing record in a crucial 42-21 victory over San Jose State.
A Night for the Record Books
Jeanty’s 159-yard, three-touchdown performance on Saturday night propelled him past Jay Ajayi’s previous mark of 1,823 yards, set in 2014. The dynamic junior now sits at 1,893 yards through just 10 games, putting him on pace for a jaw-dropping 2,400-yard campaign.
“He’s the best football player in the country,” gushed Boise State head coach Spencer Danielson after the game. “He is also a big-time leader and an elite human being.”
Overcoming Adversity
The Broncos found themselves in an early 14-0 hole against the Spartans, with Jeanty limited to just 19 yards on his first nine carries. But the team rallied around their star running back, who found his footing and helped orchestrate a critical drive just before halftime.
“[The challenge] every week is wearing the defense down,” Jeanty explained. “We got 8-men boxes, 9-man boxes, so not as many big runs, but over the course of the game, if we’re able to grind them down, get ’em tired, those big runs will come.”
– Ashton Jeanty, Boise State Running Back
Chasing History
With the Mountain West championship game secured and at least two contests remaining, Jeanty has a legitimate shot at threatening Barry Sanders’ single-season FBS rushing record of 2,628 yards, set back in 1988. It’s a mark that has stood for over three decades, but the Broncos’ workhorse back seems poised to make a run at history.
“It means a lot,” Jeanty said of breaking the school record. “All the past running backs are great and amazing, but to keep the legacy going, the tradition of great running backs at Boise State I think is a big deal to me.”
The Road Ahead
Boise State (9-1, 6-0 MW) faces a challenging conclusion to the regular season, with road tests against Wyoming and Oregon State on the horizon. But if Jeanty continues his torrid pace, the Broncos could find themselves not only hoisting a conference trophy but also celebrating a Heisman winner.
- Jeanty leads the nation in rushing yards (1,893) and touchdowns (26) through Week 12
- His 189.3 yards per game average is on track to shatter the Mountain West single-season record
- No Boise State player has ever finished higher than 8th in Heisman voting (Kellen Moore, 2010)
As the college football world fixates on the high-profile contenders from powerhouse programs, Ashton Jeanty is quietly authoring one of the greatest individual seasons in recent memory. With each week, each carry, he inches closer to immortality – and perhaps, just perhaps, a date with destiny in New York City come December.
