After Ashton Jeanty dashed through UNLV’s defense for a 75-yard touchdown run in the Mountain West Conference title game Friday night, he didn’t do the Heisman pose. He didn’t even mention it afterward, choosing instead to let his performance speak for itself.
“I think the same thing week after week,” Jeanty said about the Heisman Trophy talk after No. 10 Boise State’s 21-7 win over No. 19 UNLV, securing a spot in the College Football Playoff. “Not only is this one of the best teams in the nation, but they’ve got one of the best players in the nation.”
Jeanty added another 209 yards, marking his sixth game over 200 yards this season. His total now stands at 2,497 yards, just 132 yards shy of breaking Barry Sanders’ FBS season rushing record.
Boise State coach Spencer Danielson, who ran down the sideline for a few yards with Jeanty on his long run — the final game for Jeanty in Boise — wasn’t quiet at all after the game.
“In regards to the Heisman, I ask all voters to please just watch the film, watch the stats,” Danielson said. “That will show you that he’s the best football player in the country. … If you’re a Heisman candidate, you should play in a championship game. And to see what he did in a championship game for his team also speaks volumes.”
This comment seemed to be aimed at Heisman frontrunner Travis Hunter of Colorado, whose team missed out on the Big 12 championship game and won’t be making a playoff appearance.
But Jeanty will be in the playoffs too, even though the Heisman voting will have already been completed by then. He’ll have the chance to finish off one of the greatest rushing seasons in FBS history.
“He showcases week in and week out that he’s the best football player in the country and I don’t even think it’s close,” Danielson said.
The fact that Jeanty is even at Boise State this season, especially with the rise of NIL deals and transfer portals, is almost as impressive as his remarkable stats — 2,497 yards rushing, 29 touchdowns, and five runs of 70 or more yards.
Jeanty, who turned down several NIL offers from Power 4 schools last year, chose to stay at Boise State to do something special.
He took it all in on Friday.
“As soon as I woke up, that was all that was on my mind,” Jeanty said about his time at Boise State. “I was just so grateful for the program, the coaches, the community, and everybody that believes in me. I took it all in the whole game. It was just an amazing experience. I wouldn’t want to go out any other way.”
