Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty has firmly planted himself in the Heisman Trophy conversation after his explosive Week 6 performance, leading the Broncos to a 62-30 rout of Utah State. Jeanty wasted no time making his mark, taking Boise State’s first play from scrimmage 63 yards to the house for an opening touchdown. Just over a quarter later, he struck again with a 75-yard scoring run that extended the Broncos’ lead to 21-10. In the span of two plays, Jeanty racked up 138 yards and two touchdowns in just 23 seconds, a jaw-dropping display of his big-play ability.
Jeanty’s overall stat line is just as impressive: 14 carries, 186 rushing yards, three touchdowns, and an eye-popping 14.3 yards per carry. What makes these numbers even more remarkable is the fact that Jeanty didn’t even play in the second half, with Boise State sitting on a commanding lead by halftime. His dominance in limited action speaks volumes about his efficiency and game-changing potential.
Reaching the 1,000-yard rushing mark for the season during this game, Jeanty became only the eighth FBS running back since 1996 to hit that milestone in just five games. His blistering pace places him among elite company, making his case for the Heisman stronger with each passing week. This historic start to the season is reflected in his rapidly improving Heisman odds.
Initially opening at 50-1 to win the coveted award on September 8 via BetMGM, Jeanty's odds have skyrocketed. He now sits at +200, topping the odds board and solidifying himself as the frontrunner for college football’s most prestigious honor. In addition to his improved odds, Jeanty is garnering reasonable attention from bettors, pulling in 5.9% of the tickets and 6.5% of the handle.
His ability to make explosive plays, combined with his historic early-season production, puts Jeanty in a unique position to become one of the rare running backs to hoist the Heisman Trophy. The award is typically dominated by quarterbacks, with Alabama’s Derrick Henry and Mark Ingram being the only other running backs to win it in the last 15 years.
Henry won in 2015 after setting an SEC record with 2,219 rushing yards and 28 touchdowns, leading the Crimson Tide to a national championship. Ingram also led Alabama to a national title after winning the Heisman in 2009, rushing for 1,658 yards and 17 touchdowns that season. If Jeanty continues at his current pace, he’ll surpass Ingram’s stats in the next few weeks and is on track to shatter Henry’s mark by the end of the year.
While there isn’t much value left in backing Jeanty to win the Heisman at his current price, Boise State’s schedule offers plenty of favorable matchups. The Broncos’ running back should continue posting insane stat lines, and if that’s the case, his odds will keep dropping—Jeanty could quite literally run away with the award heading into Week 7.
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