The ongoing college football season has heated up the debate surrounding the deserving winner of the prestigious Heisman Trophy. The decision is between Boise State Broncos running back Ashton Jeanty and Colorado wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter. Hunter feels he should be awarded the trophy as he has outperformed as a two-way player. His argument is based on his current stats and his belief that Jeanty has been given too many opportunities on the offensive side, leading to skewed statistics.
Hunter has performed exceptionally well this season with 49 receptions for 587 yards and six touchdowns. He has also exhibited his defensive abilities with two interceptions, three passes defended and 18 tackles in total. However, he believes he would have had even better statistics if he had been targeted the same number of times as Jeanty. Hunter’s team, the Colorado Buffaloes, currently stands at a 4-2 record in the Big 12 play.
On the other hand, Jeanty has proven his mettle with an extraordinary season that has witnessed him leading the nation in rushing. He has recorded 1,248 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns on just 9.9 yards per carry. Jeanty has managed to surpass 100 rushing yards in each of Boise State’s six games and has further achieved 200 rushing yards in half of these games. His team, the Boise State Broncos, ranks 15th in the nation with a 5-1 record in the Mountain West play.
Jeanty’s performance has been exceptional from a historical perspective as well. He has managed to beat his personal best of 14 rushing touchdowns from the previous season and seems to be on the brink of surpassing his highest total of 1,347 yards from 2023. Confounding his impressive showcase, Jeanty is on track to break the single-season college football rushing record previously set by Barry Sanders in 1988.
In terms of the Heisman Trophy odds, Jeanty currently holds the pole position at +160. Meanwhile, Hunter is tied for the fifth place with odds of +1200. This reflects the differing perceptions of how the unique capabilities of both players are viewed in terms of the Heisman Trophy award.
The upcoming games also hold importance in determining the winner of the Heisman Trophy. For Hunter and the Colorado Buffaloes, a crucial road game against the Arizona Wildcats beckons. Meanwhile, Jeanty and the Boise State Broncos are set to face the UNLV Rebels on October 25th after a bye week. The results of these games and the performances of both athletes are vital in shaping the final decision over the Heisman Trophy.
