Heisman Trophy runner-up Ashton Jeanty falls short of Barry Sanders' single-season NCAA rushing record

Ashton Jeanty, the Heisman Trophy runner-up, couldn't get much going in the run game as No. 6 seed Penn State dominated No. 3 seed Boise State 31-14 in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals. Jeanty, who took the handoff on Boise State's first play, was met with a sea of dark blue Penn State jerseys, which pushed him backward for no gain. The Broncos never led and failed to get anything going in the run game after Penn State went up 14-0 in the first quarter.

Ashton Jeanty missed out on breaking Barry Sanders’ rushing record

The Boise State Broncos fell 31-14 to the No.6 Penn State Nittany Lions in the Fiesta Bowl, which moved them on to the semi-final of the College Football Playoff. The Broncos were unable to get their running game going after Penn State built a 14-0 lead in the first quarter. Boise State Broncos running back Ashton Jeanty rushed for a season-low 104 yards on 30 carries while fumbling twice in a defensive extravaganza by the Nittany Lions.

This cost Ashton Jeanty a shot at breaking the single-season record held by Barry Sanders, who, in 1988 for Oklahoma State University, had 2,628 rushing yards and 37 touchdowns in 11 games. Ashton Jeanty still had 132 yards to move ahead of Barry Sanders, so with a lackluster effort against the Nittany Lions, he only mustered 28 yards shy, placing him currently in second position for most rushing yards in one season, having edged Kevin Smith and Melvin Gordon.

Deion Sanders thanked Broncos running back Ashton Jeanty, below a graphic featuring a black and white photo of Jeanty and a quote from the running back following Boise State's Mountain West championship victory on December 31. “Proud of you young man. Your future is as bright as it gets. Keep God 1st which I know u will. Dismiss the fools that are negative on every day that ends with a ‘Y.’ You are HIM my man. Got [sic] has u covered.”


In the 2024 season-opener against Georgia Southern, Jeanty broke a 46-year-old Boise State single-game record by running for 267 yards and scored 6 touchdowns in the game, which tied a record at Paulson Stadium and tied the Mountain West record. His rushing performance was the best of any FBS rusher during Week 1. At the close of the 2024 regular season, Jeanty led the FBS in both yards from scrimmage and rushing yards, as well as both rushing touchdowns and total scoring.

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Jeanty was given first-team All-Mountain West honors, as well as being named the conference's Offensive Player of the Year. He is considered the best running back prospect in the 2025 NFL Draft and was the runner-up for the Heisman Trophy. Jeanty won the Maxwell Award and Doak Walker Award, being named a unanimous All-American by the Associated Press.