Heisman talks, OG Barry Sanders comparisons, and jaw-dropping star-struck stats—Ashton Jeanty‘s rise this season has been nothing short of marvelous. But what’s the secret sauce behind Boise State’s 5’8 powerhouse? The Heisman contender has been running through and over the defense like they owe him some money, but his journey didn’t start with fanfare or multiple five-star offers from the top program in the country. Jeanty’s story is one of an example of an indomitable human spirit, and a chip on his shoulder that still fuels his hunger in every play.

Back in his senior year at Lone Star High, Texas. Jeanty was already turning heels and heads with Madden-esque level stats- over 1,800 rushing yards and 41 total touchdowns, more touchdowns than 90% of these 5-star rated high-school quarterbacks. But for all his efforts, the big offers he dreamed of never came into the picture. Schools like Texas, Alabama, and LSU stayed slept on Jeanty. In the end, it was Boise State, above mid-major and now No.12 ranked program in the nation, that saw his raw potential.

These circumstances actually flipped a switch, reflecting on those days. Jeanty said, “It fueled that fire in me to go even harder. Nothing was ever given to me; it was all earned.” Those words echo in his every run and playstyle—a relentless mic of power and vicious speed that leaves defenders grasping at air.

Jeanty doesn’t play ball, he attacks it. Ask him to describe his game in one word, and he’ll hit you with “Vicious,” it’s a mentality that shows up every Saturday, whether he’s juking safeties out of their cleat or making linebackers act funny and dumb while running the ball under their nose. When asked if he’s the best in the country, Jeanty doesn’t move a nerve while answering it. “I think so,” and honestly, can’t even argue there. His numbers are his alibi. Here comes a ‘But’, Insert Travis Hunter, the two-way phenom who’s just as good as Ashton Jeanty or maybe slightly even better than him, for the case.

Ashton Jeanty vs. Travis Hunter: Heisman dilemma

This is the race that had college football world fuming, and it’s neck-and-neck. For Jeanty, the numbers are blasphemy: nearly 1,900 rushing yards, 26 touchdowns, and if we dig deeper into the stats, he averages 7.4 carry yards. He’s single-handedly carried the Boise States into national relevancy, torching defenses like he holds a grudge for every Saturday afternoon. One moment stands out—when he bulldozed a defender, put a signature on his face with his cleats, ran for a touchdown, and declared, “I made my case for the Heisman right then and there.”

But then there’s Travis Hunter, Coach Prime’s Swiss Army knife. With 911 receiving yards and 9 nine touchdowns on offense, plus three interceptions and 54 solo tackles on the defense, he plays almost 140-160 snaps every game for the Deion Sanders. Hunter’s versatility has analysts and fans alike in awe and turned them into fangirls. He’s got the stats and the Deion Sander-esque swagger, and oddsmaker currently puts him above Jeanty as a favorite at -400, compared to Jeanty’s +400.

The truth is, neither of them faced a playoff-caliber type of defense yet, yes, gotta give credit to Jeanty’s game against the No. 1 ranked Oregon Ducks. Only the post-season will reveal who truly deserves the Heisman crown. Whether it’s Jeanty’s “Vicious” dominance or Hunter’s two-way Passcard, one thing’s for sure: the race for the Heisman is about to get real.