It was logical when Jalen Milroe and Cam Ward, who were expected to be this year’s Heisman Trophy winners, were expected to dominate college football. For Milroe, who assumed playmaking duties for the Crimson Tide of Alabama, or Ward, who was Miami’s premier player, the path to the Heisman seemed open. However, Boise State’s recent switch from the WAC to the Pac-12 and the emergence of a new contender has made it all more daunting.

Well, the top 3 Heisman favorites, for now, are Ashton Jeanty, Cam Ward and Jalen Milroe. Jalen Milroe has been outstanding for the Tide, passing for eight touchdowns and six rushing touchdowns by week 3. Betting markets have also taken notice of his performances, putting him at the second-best Heisman odds at +600, tied with Ole Miss’s Jaxson Dart. However, the road to the trophy might have become difficult for Milroe because Boise State has officially joined the ranks of the best teams.

The Broncos are into the fold as part of the Pac-12 along with Colorado State, Fresno State, and San Diego State, the Broncos are shaking things up in the conference. Rethinking the Pac-12 could cause a change in the dynasties of college football.

Cam Ward, the +400 favorite, also has a more difficult task hence the changes in Pac-12 flooring. Now more and more fans decided Ashton Jeanty from Boise State to be a good contender, he has been showing excellent performance and force. The addition of Boise State and other new teams isn’t just about expanding the conference—it’s about intensifying the competition.  This situation makes competition for the Heisman trophy even stiffer, and Jeanty is definitely a contender for the award.

The new Pac-12 landscape and Ashton Jeanty’s impact

The Pac-12’s recent shake-up is more than just a headline—it’s a game-changer. With Oregon State and Washington State, Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, and San Diego State, the conference is saturated with talent. This decision has come in the context of the dissolution of the Pac-12 in the year 2021 when UCLA and USC made their big escapes that triggered further shifting. Oregon State and Washington State’s decision to help rebuild the Pac-12 has borne fruit, and the conference has a much stronger roster. 

Ashton Jeanty has also started kicking off attention. Boise State’s fun-to-watch running back has become a household name for a brutally physical and highly-productive brand of football. His bull-dozing capability in arriving at defenses and making big plays has made him famous thereby being a threat to other Heisman contenders. “That first hit alleviated any doubts,”  Jeanty’s high school coach about him as a powerful player and craving competitor.

With 459 rushing yards and 9 touchdowns on just 45 carries this season, Jeanty is poised to benefit from the new structure of the pac-12 conference that now has old and new elite teams. There is nothing else in him other than being a player; he’s a game-changer who has the ability to shift the destiny of the Heisman. When Boise State comes into the game, Jeanty’s performance can well contribute to derailing the current Heisman favorites. Because there appears to be no shortage of Heisman contenders in the bunch and with a new and improved conference season on the horizon, the NFL run for college football’s most coveted award is about to heat up again.

That’s all about Ashton. Wanna tune-up for some exclusives? Watch an ES Think Tank exclusive episode with Doug Sanders!