Is there a bias in the chase for the most prestigious individual honor? A familiar obstacle stands in the way of Boise State’s RB Ashton Jeanty. With talent and stats that would have made headlines anywhere else, Jeanty seems trapped in a game that has long favored players from Power Five conferences. While there’s usually a clear favorite, this year’s race is still extremely close. What more could FLASHTON Jeanty do after his 208 yards and three touchdowns on a career-high 34 carries last week?

Probably change conferences. On The Joel Klatt Show, famous CFB analyst Klatt highlighted with “All due respect to Ashton Jeanty,” voicing what many have suspected: a player outside the Power Five, like Jeanty, is rarely given serious Heisman consideration, no matter his production. The Bosie State battering ram’s performance this season has been nothing short of spectacular. Racking up yards and touchdowns on a weekly basis, he’s earned this place. Still, Klatt’s words ring loud: “All due respect to Ashton Jeanty, you’re having a great year. But a Mountain West running back is not winning the Heisman Trophy over a guy who’s in the Big 12…” For Klatt, it’s not a question of whether Jeanty deserves recognition but a question of whether the system would ever let him have it. This is where Travis Hunter barges in the conversation.

Colorado Buffs star two-way player, whom Klatt sees as the true Heisman frontrunner. And Joel Klatt’s take? Hunter’s dual performance on both offense and defense sets him apart in a way that’s nearly mythical in today’s era. “Travis is doing things that I’m just like; that’s incredible,” the Hunter fan Klatt said. The analyst believes, underscoring Hunter’s potential to claim not only Heisman votes but also recognition through awards like the Thorpe and Biletnikoff.

Hunter, with his flashy style, is making waves in a challenging Big 12 environment, while Ashton Jeanty’s Mountain West location might hinder his Heisman chances. But isn’t this bias exactly why Heisman voting needs an overhaul? How often do we see dominant players from non-Power Five schools routinely dismissed, no matter what their records or achievements? While Heisman officially considers “the most outstanding player in college football,” the definition seems narrowed by invisible qualifiers.

For Joel Klatt Hunter sits with LeBron and Jordan

When it comes to Travis Hunter, Fox Sports’ Joel Klatt mentions him in the same breath as legends like Michael Jordan, LeBron James, and others. Now, hold your horses! Klatt’s talking about the sheer spectacle that Hunter brings to the field. He was already “One of One” for him; now he’s there. “I think a lot of us do that when we watch LeBron play, or those of us that got to watch Michael Jordan play, And this is one of those things.” Yeah, Klatt really took it this far.

Well, it’s all because Hunter has 69 catches, 856 yards, nine touchdowns, and 12.4 yards per catch. And on defense, Hunter has 21 tackles, one tackle for loss, two interceptions, and seven pass deflections.

So, as fans watch the Heisman conversation unfold, Klatt’s analysis brings up a sobering question: what’s the Heisman about? Is it a showcase of talent, or is it a brand loyalty contest? For Jeanty and others outside the Power Five, the Heisman dream is more like a myth. Will Ashton Jeanty break the myth?