Ashton Jeanty has a lot left to prove; Can he bring it to the biggest stage?

What makes Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty such a threat? What keeps defensive coordinators gasping in the press box and head coaches throwing noises? They almost had him.

Just when everyone on the field – players, coaches and fans – thinks Jeanty is going to fight, he manages to escape, knock down a defender, disappear, and appear 20 yards down the field.

Jeanty is a magical act. And his statistics are interesting.

The junior running back has amassed 2,497 rushing yards heading into Boise State’s College Football Playoff quarterfinal game against Penn State (7:30 pm ET, Tuesday at State Farm Stadium). Put Penn State’s three leading rushers — Nick Singleton (928), Kaytron Allen (892) and Drew Allar (289) — against Jeanty’s numbers, and they’re nearly 400 yards short of the Broncos’ star return. .

But here’s the real reason why Jeanty is a true wizard on the gridiron: 1,889 of those 2,497 rushing yards came after contact. Counting just those yards after contact, he’s still the nation’s leading rusher … with 229 yards.

There are those who will say that Jeanty did not do that in the face of elite competition. Against top-ranked Oregon back on September 8, he cooked the Ducks, ripped their guts out, and served their guts like pâté with 192 yards and three touchdowns. And yes, as it turns out, that was an “average” game for Jeanty, who is averaging 192.1 rushing yards per game this season.

Jeanty has caused the same number of sacks in 13 games as Penn State linebackers Kobe King (80) and Abdul Carter (63) have combined. He is the best quarterback these Penn State linebackers have seen in their careers and the best to step on any field with the Nittany Lions since Saquon Barkley broke his records at Beaver Stadium.

Tuesday night’s Fiesta Bowl showdown should be a powerhouse, as the Nittany Lions don’t make a habit of allowing opposing running backs to eat. They are so cramped in the kitchen that they write their names on a plastic sheet that includes four plates and two full pots.

Tom Allen’s team has allowed just one 100-yard rusher this season: USC’s Woody Marks, who rushed for 111 yards in the Trojans’ 33-30 loss to the Nittany Lions back on Oct. 12. But it’s an off day — and “off day,” I mean like Sunday in the South — because Jeanty rushed for 127 yards against Portland State on 11 carries.

It is important to note that Jeanty is chasing multiple records in this game against Penn State. He needs just 3 yards to become only the third player in the 155-year history of the sport to rush for 2,500 yards in a season. He is just 131 yards shy of Barry Sanders’ single-season record of 2,628. And yes, it will have more than 11 races to chase the biggest prize of all: immortality.

For now, Jeanty doesn’t need to think that Sanders set the single-season hitting streak in 1988 in just 11 games. He doesn’t need to know that we’re not counting Sanders’ 222 rushing yards in the Holiday Bowl.

That’s what we have to consider. And it’s a concern.

The NCAA changed its policy to include bowl game statistics starting in 2002 as the number of bowl games increased – 28 bowls now compared to 36 – and the desire to keep up with the games grew accordingly. As bowl games changed from exhibition games to ways to crown one true national champion, the statistics created in those games gained importance.

Former athletic director John Heisler told the Associated Press that he believes the average fan thinks the bowl game stats are set by the NCAA.

“I’m not sure it’s going to make much of a difference,” Heisler said.

Just wait until we start including snapshots of such well-known and respected figures, something that’s hard to ignore when you’re talking about the 2024 Heisman Memorial Trophy winner, Colorado’s Travis Hunter.

In the closest vote in 15 years, Hunter defeated Jeanty. Among those who believe that he has been stripped of the title awarded to the best player in the game is Jeanty himself.

“I really felt like I should have walked away with the award, but I commend Travis for winning,” Jeanty said.

“Kudos” is an ancient Greek word meaning “glory.” Now’s the time to take yours down, Ashton.

Tell us how you really feel. He’s leading a team that we think doesn’t deserve the number 3. He’s playing against an unstoppable force in this game. He is a three-star whose best offer outside of Boise State was Cal.

So he ran across the Mountain West. We do not believe that is an appropriate test. We believe you have a lot to do.

Don’t make the mistake of believing you have nothing left to prove. Don’t make the mistake of believing you’ve won the giveaway we’re giving Barry Sanders and Reggie Bush.

It wasn’t enough to rush for 132 yards against the Nittany Lions. It’s not enough that you’re slated as a potential first-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. He left the soft spots. This is Rome. The coliseum needs more.

Better than Hunter? Bigger than Sanders? Do you want our unrestricted worship? Then take it down. Be the man standing on the stage in Jan. 20 when we were crowned national champions.

Start taking action now.

Show us. We won. Win.

RJ Young is a national college football writer and commentator for FOX Sports and host of the podcast “The Number One College Football Show.” Follow him on @RJ_Omusha.

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