On Saturday night, Travis Hunter from Colorado celebrated a remarkable achievement by winning the Heisman Trophy. He delivered an inspiring speech to a gathering of former winners and brought home the prestigious award, a 45-pound cast bronze statue. However, his close competitor, Ashton Jeanty, the running back from Boise State, expressed his belief that he was deserving of the honor as well.
After the ceremony, Jeanty remarked, “Kudos to Travis for winning, but yeah, it’s simple as that. Work harder, go harder.” He felt that under different circumstances, such as not competing against Hunter—who is both an exceptional cornerback and wide receiver—he might have secured the award.
Jeanty has had an outstanding season, amassing 2,497 rushing yards and 29 touchdowns—which averages to 7.3 yards per carry—making his rushing total the fourth-highest in FBS history. He is just 131 yards shy of breaking Barry Sanders’ single-season record of 2,628 yards from 1988, a remarkable milestone achieved in only 11 games that season. Jeanty has also been instrumental in leading the Broncos to a 12-1 record, a Mountain West Conference championship, and a first-round bye in the upcoming College Football Playoff against either Penn State or SMU.
The voting for the Heisman was particularly close this year, with Hunter securing 552 first-place votes and a total of 2,231 points, narrowly surpassing Jeanty’s 2,017 points, who received 309 first-place votes. This marks the tightest Heisman race since 2009.
Throughout the season, there were discussions surrounding their candidacies, though there was no major conflict between the two. Hunter had previously downplayed Jeanty’s performance in an interview, while Jeanty took a dignified approach, focusing on his own historic season.
With Jeanty finishing second, it’s notable that a running back hasn’t won the Heisman Trophy since Derrick Henry in 2015, and this position has only captured the award three times since 2000.
In summary, both Travis Hunter and Ashton Jeanty have displayed remarkable talent this season, capturing the attention of college football fans everywhere. As Jeanty continues to pursue his goals and break records, the future remains bright for both athletes. This rivalry symbolizes the competitive spirit inherent in college sports, promising exciting matchups ahead as the teams progress to the playoffs.