Ashton Jeanty and the Boise State Broncos are seeking to defy the odds and take down Penn State on Tuesday night. Despite being the underdogs, Jeanty is focused on proving that his team can compete with the best of the best.
Boise State finished the season 12-1 and undefeated in conference play, earning a first-round bye in the College Football Playoff. Jeanty led the nation in rushing yards for the second consecutive season, and finished second in Heisman Trophy voting behind Travis Hunter.
Despite being counted out, Jeanty is determined to prove his team’s worth. “I think Boise State as a program is just counted out,” he said. “I would say we embraced it, but that’s been the story for us. We’ve been the underdogs for a long, long time. We’re just here to prove that we can compete with the best of the best.”
Jeanty is a key player in the Broncos’ success, with 2,497 rushing yards and 29 rushing touchdowns on the season. He is within reach of Barry Sanders’ record for most rushing yards in a season, but will need to continue to play well to have a chance to break the record.
The Boise State football program has a history of slaying giants, with a famous upset over Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl in 2007. Beating Penn State would be just as big of a win for the school’s history.
Coach James Franklin acknowledged Jeanty’s importance, saying “In any other year, the guy wins the Heisman and you can make the argument he should have won it this year.” The Broncos will need to play their best to take down Penn State, but with Jeanty leading the charge, they are a team to be reckoned with.
