Ashton Jeanty sets a single-season record at Boise State

SAN JOSE, Calif. — Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty bolstered his Heisman Trophy resume Saturday night by breaking the single-season school record in a 42-21 win against San José State.

Jeanty rushed for 159 yards on 32 carries with three touchdowns to increase his season total to 1,893 yards through 10 games. He broke the school record set by Jay Ajayi, who rushed for 1,823 yards in 14 games in 2014.

“He’s the best football player in the country,” Boise State coach Spencer Danielson said. “He is also a great leader and an elite person.”

The win guaranteed the Broncos, ranked No. 13 in the College Football Playoff rankings, a spot in the Mountain West championship game, meaning Jeanty is on pace to rush for over 2,400 yards when Heisman Trophy ballots are submitted. With a bowl game or playoff appearance, Jeanty could challenge Barry Sanders’ single-season FBS record of 2,628 yards, set in 1988.

“It means a lot,” Jeanty said of the school record. “All the past running backs are great and great, but to keep the legacy going, the tradition of great running backs at Boise State, I think is a big thing for me.”

Things didn’t start well for the Broncos and Jeanty against San José State. He was limited to 19 yards on his first nine carries as Boise State fell behind 14-0. But after the Spartans failed to convert on fourth-and-goal to go up 21-0, the Broncos began to find their way.

Jeanty made a strong drive to end the half, which he capped with a 2-yard score to tie the game with 38 seconds left before halftime.

“(The challenge) every week wears on the defense,” Jeanty said. “We have 8-man boxes, 9-man boxes, so not as many big runs, but over the course of the game, if we’re able to grind them down, they get tired, then the big runs come.”

That’s what happened against SJSU. In the second half, Jeanty had runs of 36, 12, 13 and 11 yards, and the Spartans couldn’t keep up, despite 446 yards passing from quarterback Walker Eget.

Boise State (9-1, 6-0 MW) travels to Wyoming next week before closing out the regular season at home against Oregon State on Nov. 29.