Boise State coach upsets Deion Sanders over Heisman comments: ‘If you’re one of the best… you’re playing in the championship’

Boise State coach upsets Deion Sanders over Heisman comments: ‘If you’re one of the best… you’re playing in the championship’

Two-way star Travis Hunter of Colorado has taken control of the Heisman Trophy race if the betting odds are to be believed. A three-touchdown, one-interception performance against Oklahoma State on Friday appeared to extend Hunter’s lead over Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty, who followed that up with 226 rushing yards in a Broncos win over the same period.

After the Buffaloes’ victory, Deion Sanders declared the Heisman race over. “I think Travis secured the Heisman title with his performance,” Sanders told reporters after the potential No. 1 pick’s final Heisman pose.

Boise State coach Spencer Danielson doesn’t see it that way. When asked Monday whether he agreed with Sanders’ claim, Danielson told reporters that he believes Jeanty is the most deserving candidate.

“When you’re one of the best players in the country, you play in the championship game,” Danielson said.

Jeanty and the Broncos are preparing to play in the Mountain West title game on Friday for a spot in the College Football Playoff, while Hunter and Colorado failed to make it to the Big 12 Championship after a 9-3 season. Hunter’s lead over Jeanty may be viewed by some as insurmountable, but the opportunity for Jeanty to get his team into the playoffs before the eyes of the nation could be a final wild card in the Heisman race.

Danielson called Jeanty “the best football player in the country” and said the Heisman race is “absolutely not” over.

MORE: Broncos support Travis Hunter’s Heisman campaign with T-shirts

The debate between Hunter and Jeanty has created one of the most unique Heisman Trophy debates in recent memory. This isn’t a battle between quarterbacks, but rather a contest between a player who excels on both sides of the ball and a player who already has the fifth-highest single-season rushing total in FBS history, heading into the ceremony played another game.

Here’s a look at how each player performs statistically through 12 games.

Travis Hunter Stats

games Rec yards TD J/R INT Pass deflections
12 92 1,152 14 12.5 4 11

Hunter finished the regular season with 1,152 yards and 14 touchdowns on 92 catches, along with four interceptions and 11 pass deflections as a cornerback.

While Hunter played in all 12 of Colorado’s games, he exited early against Kansas State with a shoulder injury and aggravated the problem a week later against Arizona. He totaled just 43 yards in those two games, but averaged more than 110 yards per game in the Buffaloes’ other 10 contests. He also forced a fumble at the goal line in overtime against Baylor, securing the win 38-31.

MORE: What position could Travis Hunter play in the NFL?

Ashton Jeanty stats

games Att. Rush yards Rush TD yards/att. Rec. Rec. Yards Rec. TD
12 312 2,288 28 7.3 18 102 1

Jeanty has recorded 2,288 rushing yards and 29 total touchdowns in 12 games, ranking fifth in FBS history for rushing yards in a season.

The Boise State star is 340 yards shy of Barry Sanders’ single-season rushing record, so a playoff berth for the Broncos could allow Jeanty to make history. If Boise State falls short in the Mountain West title game, Jeanty would have to decide whether to play in the team’s bowl game and try to break the record.

Jeanty still has one game left to make a bid for the Heisman Trophy, but he’s confident he’ll head to New York alongside Hunter as a finalist.

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