Ashton Jeanty needed a strong performance in the Mountain West Football Championship to stay within touching distance of Heisman Trophy front-runner Travis Hunter, and Boise State’s junior tailback was up to the challenge.

In a nationally televised game on Fox Friday night, Jeanty ran for 209 yards and a touchdown on 32 carries as No. 10 Boise State (12-1) secured a berth in the College Football Playoff with a 21-7 victory over the No. 20 UNLV finished (10-3) at Albertsons Stadium.

Late in the game, Fox color commentator Brock Huard said that if coaches awarded the Heisman Trophy, Jeanty would be the clear favorite.

“If only the coaches voted, Ashton Jeanty would win the Heisman,” Huard said. “I really believe that wholeheartedly because they know it. Travis Hunter is the most spectacular and dynamic player. But the best player to lead his team to the championship in a playoff and a bye is (Jeanty).”

Unfortunately for Jeanty, coaches don’t vote for the Heisman; Media representatives do it. And the media seems to favor Hunter.

In FanDuel’s latest Heisman odds update, Hunter remains the favorite at -2500, while Jeanty is at +1000. Jeanty’s odds dropped to +400 after he ran for a 75-yard touchdown in the second quarter to give Boise State a 21-0 lead, but the Broncos didn’t do much offensively after halftime.

Jeanty is up to 344 carries for 2,497 yards and 29 touchdowns this season, leading the country in all three categories. He ranks fourth on the FBS all-time single-season rushing list, trailing only Oklahoma State’s Barry Sanders (2,628 yards, 1988 season), Wisconsin’s Melvin Gordon (2,587, 2014) and UCF’s Kevin Smith (2,567 , 2007).

Jeanty needs to rush for 132 yards in the College Football Playoff to break Sanders’ record. The Broncos are expected to receive a first-round bye as one of the four top-rated conference champions.

Hunter made a strong final statement last week, catching 10 passes for 116 yards and three touchdowns while picking off one pass on defense in a win over Oklahoma State. No. 23 Colorado (9-3) failed to qualify for the Big 12 Championship and will not compete in the CFP.

Earlier this week, Boise State head coach Spencer Danielson took a small dig at Hunter and the Buffaloes.

“Ashton Jeanty is the best soccer player in the country,” Danielson said. “And for me, if you’re one of the best players in the country, you’re playing in a championship game.”

Hunter has 92 catches for 1,152 yards and 14 touchdowns – a new Colorado single-season school record – with four interceptions on defense.

The 2024 Heisman Trophy finalists will be announced on Monday.