BOISE, Idaho – Heisman Trophy candidate Ashton Jeanty confirmed Thursday that this will be his final season at Boise State.

The country’s leading rusher, with 2,288 yards on 312 carries and 28 total touchdowns, was long expected to be taken in the NFL draft after his record-setting season. ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. ranks sixth in his latest Big Board

Jeanty, who needs 341 yards to surpass Barry Sanders’ all-time rushing record in a single season, will have at least two more games to break the mark.

Friday’s Mountain West title game will be Jeanty’s last chance to make a bid for the Heisman Trophy.

“I feel like I’m the best player in the country,” Jeanty said at the Mountain West Conference championship press conference.

“I’ve taken note of this every week and it’s just the same. I do it week after week. If I’m picked to win (the Heisman), I win. But my focus right now is going out and playing my best football for my teammates and coaches and winning a championship.”

Jeanty and Boise State (11-1, 7-0 MW, No. 10 CFP) will be in the spotlight in front of a national television audience on Friday when they host UNLV (10-2, 6-1, No. 20 CFP) on the Mountain West title and a Group of 5 berth in this year’s College Football Playoff.

Jeanty, No. 5 all-time in rushing yardage in a season, needs just 55 yards to pass USC legend and 1981 Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Allen.

The Broncos, whose only loss came on a last-second field goal to No. 1 Oregon in September, beat UNLV 29-24 on Oct. 25 in Las Vegas. Jeanty posted his second-lowest rushing performance of the season with 128 yards and a touchdown on 33 carries.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.