Week 1 is the first chance college football fans get to judge the season's potential breakout stars --- and Ashton Jeanty could be one of the bigger ones.
While the Boise State running back was already a known commodity and earned some recognitions last season, he exploded for a massive game against Georgia Southern on Saturday, making noise across the college football world in the process.
Here are Jeanty's numbers from his big-time performance, plus an updated look at his Heisman candidacy.
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What were Ashton Jeanty's stats today?
In Boise State's opener, Jeanty totaled 267 rushing yards on 20 carries — 13.4 yards per carry — plus a whopping six rushing touchdowns. He also added four receiving yards on three receptions.
The Broncos used their running back's big day to claim a 56-45 victory over Georgia Southern, starting their season 1-0. Jeanty's sixth and final touchdown of the game gave his team a late lead that it never looked back from.
After a 77-yard score for his first score, Jeanty put some moves on for his second touchdown as well.
Jeanty, a 5-foot-9 back, is a junior this season. Moving forward in the early season, he'll be someone to keep an eye on in award conversations.
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Is Ashton Jeanty a Heisman Trophy candidate?
While Jeanty won't immediate skyrocket to the top of the Heisman odds after his Week 1 performance, he certainly is worth mentioning for now.
He was named to The Sporting News' Preseason All-America Second Team before the season, and could keep moving up some lists should he maintain the kind of production he had for Boise State this week.
Currently though, quarterbacks such as Oregon's Dillon Gabriel and Georgia's Carson Beck, are once again expected to dominate the Heisman Trophy conversations.
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In his sophomore season in 2023, Jeanty totaled 1,347 rushing yards, 569 receiving yards and 19 total touchdowns and was named an AP Second Team All-American.
Jeanty, a former 4-star prospect according to 247Sports, seems to be leveling up even more in 2024 and could continue to generate buzz moving forward.