The Boise State Broncos’ remarkable 2024 college football season came to a close on Tuesday, as the No. 3 team fell to the No. 6 Penn State Nittany Lions in the Fiesta Bowl quarterfinal matchup. Despite a determined effort that saw the Mountain West champions cut Penn State’s lead to just three points in the third quarter, James Franklin’s squad ultimately pulled away for a 31-14 victory. The Nittany Lions now advance to the semifinals, where they’ll face the winner of No. 7 Notre Dame and No. 2 Georgia in the Orange Bowl.
All eyes were on Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty heading into the game, as fans wondered if the Heisman Trophy runner-up could carry the Broncos to victory. Unfortunately, Jeanty struggled to find his usual efficiency against a stout Penn State defense. He tallied 104 yards on 30 carries, averaging just 3.5 yards per carry—his lowest mark of the season.
Jeanty’s performance fueled ongoing debates about the Heisman race, where he finished second to Colorado’s Travis Hunter. Social media buzzed with comparisons, with critics arguing that Hunter’s two-way dominance as a receiver and cornerback justified his win. Hunter, whose season ended in a 36-14 loss to BYU in the Alamo Bowl, narrowly edged out Jeanty in one of the closest Heisman votes in history, earning 2,231 points to Jeanty’s 2,017.
Both players are projected to be first-round picks in the upcoming NFL Draft, a testament to their historic seasons. While fans may continue debating who deserved the Heisman, there’s no denying the impact both Jeanty and Hunter have had on college football. Their legacies are set, and their transition to the NFL promises even greater achievements ahead.
