Can Ashton Jeanty and the Boise State Broncos Save College Football?

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The current landscape of college football feels like a Hollywood high-stakes thriller—where the stakes keep escalating and the future becomes more uncertain with every ubiquitous plot twist. Conference realignments, transfer portals, NIL money, and media megadeals are reshaping the game into something unrecognizable to generations of college football fanatics. The chasm between the “haves” and “have-nots” has never been wider, threatening, now more than ever, to leave behind the heart of college football—the little guy.  Ashton Jeanty and the Boise State Broncos are positioned to make some noise that will be heard throughout the CFP.

In the face of this seemingly unstoppable juggernaut of change, a small, scrappy program from Boise, Idaho known primarily for it’s signature blue turf field (A place some opposing QB’s admittedly can’t even find on a map) has a chance to rewrite the century-long college football narrative – before it’s too far gone.

The David vs. Goliath Matchup

On paper, the Boise State Broncos should have no chance to win the Fiesta Bowl. They’re up against a Penn State team loaded with 4- and 5-star recruits—players who were courted by the Alabama’s, Georgia’s and Texas’s of college football royalty. The Nittany Lions, a perennial powerhouse with a storied history, operate with a budget and resources that dwarf anything Boise State could ever dream of. Significantly more money and more raw talent resides on the Penn State sideline and almost nobody outside the state of Idaho is giving the Broncos a chance.

Penn State enters the Fiesta Bowl as an 11-point favorite, with most national pundits confidently picking them not only to win but to cover the spread against the inferior Group of Five Broncos. Many prognosticators deemed Penn State as having the “Most Favorable” path to the National Championship with a first round game against SMU and then facing Boise State, who has been waiting through a bye week as the 3rd seed. Penn State is a team built to dominate in the trenches, and their presence in the Elite Eight of the College Football Playoff seems like destiny fulfilled.

By contrast, the Broncos are led by a roster of little-known 2- and 3-star recruits—players overlooked by the elite programs, players who had to work harder and believe in themselves more than their counterparts on the other sideline. They are also led by a first-year head coach barely in his 30s, a man who isn’t just coaching football but answering a spiritual calling to shape young men of character who happen to play football at Boise State University.

This is a David versus Goliath story in every sense of the term.

First-Round Blowouts and High Stakes

The first round of the College Football Playoff saw several games where the favorites obliterated their opponents, reminding everyone why the blue bloods dominate the sport. Boise State isn’t supposed to be in the second round of the tournament. The pundits don’t expect them to win a CFP game and certainly not to be here as the 3rd seed, yet here they are, staring down a Penn State program that represents everything Boise State has fought against for decades—the idea that only the biggest programs with the biggest budgets, highest rated recruits and hundred-million dollar media deals deserve to contend for a national championship.

This game is more than a football matchup. It’s a cultural clash between the haves and the have-nots, the elite and the overlooked, the blue bloods versus the blue collar. This isn’t a bash on Penn State. The Nittany Lions are a great football team deserving of their place in this tournament, however the money is still green and blood is still blue in State College, PA and they can’t change who they are, even if they wanted to. As likeable as James Franklin and Drew Allar are, they still represent Goliath and they still have to face David in the Desert on New Year’s Eve.

Ashton Jeanty: The Underdog’s Hero

Adding to the Fiesta Bowl drama is Boise State’s superstar running back, Ashton Jeanty, enters the game on the cusp of history. Just 132 yards separate him from breaking Barry Sanders’ single-season rushing record, a feat many thought unbreakable. Doing so against Penn State’s vaunted defense would elevate Jeanty into the pantheon of college football legends and send a resounding message to the football world: greatness can thrive outside the spotlight of the Power Conferences and the Eastern Time Zone.

Jeanty’s story is a testament to loyalty and belief. While many players in his position might have entered the transfer portal for a shot at a bigger stage and much bigger payday, Jeanty stayed true to Boise State, his teammates, coaches and the community. His loyalty paid off, as he now stands poised to shatter a multi-decade record and lead his team into uncharted territory and a chance to meet face-to-face with destiny. Many feel that Jeanty was snubbed by Heisman voters, finishing as a very close runner-up behind travis Hunter of Colorado. Does the perceived snub in the Heisman vote add motivation to Jeanty to prove them wrong with a runaway performance in the Fiesta Bowl? Several game analysts have stated that if Penn State can contain Jeanty, they win the game easily, but nobody has stated what exactly constitutes “Containing” Ashton Jeanty? Is it under 100 yards, is it under 150? Can Penn State allow 200 yards by Jeanty and still win? Will Ashton Jeanty break the single-season rushing record? One thing for certain is that millions of viewers will be watching Ashton Jeanty in the Fiesta Bowl. Let’s discuss those questions a little further in the comments. I’m anxious to see your predictions on Jeanty’s rush yards, TD’s and total yards.

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A First-Year Coach, a Greater Purpose

Then there’s Boise State’s head coach Spencer Danielson, a man whose leadership style is unlike most in today’s college football landscape. In his first year at the helm, this young coach has focused less on X’s and O’s and more on building individual character and adherence to process over perfection. He’s a players’ coach through and through and a strong culture guy, visibly and vocally more concerned with developing exceptional young men than just chasing wins. A few of Coach D’s favorite mantra’s are: “What can we learn from and where can we grow to today?”, “The most important game of the season is the next one”, “Thank You Jesus”, “Your best is enough, but your best is also required”. Based on the results of the 2024 season, Coach D appears to have hit home with his messaging and if you listen to player interviews the success of the culture is clearly obvious.

This spiritual approach to coaching has resonated deeply with his players, frequently attending church with players and introducing some of them to Christianity for the first time, Coach Danielson is creating bonds and a sense of purpose that transcends the football field. The Broncos play not just for victory but for each other, for their community, and for something greater than themselves. Coach D often says that, “We serve a true Champion” and that can equate to a pretty serious 12th man.

Ashton Jeanty – America’s Underdog Story

If the Broncos can defy the odds and take down Penn State, they’ll become the big story and darlings of the postseason. America loves an underdog, and Boise State has proven time and again that they’re very capable of being the ultimate Cinderella.

Make no mistake: the stakes are enormous. A victory for Boise State would be a triumph for the Group of Five schools and a rallying cry for equal access in college football. The Tulane’s, UNLV’s and Jacksonville States of the world are standing and cheering for Boise State. A Broncos win would prove that with heart, grit, and determination, even the smallest programs can compete on the biggest stage against the biggest budgets and certainly deserve a seat at the table in any championship tournament present or future.

A bad loss, however, could add fuel to the elitist fire attempting to burn down the dreams of the mid-majors and widen the chasm between the haves and have-nots, making it even harder for programs like Boise State and other mid-majors to reach the playoffs in the future.

Can Boise State Save College Football?

This game is about more than the Fiesta Bowl trophy. It’s about the future of college football and the soul of the sport. If Boise State wins, they’ll show the world that the magic of college football lies not in its billion-dollar budgets but in its ability to inspire young men to work together as a team and achieve greatness.

If Ashton Jeanty breaks the rushing record while leading his team to victory, it will be a moment and game for the ages—a reminder that sometimes, the little guy doesn’t just belong; they can thrive. If this is the story that gets written Tuesday night in the Desert, many Heisman voters may experience some deep regret about their vote for Travis Hunter.

So, can the Broncos defy the odds?

Can Ashton Jeanty and his teammates save college football in the 2024 Fiesta Bowl?

Join the conversation and share your thoughts below.