Unfair Prejudice Against Ashton Jeanty Exposed by CFB Insider as Heisman Battle Heats Up With Travis Hunter

The Heisman race this season? It’s been a wild one. The battle between Ashton Jeanty from Boise State and Travis Hunter from Colorado is so close, it’s borderline ridiculous. On one side, you’ve got Jeanty, putting up Barry Sanders-esque numbers. And carrying his team on his back with a stellar 11-1 record. On the other side, you’ve got Travis Hunter. Deion Sanders’ Swiss Army Knife from Colorado, lighting up both sides of the ball for a 9-3 Buffaloes team. But let’s be real here—there’s a subtle, but undeniable prejudice that’s hurt Jeanty’s shot. And it’s all because of where he plays the ball.

Recently, On December 4th, Daniel Jeremiah, a former Appalachian State QB and NFL scout. Has put his expertise and analysis and weighed in on the never-ending Heisman debate during the ‘What the Football with Suzy Shuster & Amy Trask’ Podcast. Suzy asked him if it’s already Travis Hunter’s Heisman to lose, and Jeremiah didn’t hold on back. “I think he’s gonna win it…think he’s deserving to win it,” he said, before giving some love to Jeanty. “I love Ashton Jeanty from Boise State, but unfortunately, he’s probably gonna get hit with the fact of where he is.” 

Jeremiah pointed out the reason, or you can call it prejudice, in his following words: “if he had that same year at USC, Notre Dame or Miami[Hurricanes]. Then he woulda been in really really good position to win.” But of course, here’s where the bias creeps in—Jeanty’s playing in the Mountain West, so these so-called analysts think the competition isn’t tough enough. It’s the same old song: teams from smaller conferences often get overlooked, even if their players are performing at a level that would make any Power 4 backfield jealous.

And that’s where things get tricky. Jeremiah eventually turned to Hunter, giving credit where it’s due: “But I think with Travis Hunter doing both sides of the ball, it’s so unique. It probably goes back to Desmond [Howard].” In simple language, Hunter’s versatility is a major selling point. I mean, there’s no denying Hunter’s skill—he’s a do-it-all player, but doing that in the Big 12 is low-key same as doing it Montain-West. But let’s not forget about Jeanty, who’s out there torching defenses in the Mountain West, putting up 2,288 yards and 28 touchdowns against pretty much anyone who dares line up against him.

If he was playing for a big-name program, you bet your last dollar he’d be getting way more Heisman love. But he’s stuck with the “small conference” label, and that’s been holding him back. That’s straight-up prejudice.

Travis Hunter vs Ashton Jeanty: Heisman analysis

When you put up these two players. It’s a matter of what you value more—flashy versatility or raw, undeniable production. Travis Hunter’s doing his thing as a two-way player, and that’s definitely impressive, no cap. He’s making plays like WR1 and CB1 for Boulder. But here’s the issue: the competition in the Big 12 isn’t exactly SEC-level. Colorado’s 9-3 record looks good, but it’s not like they’re steamrolling everyone. The Colorado Buffaloes got humbled by 6-6 Nebraska, 8-4 Kansas State and got rag-dolled by 5-7  Kansas Jayhawks on week 13 of college football. On the flip side, Jeanty is dominating in the Mountain West, faced some solid teams, and had No.1 ranked Oregon defense on their knees. Sure, the Mountain West doesn’t have the same prestige as the Big 12, but let’s be honest—his performance would shine no matter where he played.

At the end of the day, both players have earned their spot in this Heisman race. But if we’re talking about who’s been the most impactful player in college football this season. Ashton Jeanty should get his due. The dude’s single handedly carried his gang into playoffs. He deserves more respect, but unfortunately, the prejudice against small-school players has held him back. Should it cost him the Heisman? That’s up for debate. But one thing’s clear: they still overlook the man from Boise State.