Sports
Boise State RB Ashton Jeanty Building Impressive Heisman Campaign
Barry Sanders put together a Heisman Trophy-winning season in 1988. To this day, it rates on a level largely its own.
Near the midway point of the 2024 season, Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty is putting up numbers at a pace to challenge the legendary Sanders.
BSU shared a graphic on its social media channels offering a side-by-side comparison of Oklahoma State’s No. 21 and the Broncos’ No. 2. Through five games in 1988, Sanders had 1,002 rushing yards on 130 carries and scored 17 touchdowns; Jeanty has 1,031 yards on 95 carries with 16 touchdowns.
It’s not a one-to-one comparison. Sanders also returned a punt and kickoff for touchdowns through the Cowboys’ first two games. However, the context of Jeanty’s performance makes his start to 2024 uniquely special.
Jeanty’s eye-popping stats are being produced during competitive games. He’s never around when the game is out of reach. He has yet to carry the ball more than 26 times in any of Boise State’s five games and spent much of the third and fourth quarters on the sideline in blowouts against Portland State and Utah State.
Coach Spencer Danielson could choose to manufacture even more impressive statistics for his star running back, but Jeanty’s role for the Broncos is more significant than merely impressing award voters.
“Ashton Jeanty is the best player in the country,” Danielson said following the 62-30 rout of Utah State in the Broncos’ Mountain West Conference opener on October 5. On a day when Jeanty carried just 13 times but accrued 186 yards, Danielson added, “I am proud of all the rest of our guys being able to step up. When [opposing defenses] load the box, [quarterback Maddux Madsen] was able to get the ball to playmakers.”
The result of that balance keeps defenses—including No. 3-ranked Oregon—off balance. Boise State is scoring more than 50 points per game, No. 1 in the country.
Both the collective team output and Jeanty’s contribution are even more impressive considering the Broncos’ offensive line is missing starters and preseason All-MW honorees Mason Randolph and Roger Carreon.
This context adds another layer to Jeanty’s Heisman candidacy. Averaging more than 206 yards per game, Jeanty is on pace to eclipse Rashaad Penny’s Mountain West record of 2,248 yards gained in 2017—and to do so in one fewer game.
With a projected total of 2,475 yards through 12 games based on his current output, Jeanty would achieve regular-season rushing numbers not seen since Marcus Allen in 1981 and Sanders in 1988 (2,342 and 2,628 yards, respectively, each in 11 games).
Like Sanders, who garnered 559 first-place votes to Rodney Peete’s 70 in 1988, Allen was a runaway Heisman winner. He finished with 441 first-place votes to runner-up Herschel Walker’s 152.
Sanders and Allen also won the Heisman in an era that, frankly, showed running backs more respect. It’s been almost a decade since Derrick Henry became the last running back to claim college football’s top individual honor.
Surely, historically significant production gets Jeanty into the conversation. But how does he overcome the dual handicap of playing for a program outside the autonomy conferences and playing a position that is often undervalued at the ballot box?
Well, Week 6 offered a template for at least one necessary step in the blueprint: Jeanty needs would-be frontrunners from the power conferences to suffer high-profile stumbles.
Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe became an early Heisman favorite with his performance in a win over Georgia, but a loss the following week to Vanderbilt stunted his odds. Colorado two-way sensation Travis Hunter and Miami quarterback Cam Ward head into Week 7 looking like leading contenders.
Hunter’s candidacy relies on his dizzying snap totals from playing on both sides of the ball. The season-long feasibility of him continuing to do so at a high level just isn’t favorable given the natural attrition.
A lot of football remains, so presumably another frontrunner will emerge. However, should the race come down to Ward and Jeanty, there’s another step for the Boise State running back to consider, based on the last time the Heisman race featured a Miami quarterback and a non-power conference running back.
In 1992, Gino Torretta beat out San Diego State’s Marshall Faulk for the prize, thanks in part to the Hurricanes beating the Aztecs head-to-head. The outcome of that game—a 63-17 romp for The U—was less significant than Faulk missing the marquee showdown with a sprained knee.
As basic as it might seem, there’s a line of coach speak that fits Jeanty’s Heisman roadmap: availability is the best ability. Staying healthy and remaining at the forefront of Boise State’s pursuit of a College Football Playoff berth is paramount—and in a way, it makes Danielson’s decision not to pile unnecessary carries on Jeanty’s workload to pad the stat sheet far more valuable to the back’s Heisman case in the long run.
The last and perhaps most obvious step for Jeanty is to keep producing. Continuing on a Sanders-like pace means Jeanty must do even more down the stretch, given Barry had three regular-season games of 312 yards or more in the back half of Oklahoma State’s 1988 season.
That’s a lofty standard to expect Jeanty to match—the loftiest, if you consider Sanders’ ’88 the sport’s gold standard. But so far, No. 2 has stacked up nicely against No. 21’s standard.
Sports
A'ja Wilson has no shortage of motivation after Aces' early exit in '24
Oct 1, 2024; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Las Vegas Aces center A’ja Wilson (22) and New York Liberty forward Breanna Stewart (30) during game two of the 2024 WNBA Semi-finals at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images LAS VEGAS — Entering her eighth season in the WNBA, Las Vegas Aces superstar A’ja Wilson is poised to build on what was arguably the most dominant individual campaign in league history.
Wilson joined Cynthia Cooper (1997) as the second player in league history to win a unanimous MVP award and joined an exclusive club as the fourth player to win the award three times. She averaged 26.9 points and 11.9 rebounds per game last season and set the all-time single-season mark for points (1,021) and rebounds (451).
Unfortunately for Las Vegas, injuries and fatigue from their two previous championship runs mounted and resulted in the team’s worst regular-season record (27-13) since 2019. The Aces’ three-peat hopes ended with a 76-62 home loss to the New York Liberty to drop their semifinal series 3-1.
It’s that loss on her home floor that served as Wilson’s motivation this offseason.
“Losing sucks, especially on your home court,” Wilson said “It still kind of burns a little bit, but I’ve used that as fuel to help my teammates understand how hard it is to win in this league. Yes, we can celebrate the two championships. They were great. But for us to move forward, we have to understand how hard this league is and value the basketball and the little things. I think that’s what we lacked last season, so we’re going to make sure that we can show up better than we did.”
While the Aces appeared to be on top of the world heading into their potential three-peat campaign in 2024, the reality inside the locker room was that both the internal and external pressure to win another championship had become suffocating. A common theme across media day was the fact that the team feels less pressure entering the 2025 season, a sentiment Wilson shared as the unquestioned leader of the team.
“(Three-peat talks) obviously impacted us, because it’s like, y’all think we don’t want to win? We’re trying as well,” Wilson said.
“I would definitely say it’s refreshing this year. I feel like this is one of my only years where it feels like there’s no weight. There’s a lot of weight to be defending champs. It’s a lot of weight to be trying to win one. We don’t have that. We actually have a clean slate to really dial into getting back to who we are culturally, like, in our system and everything.”
Leading the Aces back to the top of the mountain for a third time in four years is one of a few historically significant achievements Wilson can collect this upcoming season. Wilson could also become the first four-time MVP in league history, though the meaning of that is something she hasn’t quite allowed herself to ponder yet.
“I haven’t given it much thought, but it would be a blessing to have my name in that conversation,” Wilson said. “Every year, I try to be better than I was the year before just to give myself a chance in this league. Because the league is getting better. We’re growing. At this point, you just want to maintain your stamina. You want to maintain your mental, all of that, because the season gets hard. I can’t think too much about that just yet, but I’m definitely going to try to be better than I was last year.”
As Aces coach Becky Hammon put it, fans can expect to see an even better version of Wilson this season.
“What I see is, she went and got better,” Hammon said. “Which is hard to do when you’re already the best, but it speaks to her work ethic, her desire and her mindset this whole offseason. We talked a lot this offseason. She’s a busy lady, but I can tell you what she always does is her workouts. She’s always getting her workouts in. That comes first and foremost, she never gets her priorities jumbled up.”
When Hammon was asked what a player like Wilson would possibly need to improve after last season’s campaign, the coach did not feel like revealing too much.
“There was (something for Wilson to improve), and she did,” Hammon said. “I’m not going to tell you what it was. Actually, there were two things.”
–Will Despart, Field Level Media
Sports
Jacob Wilson joins Aaron Judge in spotlight for Yankees-A's series
May 5, 2025; West Sacramento, California, USA; Athletics shortstop Jacob Wilson (5) throws to first for an out against the Seattle Mariners during the seventh inning at Sutter Health Park. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Lee-Imagn Images The top two hitters in the majors square off Friday night when the New York Yankees face the Athletics in the opener of a three-game series in Sacramento, Calif.
It’s no surprise to see Yankees star Aaron Judge off to a superb start after winning American League MVP honors last season. He has a major league-best .400 batting average and entered Thursday’s play tied for the big-league lead with 12 homers and 34 RBIs.
But who had Athletics rookie Jacob Wilson ranking second in the majors at .357 as the season nears the quarter pole? Wilson has played in just 64 career games and quickly has solidified himself as a future All-Star, perhaps even this season.
Sharing the marquee board with Judge seems quite surreal for the 23-year-old shortstop who was the No. 6 overall pick of the 2023 draft.
“It’s a great feeling, for sure,” Wilson said of his name being mentioned with Judge. “Obviously, everybody has seen what he is doing. It’s pretty incredible watching him do his thing on a daily basis. To be up there with him is pretty cool for me.
“I’m excited to play against him this week and see what it looks like in person.”
Wilson had his first career four-hit game during Wednesday’s 6-5 home loss against the Seattle Mariners and has six multi-hit outings in the past eight games. He went 8-for-14 with one game-winning hit in the three-game series against the Mariners and is 16-for-34 (.471) with four walks during the eight-game stretch.
The hot hitting led to Athletics manager Mark Kotsay moving Wilson to the leadoff spot on Wednesday. Kotsay indicated Wilson may be sticking at the top of the lineup.
“I think you’ll see Jacob up there now,” Kotsay said. “Jacob’s earned it. … Jacob has shown enough over the last week. He’s walking and taking pitches, and, obviously, swinging the bat really well.”
Judge arrives in Sacramento in the midst of a four-game funk in which he is 2-for-15.
The two-time MVP just went 1-for-10 in a three-game home series against the San Diego Padres, but the one hit was a homer.
Judge grew up 50 miles south of Sacramento in Linden and starred for Linden High but wasn’t highly sought by major league teams. The then-Oakland Athletics selected him in the 31st round in 2010.
Judge instead went the college route and starred for Fresno State. He was chosen in the first round (32nd overall) by the Yankees in the 2013 draft.
Trent Grisham was one of the heroes of Wednesday’s 4-3, 10-inning win over the Padres. He hit a tying two-run pinch-hit homer in the eighth inning.
Grisham had two homers and five RBIs in the series against the Padres — one of his former teams — and already has 10 long balls in just 89 at-bats. He hit just nine last season in 179 at-bats.
“I’m having fun with the guys, I would say that more than anything,” Grisham said. “The clubhouse is really good in here, led by Cap (Judge). So, I would say the guys have been the most enjoyable part.”
New York is starting right-hander Will Warren (1-2, 5.65 ERA) in Friday’s series opener. Right-hander Osvaldo Bido (2-2, 4.71) will be on the mound for the Athletics.
Warren, 25, struck out a career-high eight in 4 2/3 innings while losing to the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday. He gave up five runs (three earned) and seven hits. Warren hasn’t previously faced the Athletics.
Bido, 29, received a no-decision against the Miami Marlins last Saturday when he gave up four runs on three hits over five innings. He is winless (0-1) over his last three starts. Bido hasn’t faced the Yankees.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Report: Boxing legend Manny Pacquiao coming out of retirement
Aug 21, 2021; Las Vegas, Nevada; Manny Pacquiao (right) fights Yordenis Ugas in a world welterweight championship bout at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images Boxing legend Manny Pacquiao plans to end his retirement and return to the ring on July 19 against Mario Barrios in Las Vegas, ESPN reported Thursday.
Pacquiao, 46, will be fighting for the first time since losing a unanimous decision to Yordenis Ugas in 2021.
The fight will be for Barrios’ WBC welterweight championship belt. Barrios turns 30 on May 18.
Pacquiao is an eight-division champion who is slated to be inducted into the boxing Hall of Fame in June. He reportedly will formally announce his return to boxing next week. The report stated that Pacquiao has been cleared to compete by the Nevada State Athletic Commission.
In recent years, Pacquiao has been focusing on his political career in the Philippines.
The boxer nicknamed “PacMan” has a 62-8-2 record with 39 knockouts during his career. He won his first major title — the WBC flyweight crown — at age 19 in 1998.
Pacquiao was 54-3-2 prior to turning 33 and 8-5 afterward. One of those losses was to Floyd Mayweather Jr. via unanimous decision in 2015, a bout that reportedly drew nearly $400 million in pay-per-view sales.
Barrios (29-2-1, 18 knockouts) fought to a 12-round, split-decision draw against Abel Ramos last November. This will be his third defense since winning the title by beating Ugas in 2023.
–Field Level Media
A'ja Wilson has no shortage of motivation after Aces' early exit in '24
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