On New Year’s Eve, Drew Allar and the Penn State Nittany Lions defeated the Boise State Broncos and their star running back Ashton Jeanty, 31-14, in the VRBO Fiesta Bowl and College Football Playoff quarterfinals.
Social media was quick to express its disappointment in Jeanty, a Heisman finalist, and Boise State’s defeat.
Social Media Reacts Ashton Jeanty, Boise State Falling Short
Against Penn State, Jeanty rushed 30 times for 104 yards and no touchdowns. He also added three receptions for 22 yards, but the Broncos musted just two scores.
Although Jeanty had one of the most remarkable running back seasons in college football history, he was unable to break the single-season rushing record set by NFL legend Barry Sanders in 1988. The NFL Hall of Famer posted 2,628 yards in 11 games (bowl games did not count for official stats at the time). Jeanty’s 2024 ended with 2,601 yards in 14 games.
In response, one user explained how disappointed Jeanty fans must be after the tough loss.
Jeanty heisman supporters are in shambles tonight
— Stanley Swanson (@StanleySwanson0) January 1, 2025
Jeanty, of course, was a Heisman finalist in one of the closer votes in recent memory. Ultimately, he fell just short of Colorado two-way star Travis Hunter for the rights to the Heisman Trophy.
Another individual detailed their belief that the Broncos played better than the Nittany Lions, despite the score and Jeanty failing to take over.
Boise looked like the better team tonight outside of a handful of boneheaded plays… and about 5 awful calls by the refs
— HEREFORAMC (@HEREFORAMC1) January 1, 2025
“Boise looked like the better team tonight outside of a handful of bone-headed plays… and about five awful calls by the refs,” a fan outlined.
Jeanty fumbled twice, losing one and setting Boise State back. The Broncos turned the ball over four times in the loss and had to move away from the run game that defined their season.
The playoff committee really has to do a better job next year. Penn State has had an easy draw so far.
— Shawn Carlson (@carltoon1969) January 1, 2025
Finally, one social media user took a different tone, explaining how the Fiesta Bowl was more evidence of the 12-team playoff system needing more refinement.
“The playoff committee really has to do a better job next year,” they said. “Penn State has had an easy draw so far.”
Jeanty 2025 NFL Draft Projection
Jeanty was only 27 yards behind the single-season rushing yards record set by Sanders in 1988. Subsequently, Jeanty is expected to be taken early in the 2025 NFL Draft.
This sentiment was shared by Pro Football Network’s Owain Jones in his recent 2025 NFL Mock Draft.
Jones projected Jeanty to be taken No. 21 overall by the Los Angeles Chargers, pairing quarterback Justin Herbert with a star-bound back.
“Ashton Jeanty is one of the top overall prospects in the 2025 NFL Draft,” Jones wrote. “However, could his positional value and lack of top-end athleticism slip him down the board?
“The Boise State rusher may not have the unique athleticism of Saquon Barkley or Bijan Robinson, but his skill set is complete. With some of the best vision we have seen in college football, Jeanty is a missed-tackle-generating machine due to his elite contact balance and low center of gravity.”