How Ashton Jeanty Can Break Barry Sanders’ NCAA Rushing Records
Boise State star running back and Heisman Trophy candidate Ashton Jeanty just finished one of the best seasons ever by a collegiate running back. And if things had gone according to plan for Jeanty’s Broncos, he could have as many as two more games to keep climbing up the NCAA’s single-season leaderboards in multiple categories.
The rushing record was set more than a decade before Jeanty was born, and he bore down on a feat that predates the entire FBS era of Boise State football. Here’s where Jeanty's 2024 season stands in college football history and a deep dive on the records he was chasing.
Who Holds the NCAA FBS Single-Season Rushing Record?
Oklahoma State legend Barry Sanders. He ran for 2,628 yards in 11 games with the Cowboys in 1988, an all-time season that earned him Heisman Trophy and All-America honors. Because the NCAA didn’t count postseason (bowl games) statistics at the time, Sanders’ 222 yards 29 carries against Wyoming in the 1988 Holiday Bowl do not officially count toward his season or career totals to this day. That game would have put Sanders at 2,850 rushing yards for the season.
The closest any player has come to Sanders’ high-water mark was Melvin Gordon, who racked up 2,587 yards in 14 games for Wisconsin in 2014. The Big Ten Championship Game and Outback Bowl counted toward that total.
Who Holds the Single-Season Rushing Touchdown Record?
Also Sanders. He ran for a whopping 37 touchdowns in 11 games in 1988 – not counting five in the 1988 Holiday Bowl, which would have brought his total to 42. Another Wisconsin running back, Montee Ball, came the closest to catching Sanders in that department. Ball ran for 33 scores in 14 games in 2011. Only six players have ever recorded 30-plus rushing touchdowns in a single season.
The Barry Sanders statue was unveiled in front of a sea of fans prior to Oklahoma States football game again the TCU Horned Frogs on Saturday, November 13, 2021 at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Oklahoma.
Nicholas Rutledge
Do Postseason Bowl Stats Count Toward NCAA Records?
Yes, but they haven’t always.
“The NCAA statistics staff makes policies and rules on statistical matters, with input from the membership schools and conferences mainly through the sports information department community,” NCAA Associate Director of Communications Greg Johnson told Athlon Sports via email. “Whereas statistics from bowl games didn’t count towards season or career totals prior to 2002, the NCAA staff made a policy change after considerable discussion with the membership. Currently, this is not up for reconsideration.”
Sanders’ 222 yards and five touchdowns in the 1988 Holiday Bowl don’t count toward his record. With his bowl stats included, Sanders would have a whopping 2,850 rushing yards and 42 rushing touchdowns over 12 games.
Jeanty already has played 12 regular-season games plus the conference championship and any further stats he accrues will count toward his pursuit of Sanders’ official records of 2,628 yards and 37 touchdowns.
How Many Rushing Yards and Touchdowns Does Ashton Jeanty Have?
Jeanty leads the FBS with 2,601 rushing yards. His 29 rushing touchdowns are good for second behind Army quarterback Bryson Daily (32). Jeanty ran for 104 yards in the College Football Playoff quarterfinal, a 31-14 loss to Penn State that ended the Broncos season. He also added 201 in the Mountain West championship win against UNLV, which clinched Boise State's playoff spot, as well as a bye as a top-four seed.
How Can Jeanty Surpass Sanders?
Jeanty needed 28 more yards to surpass Sanders for the official NCAA FBS single-season record. The Nittany Lions held him to 3.5 yards per carry in the Fiesta Bowl, his lowest average in any game this season.
Ashton Jeanty ran for 192 yards and three touchdowns in a loss at Oregon in September.
Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK
Sanders' unofficial records from 1988 put him 249 yards and 13 touchdowns ahead of Jeanty's 2024 stats.
How Does the Rushing Leaderboard Change with Postseason Bowl Stats Included?
Sanders would still be the all-time leader with his Holiday Bowl stats included. Here’s how the top 10 single-season rushing leaderboard would look if bowl stats counted toward official NCAA records before 2002.
| Rank | Player | School | Year | Total Rushing Yards | Regular Season Rushing Yards | Postseason Rushing Yards |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Barry Sanders | Oklahoma State | 1988 | 2,850 | 2,628 | 222 |
2 | Ashton Jeanty | Boise State | 2024 | 2,601 | 2,497 | 104 |
3 | Melvin Gordon | Wisconsin | 2014 | 2,587 | 2,260 | 327 |
4 | Kevin Smith | UCF | 2007 | 2,567 | 2,448 | 119 |
5 | Marcus Allen | USC | 1981 | 2,427 | 2,342 | 85 |
6 | Mike Rozier | Nebraska | 1983 | 2,295 | 2,148 | 147 |
7 | Rashaad Penny | San Diego State | 2017 | 2,248 | 2,027 | 221 |
8 | Alabama | 2015 | 2,219 | 1,986 | 233 | |
9 | Wisconsin | 2018 | 2,194 | 1,989 | 205 | |
10 | Troy Davis | Iowa State | 1996 | 2,185 | 2,185 | N/A |
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