The war of words over the Heisman Trophy is on.
Days after Colorado head coach Deion Sanders declared the race over, crowning Travis Hunter the award winner, Boise State head coach Spencer Danielson had a different idea.
“Absolutely not,” when asked by a reporter during a press conference if the Heisman race was over.
While he didn’t want to get into too many details, with the Broncos having one more game to play before Heisman votes are tallied, Danielson took the chance to boost his team’s candidate — running back Ashton Jeanty — and take a shot at Sanders in the process.
“Ashton Jeanty is the best football player in the country,” Danielson said. “For me, if you’re one of the best players in the country, you play in the championship game.”
After finishing 11-1, Boise State will take on UNLV in the Mountain West title game on Friday night.
Colorado, which went 9-3, didn’t play well enough to make the Big 12 championship game, which will feature Arizona State and Iowa State.
Danielson’s comments appeared to be a direct crack at Sanders’ words after the Buffaloes’ 52-0 victory over Oklahoma State on Saturday.
“I think Travis clinched the Heisman with his performance,” Sanders said. “You’ve never seen it before, he’s the best player in college football. Travis Hunter proved today, and he’s proved every day, that he’s the best player in college football.”
Hunter and Jeanty are widely considered the two favorites to win this season’s Heisman.
Hunter, a rare wide receiver/cornerback two-way star, has 92 receptions for 1,152 yards and 14 touchdowns on the offensive end with 31 tackles, four interceptions and a forced fumble on defense.
Jeanty is having one of the best college seasons from a running back ever, with 2,288 rushing yards and 29 total touchdowns.