GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Ashton Jeanty took the handoff on Boise State's first play and made it just a few steps before being greeted by a wall of dark blue Penn State jerseys that swallowed him up and shoved him backward for no gain.
A dream season was about to end with a rough night for the Broncos star.
Jeanty — the Heisman Trophy runner-up — ran for a season-low 104 yards on 30 carries as No. 6 seed Penn State beat No. 3 seed Boise State 31-14 in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals Tuesday night. The Broncos never led, struggling to establish their run game after falling behind 14-0 in the first quarter.
“Ashton Jeanty's the best football player in the country, period. Point blank,” Boise State coach Spencer Danielson said. "You're always ready for those explosive plays. We believe in wearing a defense out.
“But it's hard when you're digging yourself out of a two-score (hole)."
Jeanty finished with 2,601 yards rushing this season, falling just short of the Football Bowl Subdivision record. Heisman Trophy winner Barry Sanders ran for 2,628 yards with Oklahoma State in 1988. Sanders accomplished his mark in just 11 games, while Jeanty played 14.
Penn State coach James Franklin said he had a “highly motivated group” that wanted to keep Jeanty from setting the single-season record.
“He's an impressive guy, but we're pretty good on defense,” Franklin said. “I thought our D-line did a really good job of being disruptive and getting in the backfield. Then I thought we did a good job gang tackling. There were a few times we didn't wrap like we should, but for the most part our defense played lights out.”
Jeanty moved from fourth place to second on the single-season chart with his Fiesta Bowl performance, passing UCF’s Kevin Smith (2,567 yards rushing in 2007) and then Wisconsin’s Melvin Gordon (2,587 in 2014).
The 5-foot-9, 215-pound Jeanty gained just 39 yards on 13 carries in the first half as the Broncos fell behind 17-7, rarely finding room to operate except for a 12-yard gain up the middle in the first quarter. Penn State's defensive front has been one of the best in the nation this season and proved it once again, meeting Jeanty with a host of tacklers on most plays.
“It wasn't really that they did anything extraordinary," Jeanty said. "They executed and tackled.”
Jeanty finally broke free for a 26-yard gain early in the fourth with the Broncos trailing 24-14, slicing through Penn State's defense to kickstart a promising drive. But then Jonah Dalmas missed slightly to the right on a 38-yard field goal try that would have made it a one-possession game.
Jeanty was hindered by the fact that Boise State was never in good position to run the ball consistently. Playing catch-up the whole evening, the Broncos had to lean more on quarterback Maddux Madsen and the passing game.
It didn't work. Madsen threw for 304 yards and a touchdown, but also three interceptions.
Jeanty also lost a fumble in the first quarter, which was just his third of the season.
“We didn't play our best. I didn't take care of the ball,” Jeanty said. “That's why we weren't able to get the job done.”
Even with the sour ending, Jeanty’s season was one of the best ever for a college running back. He topped 100 yards in all 14 games and went over 200 in six of them, leading the team to 12 wins and a second straight Mountain West title.
“They re-established the standard of Boise to be a light on the hill to the country that had been lost for a little bit,” Danielson said. “I'm so proud of them for doing that. That's a legacy that can never be taken from them.”
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Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty (2) runs as Penn State linebacker Kobe King (41) pursues during the first half of the Fiesta Bowl NCAA college football CFP quarterfinal game, Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Boise State quarterback Maddux Madsen hands off to running back Ashton Jeanty (2) during the first half of the Fiesta Bowl NCAA college football CFP quarterfinal game against Penn State, Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty (2) runs the ball against Penn State during the first half of the Fiesta Bowl NCAA college football CFP quarterfinal game, Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty (2) eludes the reach of Penn State safety Zakee Wheatley (6) during the second half of the Fiesta Bowl NCAA college football CFP quarterfinal game, Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
MIAMI (AP) — Jimmy Butler was Miami's best player for five years, the leader of a team that went to the NBA Finals twice in his tenure. He talked big and, at times, played bigger. He spoke with reverence for the city, for the franchise, for the famed “Heat Culture.”
He also missed a lot of games, seemed unhappy at times and then didn't get a $113 million extension that he was eligible for last summer.
And now, a breakup looms.
One day after Butler said that he doesn't think he can find on-court joy in Miami going forward, the Heat suspended him for seven games and said they will listen to trade offers — a clear sign that they do not expect him to wear their uniform again.
“We have suspended Jimmy Butler for seven games for multiple instances of conduct detrimental to the team over the course of the season and particularly the last several weeks,” the team said in a statement Friday night. “Through his actions and statements, he has shown he no longer wants to be part of this team.”
Butler will lose about $336,543 per game during the suspension, about $2,355,798 in all. He has the right to an appeal, which could lessen the financial hit.
Butler will not be with the team for its home game Saturday against Utah and then the totality of a six-game road trip to Sacramento, Golden State, Utah, Portland, the Los Angeles Clippers and the Los Angeles Lakers.
In theory, the earliest that Butler could play again for the Heat is Jan. 17 at home against Denver. But he has likely played for Miami for the final time.
“Jimmy Butler and his representative have indicated that they wish to be traded, therefore, we will listen to offers,” the Heat said.
Butler's agent, Bernie Lee, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The team saying it's open to moving the six-time All-Star is a sharp turnaround from a week ago, when Heat President Pat Riley said that the team would not trade Butler.
That was then. Now, the relationship between Butler and the Heat — a talking point for weeks — appears to be well past the breaking point.
The Heat lost to Indiana 128-115 on Thursday night, with Butler scoring exactly nine points and sitting out the fourth quarter for the second consecutive game. It also happened Wednesday in a win over New Orleans.
“What do I want to see happen? I want to see me get my joy back from playing basketball, wherever that may be — we’ll find out here pretty soon,” Butler said after Thursday's game. “I want to get my joy back. I’m happy here, off the court, but I want to be back to somewhere dominant. I want to hoop and I want to help this team win. Right now, I’m not doing that.”
He was then asked if he can find that joy in Miami. “Probably not,” Butler said, and with that, his postgame news conference ended.
Most likely, so did his Heat tenure.
“Who moves the needle the most on our team is Jimmy,” Riley said in May, after last season ended. “Jimmy moves the needle the most. He’s an incredible player.”
Butler left a mark in Miami over his 5 1/2 seasons — eighth in team history in points, eighth in assists, eighth in steals, all of that in just 313 appearances. And in the playoffs, he was exceptional: There have been 18 games of 40 or more points in team postseason history and Butler is responsible for eight of them, including a record 56-point night against Milwaukee in the 2023 playoffs.
The 35-year-old Butler became eligible last summer for an extension. The Heat did not offer one, and Riley expressed reservations about how giving such a deal to any player who misses a big number of games.
Butler has missed about one of every four Heat contests since he joined the team. He said at media day this fall he believed his play this season would have the extension decision “take care of itself.”
“I guess I’ve got to go and hoop. ... I’ve got to prove that I am a major part of winning and rightfully so. I’ve done it before. This is no different,” Butler said then.
It didn't happen.
The bad breakup won't be the first for the Heat — LeBron James left in 2014, Dwyane Wade left before eventually returning, Shaquille O'Neal got traded — and won't be the first for Butler, either.
There are parallels to what’s happening in Miami now and the end of Butler’s time in Minnesota.
In 2018, Butler was months away from potentially becoming a free agent (as is the case now) and was unhappy with the Timberwolves (as is the case now, just with the Heat). He said in an interview with ESPN — after an infamous practice where he shredded teammates with his play and his words — that he wanted to hear the Wolves saying, “We need you. We want you here. We can’t do this without you.”
His words from Tuesday in Miami suggested the same, that he’s not feeling the level of love that he wanted from the Heat. “It’s good to be talked about. Even better to be wanted, though. Remember that,” Butler said after a practice session.
Eventually, Butler got his way. Minnesota traded him to Philadelphia — and then he got his way again less than a year later, when he agreed to join the Heat after a sign-and-trade. He said he wanted to be in Miami to finish his career.
Both sides were rewarded along the way. Butler has made about $200 million in salary in his 5 1/2 Heat seasons (with another $25 million still coming this season), and the Heat got to enjoy two runs to the NBA Finals.
It worked. Until it didn't.
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba
Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler is introduced before an NBA basketball game against the New Orleans Pelicans Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler (22) stands on the court during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the New Orleans Pelicans, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler, third from left, and forward Duncan Robinson, right, watch from the bench during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Indiana Pacers Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler (22) and center Bam Adebayo, left, are introduced before an NBA basketball game against the Indiana Pacers Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler warms up on the court before an NBA basketball game against the Indiana Pacers Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
