The numbers Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty produced through the first two-thirds of the regular season already place him among the most productive running backs of the past vintage.

The numbers he needs to put up to become the first player since 1991 to win the Heisman Trophy representing a program outside the power conferences are astronomical.

Jeanty’s production during the first half of the season drew comparisons to Barry Sanders’ mythical performance at Oklahoma State in 1988 – and the parallels were not unfounded. However, it is imperative that Jeanty’s Heisman candidacy sheds comparisons of his performance to Sanders’.

Jeanty is on pace for one of the best seasons in college football history; Sanders’ 1988 campaign is the greatest of all time. Setting the benchmark for the best season ever will set Jeanty up for failure in the eyes of the public.

And after all, it is public perception that determines the Heisman. College football’s highest individual honor has no specific criteria, spoken or unspoken, that guarantees a path to victory.

There are some numbers that, if Jeanty can achieve by the time the Heisman is awarded in December, may not win him the award, but should give him the best possible chance — even if his pursuit of Sanders’ records falls short.

2,500 meters

Jeanty has rushed for 1,525 yards in just eight games, about 250 more than the nation’s second-most productive ball carrier — Iowa’s Kaleb Johnson — has gained in nine games. The Boise State defenseman is just 208 yards away from eclipsing national leader Ollie Gordon II, who scored in 14 games a season ago.

Running past Gordon’s 2,023 total in Boise State’s game with Nevada on Nov. 9 would be a good start to sending Jeanty to a major milestone: 2,500 yards.

With the Broncos still having four regular season games left on the schedule and a potential appearance in the Mountain West Championship Game, Jeanty could get five chances to gain just under 1,000 yards.

Only three rushers in college football history have reached 2,500 yards. Two of them – UCF’s Kevin Smith in 2007 and Melvin Gordon in 2014 – didn’t do so until their bowl games.

If Jeanty can reach 2,500 yards during Conference Championship Week, he will join Sanders as the only players to ever reach that milestone in the regular season.

32 Touchdowns

With his two touchdowns scored against San Diego State in Week 11, Jeanty enters the stretch run with 20 rushing touchdowns for the season. That’s an average of 2.5 end zone trips per game, a pace that will put him at 32 this season if he keeps it up for five more games.

Only five players have ever carried 30 or more touchdowns in a season; only Sanders and Wisconsin’s Montee Ball scored 32 or more for their bowl game in 2011. Ball was a Heisman finalist in 2011 after reaching that goal, and he did so without reaching the all-important 2,000-yard milestone.

If Jeanty can get 32 ​​touchdowns, coupled with a yardage well over 2,000, he will again be in a club with Sanders alone for a running back in his best year ever.

> 1, 21 and 25

As meaningful as statistical performance is to any Heisman case, standing out against quality competition is just as important. Jeanty has maximized his chances against big opponents this season, most notably his 192 yards on 25 carries with three touchdowns against the currently top-ranked team in the country, Oregon.

For some additional context, that’s 70 more yards than the Ducks defense allows per play.

Keeping the top spot in Oregon’s College Football Playoff rankings is good for Jeanty. That includes Washington state’s rise in the commission’s weekly poll.

Jeanty absolutely decimated the No. 21-ranked Cougars on September 28, rushing for 259 yards and four touchdowns on just 26 carries. Should we reach the end of the season with two of Jeanty’s best games against teams ranked high in the Playoff poll, that will alleviate some of the criticism inherent in playing in a non-autonomy conference.

But both games fell in September. The Heisman is very much a ‘what-have-you-done-for-me-lately’ award, and a big performance in November or December is imperative.

To that end, Boise State supporters must become vehement UNLV supporters the rest of the way.

The Rebels briefly broke into the Top 25 this season and would likely do so again if they win and move to 10-2. That would also set up a Mountain West Championship rematch, with Jeanty facing a third potentially ranked opponent — and with the rare opportunity to get a Mulligan on what was his worst statistical game of the season.