Ashton Jeanty reveals bet with Boise State teammate that fuels his Heisman chase

Heisman Trophy favorite Ashton Jeanty has more than the pursuit of the prestigious accolade fuelling him this season.

The Boise State running back leads the nation with 1,031 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns through just five games, averaging an enormous 10.9 yards per carry. The junior's sensational form has lifted him to the top of the betting for the Heisman, ahead of Colorado sensation Travis Hunter and Miami quarterback Cam Ward.

A bet with a teammate, offensive lineman Mason Randolph, has given Jeanty extra motivation to keep his foot on the gas pedal heading into the business end of the season. Jeanty risks losing his prized dyed-blond dreadlocks if he does not reach 2,000 rushing yards by the end of the campaign.

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"So if I don't rush for 2,000 yards, I've got to cut my locks off," he revealed to ESPN. "It looks like I'm pretty close so I think I'm good for right now. [If I reach 2,000 yards], Mason says he's going to get the amount of yards I rush for tatted on him."

The 20-year-old's incredible start to the season is summed up by the fact he is already more than 350 yards clear atop the rushing leaders, putting him on pace for almost 2,500 yards by the end of the regular season. Hall of Famer Barry Sanders holds the all-time single-season record of 2,628, set in 1988 with Oklahoma State.

His numbers are all the more remarkable considering he only played the first half against Portland State, sitting out the second half with 127 yards on the ground to his name. Jeanty's unstoppable form also almost yielded a remarkable victory on the road at No. 3 Oregon in September, rushing for 192 yards and three touchdowns, only to suffer a 37-34 defeat with a walk-off field goal in Eugene.

Jeanty has taken an unusual route to the top of college football, spending his formative years on a military base in Italy where his father was stationed. He believes the experience has helped him as a man and a player.

"It was different," he admitted. "Most people don't get to leave their country, their state, but not only to live overseas and be able to play sports, traveling to different countries – Germany, France, Spain."I got to see the world at a young age and play football. I'm not going to lie, the competition wasn't always the best, but the biggest thing I got from it was the experience. I got to see a lot of different things and just become more cultured."

Jeanty and No. 17 Boise State (4-1) are back in action on Saturday, traveling to Honolulu to face Mountain West rivals Hawaii.