Ashton Jeanty is an instant touchdown. Also Jalen Royals

If you like offense and explosive plays, the first half of Utah State's Mountain West Conference opener against Boise State is a must-watch.

In the first two quarters of play on Smurf Turf, Boise State scored 49 points and totaled 439 yards of offense.

Utah State didn't come close with 17 points, but the Aggies had 337 yards of offense.

The combined 776 yards of offense in the first half were the most in a half in all of college football this season.

Both teams can thank their biggest stars for the breakout. For Boise State that means running back Ashton Jeanty and for Utah State that means wide receiver Jalen Royals.

The duo were outstanding and even record-breaking for their respective teams in the first half.

What did Ashton Jeanty do in the first half against Utah State?

Jeanty didn't need long on Saturday to show why he's considered a bona fide Heisman Trophy candidate this season.

On the Boise State offense's first play from scrimmage, Jeanty broke free and rushed for a 63-yard touchdown run.

He was blocked on his next four runs, but he did it again on the fifth with a 75-yard scoring dash.

All told, Jeanty carried the ball 13 times and rushed for 186 yards and three scores in the first half, averaging 14.3 yards per carry.

However, Jeanty's impact went far beyond his own explosive runs. His mere presence on the field – the attention he drew from the Aggie defense – made it easy for BSU quarterback Maddux Madsen to throw three touchdowns while completing 17 of 20 passes.

As good as Madsen was, Jeanty was the biggest standout for Boise State and he has now rushed for 1,000 yards on the ground in four and a half games this season. He is the first player in all of college football to reach that mark this season.

To say that Jeanty deserves the attention he gets is perhaps an understatement.

What did the Jalen Royals do in the first half against Boise State?

As good as Jeanty was for Boise State, Royals were almost as good for Utah State. Considering the state of the game and the quality of the teams, it might have been even better.

The senior wide receiver — who was recently mentioned by The Athletic's Dan Brugler as a possible first-round draft pick in the 2025 NFL Draft — took a little while to get going, but once he did, it was something you could keep an eye on.

The Royals finished the half with eight catches for 200 yards and two touchdowns. Those touchdowns? One was for 59 yards, the other for 75.

The connection between Spencer Petras and the Jalen Royals was about the only real bright spot in the first half for Utah State, with the Royals' 75-yard TD reception being the longest play of the season for the Aggies.

With the breakout in the first half, the Royals literally entered the Utah State record books.

Entering the game, he ranked 8th all-time in school history in career touchdown receptions. He now ranks fifth all-time with 19 in his career.

The multi-touchdown game is the fifth of the Royals' career and he now has nine touchdown receptions of 50 or more yards.

More history could await him too. The USU school record for most receiving yards in a game was set in 2000 against Boise State when Aaron Jones had 297. Given the Aggies' deficit on Saturday, it wouldn't be crazy to see the Royals break that mark.

The Royals are a legitimate NFL contender, the first in a few years for the program.

Brugler writes: “Royals is a playmaker with draftable talent. His size is normal (5-11 1/2, 193 pounds), but he is an explosive athlete with the excellent ball skills needed to make big plays.”