On Jan. 1, 2015, in Tampa, Melvin Gordon played in the Outback Bowl with history in sight. He just wanted 292 yards to tie Barry Sanders for the highest single-season rushing mark in college football. But in the end, Gordon had done almost everything to reach that milestone, only to fall short.
Wisconsin Star Melvin Gordon Nearly Made a Rushing Mark But Falls Short
Nov 26, 2023; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Chargers running back Austin Ekeler (30) talks with Baltimore Ravens running back Melvin Gordon III (33) before the NFL game at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-USA TODAY Sports
In the 2015 Outback Bowl, Gordon led the No. 18 Wisconsin Badgers football team to a 34-31 overtime win over the Auburn Tigers football team. The star ran 34 times for 251 yards and three TDs. That brought his total for the season to 2,587 yards. The credentials details matter here. Sanders ran for 2,628 yards for Oklahoma football in 1988. Gordon finished 41 yards short.
He attacked Auburn from the first drive. He slipped through tight gaps. He punished LBs at the second level. In the 3rd quarter, he tied the game 14-14 with a 25-yard TD burst. Then came the play everyone remembers. From Wisconsin’s own 47-yard line, then interim coach Barry Alvarez changed the game on fourth-and-1. Gordon broke through the line, kept his balance near the sideline, and went for 53 yards for the score.
After the game, Gordon said on the ESPN broadcast, “I just wanted to win this game for my team.” He never chased the record in words. He chased yards.
Back on Nov. 15, 2014, Gordon torched Nebraska for 408 yards in a single game. That game made the record talk real. He climbed past Marcus Allen and Kevin Smith on the NCAA list during the bowl game itself. Each carry in Tampa carried a weight.
There is also context. Sanders’ 2,628 yards in 1988 did not include his 222-yard bowl performance because the NCAA did not count bowl stats before 2002. If those yards counted, the mark would stand at 2,850.
Gordon left Wisconsin with a win, a statement, and a record that slipped away by 41 hard yards. Impressed by his gaming style. You can hire Gordon through Mayfield Marketing. Not only him, but you can also book Green Bay Packers players from their website. Here are the details.
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