Wisconsin running back Melvin Gordon surpassed 2,000 yards on the season after compiling 200 yards on 31 attempts in a 26-24 victory over Iowa on Saturday.
That brought Gordon’s season total to 2,109 yards with an outing against Minnesota and a likely matchup with Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship game still remaining. This doesn’t even take into account Wisconsin’s bowl game.
In order to surpass Sanders’ mark of 2,628 yards, set in 1988, Gordon would have to average 173.3 yards per game. And while that’s an absurdly high number, it’s important to note that he is already averaging nearly 192 yards thus far this season.
Next week, Wisconsin takes on a Minnesota team that is coming off a surprise win against Nebraska on Saturday. The Golden Gophers are yielding an average of 152.7 rushing yards per game. If Wisconsin proves victorious in that game, it will then match up with Ohio State, who ranks fifth in the Big Ten against the rush.
Kevin Smith, formerly of Central Florida, came the closest to breaking Sanders’ single-season record when he put up 2,567 yards in 2007. Marcus Allen ranks third on the list with 2,342 yards in 1981.
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