Melvin Gordon sets FBS rushing record with 408 yards vs. Huskers

MADISON, Wis. -- Melvin Gordon had one magnificent day.

Wisconsin's star running back rushed for a major college-record 408 yards and four touchdowns, and the Badgers (No. 20 CFP, No. 22 AP) overcame three early turnovers to take control of the Big Ten West division with a 59-24 win Saturday over Nebraska (No. 16 CFP, No 11 AP).

Gordon eclipsed the single-game mark held since 1999 by TCU's LaDainian Tomlinson by 2 yards, setting the new standard on a 26-yard touchdown run on the final play of the third quarter and his last carry of the game.

"Yeah, I didn't even know I was close to the record," Gordon said. "I was kind of just running away."

Tomlinson saluted the Badgers' star on Twitter after he set the mark.

Outdueling Nebraska's Ameer Abdullah in a matchup of star running backs, Gordon had two fumbles before helping the Badgers (8-2, 5-1) roar past the Cornhuskers (8-2, 4-2) with 49 straight points.

The star junior torched what had been a staunch Nebraska defense on 25 carries and delivered an emphatic statement in the Heisman Trophy race.

Abdullah finished with 69 yards on 18 attempts.

The game had been billed in part as a footrace between Gordon and Abdullah for Heisman votes.

It ended up being Gordon by a landslide.

Gordon's most entertaining carry might have been the 62-yarder down the sideline, completed after hurdling over lunging safety Corey Cooper around the 35 to get into the clear.

Gordon never played a down in the fourth quarter with his team leading by five scores. About the most action he got was when he danced on the field in the snow with his teammates while the song "Jump Around" echoed through the stadium, a Wisconsin tradition before the fourth quarter.

"Melvin Gordon! Melvin Gordon," the crowd roared in the second half.

The single-game rushing record had stood since Nov. 20, 1999, when Tomlinson had 406 for TCU against UTEP.

As a comparison, Wake Forest has played 10 games this season and has rushed 317 times for 341 yards.

The all-time NCAA Division I record is 437 yards, which was set by North Carolina A&T's Maurice Hicks in 2001 against Morgan State.

The NCAA all-division record is 441 yards by Marietta's Dante Brown against Baldwin Wallace in 1996.

Gordon thanked his coaches for sticking with him after his two fumbles.

"It's a luxury that I've never had before as a coach," Wisconsin's Gary Andersen said. "To see a performance like that was amazing."

It was hard to believe that Nebraska actually led 17-3 with 14:12 left in the second quarter on quarterback Tommy Armstrong's 5-yard touchdown run. The Cornhuskers' early scores came on short fields because of Wisconsin turnovers.

Nebraska fell apart from there. Gordon powered the offense, while the Wisconsin defense applied nonstop pressure.

The win, coupled with Minnesota's 31-24 loss earlier Saturday to Ohio State, gave the Badgers' sole possession of first place in the West.

Wisconsin finally surged ahead 24-17 on Saturday night on Joel Stave's 5-yard touchdown pass to Sam Arneson with 3:31 left the second quarter.

The rushing attack then left the Cornhuskers in the dust. Gordon scored three times in the third quarter, while dual-threat quarterback Tanner McEvoy, who alternated with Stave, added an 11-yard touchdown run.

It was 52-17 by the start of the fourth, with backups littering both lineups the rest of the way.

Armstrong finished with 17 yards on 20 carries, but was just 6-of-18 passing for 62 yards with an interception. He connected with Kenny Bell for a 12-yard touchdown pass early in the first quarter.

But what had been a promising start for Nebraska turned into an embarrassing loss in the snow.

Gordon stole the show.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.