Flashback to 2014. The Wisconsin Badgers came into their Freedom Trophy rivalry game against Nebraska with a 7-2 record and ranked 20th in the nation. The Huskers were ranked 16th and were 8-1 on the season. It was a typical cold November day in Madison, with the game temperature at 26 degrees.
Both teams featured star running backs. Nebraska’s Ameer Abdullah has rushed for 1250 yards and averaged 6.7 YPC coming into this game. Conversely, Wisconsin had Melvin Gordon with 1501 rushing yards and was coming off his third 200-yard performance last week in a 34-16 Badgers win at Purdue.
The Huskers controlled the first quarter of the game. An opening drive fumble in Badger territory by Kenzel Doe led to a 32-yard field goal by Nebraska's Josh Brown. Nebraska extended their lead to 10-0 over Wisconsin on their second drive with a 12-yard pass from Tommy Armstrong, Jr. to Kenny Bell.
The Badgers responded with Melvin Gordon breaking free on the near sideline for a 42-yard gain into Husker territory, a foreshadowing of plays to come. Rafael Gaglianone converted a 26-yard field goal, but Nebraska extended their lead after a Gordon fumble. The Huskers ran eight consecutive times with handoffs to Abdullah and quarterback keepers from Armstrong, whose five-yard touchdown run made it 17-3 Huskers.
That was when the momentum shifted to Wisconsin. Quarterback Joel Stave beat the Nebraska blitz to find Jordan Fredrick for an 11-yard gain and a first down. Here's what Gordon did on the very next play.
#TouchdownTuesday@BadgerFootball RB @Melvingordon25 was historically great vs. Nebraska in 2014, and on this TD, en route to racking up a then-record 408 (!) yards. pic.twitter.com/9R9rRaUqwW
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) July 3, 2018
After both teams traded turnovers, Gordon broke free from Husker defenders for a 39-yard gain. Backup Corey Clement rushed in for a 17-yard touchdown, and Wisconsin was tied with Nebraska, 17-17. The Huskers went three-and-out and punted, where Gordon once again found a rushing lane and gained 44 yards into Husker territory. Wisconsin drove to the Nebraska five-yard line, where Stave connected with tight end Sam Arneson on third-and-goal to give the Badgers their first game lead, 24-17.
Melvin Gordon had 238 rushing yards on 16 carries at the end of the half. Those numbers from Gordon were no big surprise to Badgers fans, but not after one half.
What happened in the third quarter was nothing short of physical domination from the Wisconsin offensive line and for the future Doak Walker Award winner.
Linebacker Vince Biegel stripped Abdullah of the ball on Nebraska's second drive of the third quarter. Wisconsin used a 13-yard pass to Alex Erickson to enter Husker territory. On second-and-nine from the Nebraska 44-yard line, Melvin Gordon got the handoff on a jet sweep and raced past the Blackshirt defense on the near sideline down to the one-yard line, where he scored on the next play.
Another three-and-out led the Huskers to punt to the Wisconsin 26-yard line. On first down, the Badgers offensive line opened up a gaping rushing hole that everyone in the stands could run through. The result? A 68-yard carry for Melvin Gordon gave him 363 yards, which set a new single-game rushing record in Wisconsin history. Gordon added six more yards on the next play for the touchdown—38-17 Wisconsin.
That lead ballooned to 45-17 despite modest gains from Melvin Gordon. The Huskers failed to set the edges and make poor tackles on Wisconsin running plays. A Badger misdirection play fooled the Blackshirt defense where it appeared Gordon got the ball, but Tanner McEvoy kept it for an 11-yard score. Gordon had 382 yards in the game by this point, and it was not even the fourth quarter.
Nebraska's misery did not end there. Wisconsin recovered a fumble on a botched handoff to Abdullah, and the Badger offense returned. On first down, Joel Stave threw incomplete. With six seconds remaining in the third quarter and the Badgers at the Husker 26-yard line, here was the call from Matt Lepay on the Badger Radio Network.
""2nd-and-10 from the Nebraska 26-yard line. Here comes Melvin to the 25, to the 20, 15, 10, 5, Touchdown! Wisconsin! Record-braking run! Melvin Gordon! 4...0...8!!""Matt Lepay
It was Gordon's final carry, as the game was well in hand at 52-17. Wisconsin defeated Nebraska 59-24 with 581 rushing yards total. It was a complete domination up front by the Badgers' stellar offensive line and Melvin Gordon. Had Gordon played in the fourth quarter, he could have reached the 450 yard mark.
This Saturday, Gordon, who criticized the current state of Badger football, will be honored at Camp Randall Stadium to celebrate the anniversary of his dominant performance.