Nebraska-Wisconsin final score: 3 things we learned from the Badgers’ 59-24 win

Saturday’s matchup of two of the best running backs in the country did not disappoint, as Melvin Gordon and the No. 20 Wisconsin Badgers beat Ameer Abdullah and the No. 16 Nebraska Cornhuskers 59-24. Gordon set the FBS record with 408 rushing yards on 25 carries, scoring four touchdowns in a dominating performance.

Nebraska jumped out to an early lead after taking advantage of some Wisconsin mistakes. Two Badger fumbles and a poor punt resulted in great field position for the Huskers. They were able to score 17 points on those three resulting drives, taking an early 17-3 lead.

Nebraska was not able to score any points in the first half on drives that did not follow a major Wisconsin mistake, and trailed 24-17 at the break after three straight Badger touchdowns. Most of that came from Gordon, who lost two fumbles in the period but ran 16 times for 238 yards and this 62-yard score.

via ABC

Wisconsin went on a 52-0 run after trailing 17-3, icing it at the end of the third with Gordon’s 26-yard touchdown run. That run broke LaDanian Tomlinson’s FBS record for rushing yards in a game (406) on Gordon’s 25th carry -- Tomlinson’s record was set with 43 carries.

1. Wisconsin is the Big Ten West favorite. Fellow divisional contenders Nebraska and Minnesota lost, leaving the Badgers needing to just beat Iowa and the Gophers to finish out the season with the West crown.

Lost in Gordon’s dominating performance on the ground was another elite outing from Wisconsin’s defense. The Badgers held Tommy Armstrong, Jr. to 6 of 18 passing for 62 yards with one touchdown against one interception, with just 17 yards on 20 carries. Heisman contender Ameer Abdullah was held to 69 yards on 18 rushes, and Nebraska as a team was held to 179 yards of total offense.

2. Melvin Gordon requests your attention, Heisman voters. It was going to take a lot for Wisconsin’s running back to gain consideration in New York City. Oregon’s Marcus Mariota holds a pretty commanding lead in the race, and Gordon does not hold the advantage of playing on a Playoff team (or being a quarterback). Breaking the all-time FBS record for single-game rushing yardage will do just that, however, and Gordon is now pretty much a lock to make it to the ceremony.

He’s been one of the best running backs in the country for three years now, routinely ripping off long touchdown runs and currently standing on top of the all-time NCAA leaderboard for rushing yards per attempt. This year, he may finally get rewarded for it.

3. Look out, Ohio State. The Buckeyes have looked like the Big Ten’s best team by some margin, but they have struggled against teams that run the ball well. Navy was able to rack up 370 rushing yards against Ohio State in the opener, and Minnesota’s David Cobb ran for 145 yards and three touchdowns against the Buckeyes Saturday. Neither Navy nor Minnesota have Gordon, and Ohio State’s Playoff hopes could be in serious trouble if they have to face the Badgers in the conference title game.