Badger Countdown: Number 25 posts historic campaign in 2014

The best to ever wear number 25 in Madison

The 2023 college football season is right around the corner and the Badgers are now 25 days away from their season opener against Buffalo on Sept. 2. The number 25 was worn by an all-time great running back and he produced a legendary season in 2014.

Melvin Gordon was entering his second season as Wisconsin’s starting running back and he turned it up to another level. Gordon rushed for 2,587 yards and 29 touchdowns during his final campaign in Madison.

The rushing yards rank second only to Barry Sanders (1988) for the most ever in a college football season. Most notably, Gordon went crazy in the team’s tenth contest, turning 25 carries into an NCAA record 408 yards while adding four touchdowns at home versus Nebraska.

His record would only stand for one week with Samaje Perine (Oklahoma) breaking it against Kansas with a still-standing 427 rushing yards.

Gordon went on to finish second to Marcus Mariota in the Heisman Trophy voting and was selected 15th overall in the 2015 NFL Draft by the Chargers.

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