Unwelcome records: Nebraska @ Wisconsin, 2014
A reader wondered if the 56 unanswered points scored by Wisconsin during last weekend's game against the Huskers was a Nebraska opponent record. Good question, but finding the answer took a little work.
That particular statistic isn’t listed in the official Nebraska records. So we checked the box scores and/or newspaper stories from every game in which the opponent scored at least 56 points. There are eight such games besides the one last weekend, but no team matched Wisconsin’s string of unanswered points — not even Texas Tech in its 70-10 win in 2004.
So we had our answer: Yes, it’s a record. But we wanted a more complete list, so we checked every game in which the opponent scored at least 47 points. We are fairly confident this is an accurate top eight for consecutive points allowed:
Most Unanswered Points by Opponent 1. 56; at Wisconsin, 2014 (L 59-24) 2. 54; Indiana, 1944 (L 54-0) 54; at Minnesota, 1943 (L 54-0) 4. 49; at Texas Tech, 2004 (L 70-10) 5. 48; at Oklahoma, 1954 (L 55-7) 48; Oklahoma, 1949 (L 48-0) 7. 47; Minnesota, 1945 (L 61-7) 47; at Oklahoma, 1968 (L 47-0)
Nebraska fans don’t need to be reminded that Melvin Gordon now has the top opponent individual rushing game, as his yardage total Saturday was the largest in FBS history. In his two games against Nebraska, he has 624 yards on 34 carries for an average of more than 18 yards per tote:
200-yard Opponent Individual Rushing Games
1. 408; Melvin Gordon, at Wisconsin, 2014 (25 att.)
2. 290; Jamaal Charles, at Texas, 2007 (33 att.)
3. 247; Billy Sims, at Oklahoma, 1979 (28 att.)
4. 246; Brad Smith, at Missouri, 2005 (28 att.)
5. 238; Curt Warner, Penn St., 1981 (28 att.)
6. 228; Ell Roberson, at Kansas St., 2002 (29 att.)
7. 217; Johnathan Franklin, at UCLA, 2012 (26 att.)
8. 216; Melvin Gordon, Wisconsin, 2012* (9 att.)
9. 212; Dantrell Savage, Oklahoma St., 2007 (25 att.)
10. 205; Billy Vessells, at Oklahoma, 1950 (18 att.)
11. 202; Montee Ball, Wisconsin, 2012* (21 att.)
202; Zach Zenner, South Dakota State, 2013 (21 att.)
12. 201; Kendall Hunter, at Oklahoma St., 2010 (26 att.)
*Big Ten championship game
What fans might not know is that Wisconsin now owns the top two team rushing games of all time against Nebraska, pushing the Sooners down the chart:
Most Opponent Team Net Rushing Yards
1. 581; Wisconsin, 2014 (53 att.)
2. 539; Wisconsin, 2012* (50 att.)
3. 506; at Oklahoma, 1956 (73 att.)
4. 502; Notre Dame, 1948 (70 att.)
5. 482; Oklahoma, 1974 (83 att.)
6. 437; Oklahoma, 1949 (58 att.)
7. 423; Oklahoma, 1984 (70 att.)
8. 419; Oklahoma, 1987 (70 att.)
9. 417; at Oklahoma, 1977 (68 att.)
10. 416; at Ohio St., 1956 (66 att.)
*Big Ten championship game
Wisconsin’s team rushing average last weekend broke a record set two seasons ago by ... Wisconsin. Until 2012, Kansas’ 7.74 yards per carry in 1950 had stood atop the charts for more than 60 years.
Most Opponent Team Yards Per Rushing Attempt
1. 10.86; at Wisconsin, 2014 (53 att., 581 yards)
2. 10.78; Wisconsin, 2012* (50 att., 539 yards)
3. 7.74; at Kansas, 1950 (43 att., 333 yards)
*Big Ten championship game
Also, the Badgers’ 28 third-quarter points tied a record set just last season.
Most Opponent Team Points Scored, 3rd Quarter* 1. 28; at Wisconsin, 2014 28; vs. UCLA, 2013 3. 21; vs. Missouri, 2008 21; at Kansas, 2007 21; USC, 2007 21; at Texas Tech, 2004 21; at Oklahoma, 1950 *The record for any quarter is 35 (at Oklahoma, Nov. 1, 2008, 1st Q)
Wisconsin didn’t set a record for total offense, but the Badgers do now own two of the top four total-offense games against Nebraska. (Five of the top ten have occurred in the last three seasons.)
Top Opponent Team Total Offense Games
1. 656; at Oklahoma, 1956 (85 att.)
2. 653; at UCLA, 2012 (94 att.)
3. 640; Wisconsin, 2012* (60 att.)
4. 627; Wisconsin, 2014 (64 att.)
5. 620; Notre Dame, 1948 (81 att.)
6. 618; Washington, 1991 (87 att.)
7. 610; Ball State, 2007 (79 att.)
8. 606; at Missouri, 2007 (85 att.)
9. 602; Wyoming, 2013 (74 att.)
10. 589; Georgia, 2012** (71 att.)
*Big Ten championship game
**2013 Capital One Bowl
Melvin Gordon’s total of four rushing touchdowns last weekend also fell short of record-setting status, but it did put him a third-place tie that includes two other Wisconsin players from the last four seasons.
Most Opponent Individual Rushing Touchdowns 1. 6; Chris Brown, at Colorado, 2001 2. 5; Steve Owens, at Oklahoma, 1968 3. 4; Melvin Gordon, at Wisconsin, 2014 4; James White, Wisconsin, 2012* 4; Carlos Hyde, at Ohio State, 2012 4; Montee Ball, at Wisconsin, 2011 4; Brandon McAnderson, at Kansas, 2007 4; Jorvorskie Lane, Texas A&M, 2007 4; Allen Webb, at Kansas St., 2004 4; Eric Bieniemy, Colorado, 1990 4; Barry Sanders, Okla. St., 1988 4; James Wilder, Missouri, 1978 *Big Ten championship game