Melvin Gordon Breaks FBS Single-Game Rushing Record vs. Nebraska

Wisconsin Badgers running back Melvin Gordon's case to win the Heisman Trophy got a major boost on Saturday. In an epic performance against Nebraska, the nation's leading rusher ran for an FBS single-game record 408 yards.

The previous record of 406 yards was set by LaDainian Tomlinson in 1999 while playing for the TCU Horned Frogs. Tomlinson congratulated Gordon on the record-breaking day:

Former Wisconsin running back Montee Ball had his thoughts as well:

How big was Gordon's performance? Paul Myerberg of USA Today put the single-game tally in perspective: 

Coming into the game, Gordon already had 1,501 yards. At this point, a 2,000-yard season is a foregone conclusion.

Gordon blew by last season's year-end total of 1,609 yards in the first half on Saturday and kept pounding the Cornhuskers defense. Wisconsin still has two games remaining on the regular-season schedule, and the victory over Nebraska puts the team in the driver's seat for a berth in the Big Ten title game.