If you’re wondering where we were today, well, apparently I was out to lunch until now.
What comes to mind when you think about Big Ten Football? Big, bruising running backs? Well, then, you’re thinking of Wisconsin’s Ron Dayne. Dayne had the ability to run through just about anyone and was a terror in the Big Ten.
Dayne started at running back all four of his years at Wisconsin ( and would set the all-time NCAA career rushing record at 6,397 yards, a record that still stands today. He won the Heisman in 1999, along with the Doak Walker Award, the Walter Camp Award, and AP Player of the Year. He was the Rose Bowl MVP in both 1999 and 2000. Dayne is one of only five NCAA players to rush for 1,000 yards in each of his four seasons.
#33 is a retired at Wisconsin.
One other interesting note – Dayne’s rushing total does not include his yardage from the Badger’s bowl games. The NCAA at that time did not count these as part of the overall statistics, so any current running back has a huge advantage when trying to break his record.
