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Friday, October 13
 
Dayne right on pace to break record

ESPN.com

The Wisconsin media guide says Ron Dayne is an agricultural journalism major, but the big fella showed an affinity for math against Northwestern.

Needing to average 161 yards a game over his final three contests to break Ricky Williams' all-time NCAA Division I-A rushing record, Dayne rumbled for 162 yards on 35 carries to stay right on track. With games against Purdue and Iowa left on the schedule, Dayne needs 321 yards to break the record.

In his career, Dayne has gained 518 yards in five games against Purdue and Iowa. The Hawkeyes held him to 24 and 62 yards in two of those games, but this year's Iowa defense doesn't have nearly the teeth it did in 1996 or '97. Last season, Dayne rushed for 164 yards against an Iowa team quickly sliding into mediocrity.

The rest of the field didn't do anything remarkable to move up in the rankings. Joe Hamilton had a typical Joe Hamilton day (305 total yards) and Georgia Tech finally won easily, Drew Brees and Purdue won a game they were supposed to and Chad Pennington led Marshall to another blowout win. The only candidate to hurt his chances was Alabama's Shaun Alexander, who missed the game against Southern Miss due to an ankle sprain.

Here's a look at our top five following last Saturday's action:

RON DAYNE -- WISCONSIN STATS
1. Breaking it down: Had no trouble finding running room against Northwestern, No. 83 in the nation in run defense. Left on Wisconsin's schedule are Purdue (No. 30 in run defense) and Iowa (No. 107).
Opponent
at Northwestern

Season
 
Car-Yds
35-162

244-1,396
 
TD
2

17
JOE HAMILTON -- GEORGIA TECH STATS
2. Breaking it down: Showed no rust from his week off, leading Georgia Tech to its easiest win in weeks. Hamilton called it "a fun day."
Opponent
vs. N.C. State



Season
 
Cmp-Att-Yds
16-26-212

Rush-Yds
11-83

118-178-1,883
97-463
TD-INT
3-1


0


17-5
6
SHAUN ALEXANDER -- ALABAMA STATS
3. Breaking it down: A sprained ankle kept him out of the game, although he did suit up. But he's running out of chances to make his case -- especially with Dayne motoring along.
Opponent
vs. Southern Miss


Season
 
Rush-Yds
 
Rec-Yds
 

191-1,032
18-264
TD
 

 


18
DREW BREES -- PURDUE STATS
4. Breaking it down: Guided a controlled Boilermaker attack to victory after throwing for 522 yards and six TDs last season against Minnesota. He also showcased his mobility by picking up 47 yards on the ground.
Opponent
at Minnesota

Season
 
Cmp-Att-Yds
28-41-283

250-406-2,995
 
TD-INT
2-0

23*-9
*includes two rushing TDs, one receiving
TD
CHAD PENNINGTON -- MARSHALL STATS
5. Breaking it down: Kept the Thundering Herd rolling through the Mid-American Conference with his fourth 4-TD game of the season and Marshall's 12th straight win.
Opponent
vs. Northern Illinois
Season
 
Cmp-Att-Yds
26-33-288

184-281-2,589
 
TD-INT
4-2

26-9






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Saturday scores


AUDIO/VIDEO
Video
 Wisconsin vs. Northwestern
Ron Dayne finds the hole and goes 24 yards for the TD.
Standard | Cable Modem

 Georgia Tech vs. N.C. State
Joe Hamilton finds Kelly Campbell in the back of the end zone. (Courtesy: ABC)
Standard | Cable Modem

 Purdue vs. Minnesota
Drew Brees finds Tim Stratton in the end zone.
Standard | Cable Modem

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