Oklahoma State University Athletics
Record Rewind: Barry’s 332 Rushing Yards vs. Texas Tech in 1988
May 24, 2022 | Cowboy Football
Click here for the full box score from this "Record Rewind." (PDF)
By the time Oklahoma State and Texas Tech kicked off in the Tokyo Dome on Dec. 3, 1988, everyone across the country knew how dominant Barry Sanders was.
Ten games into the season, Sanders had already recorded three 300-yard rushing games and had broken the century mark in each of the 10 games. Having virtually accepted the 1988 Heisman Trophy nine hours prior to the game from across the world, Sanders would put on his best performance yet against the Red Raiders defense.
His impact was felt immediately as the Heisman Trophy winner scored on the opening drive of the game for Oklahoma State. His second score of the game came on a 56-yard pitch where Sanders eluded the world to make it into the end zone and tie the game at 14.
Sanders would add two more scores in the second half on his way to a record setting day of 332 yards and four touchdowns on 44 carries in OSU's 45-42 win over Texas Tech. On a day where he broke rushes of 56 and 66 yards, Sanders averaged seven yards a carry consistently getting to the second level of the Tech defense as he had six rushes of 15 yards or more.
The 1988 season for Barry Sanders is the best single season by a running back in history as he finished his season with an NCAA-record 2,628 rushing yards. He set 34 individual records during his lone season as the starting running back after backing up Thurman Thomas in his first two seasons. His 238.9 yards per game and 37 rushing touchdowns still stand as NCAA records as no other running back has averaged more than 200 yards per game for a full season since then.
By the time Oklahoma State and Texas Tech kicked off in the Tokyo Dome on Dec. 3, 1988, everyone across the country knew how dominant Barry Sanders was.
Ten games into the season, Sanders had already recorded three 300-yard rushing games and had broken the century mark in each of the 10 games. Having virtually accepted the 1988 Heisman Trophy nine hours prior to the game from across the world, Sanders would put on his best performance yet against the Red Raiders defense.
His impact was felt immediately as the Heisman Trophy winner scored on the opening drive of the game for Oklahoma State. His second score of the game came on a 56-yard pitch where Sanders eluded the world to make it into the end zone and tie the game at 14.
Sanders would add two more scores in the second half on his way to a record setting day of 332 yards and four touchdowns on 44 carries in OSU's 45-42 win over Texas Tech. On a day where he broke rushes of 56 and 66 yards, Sanders averaged seven yards a carry consistently getting to the second level of the Tech defense as he had six rushes of 15 yards or more.
The 1988 season for Barry Sanders is the best single season by a running back in history as he finished his season with an NCAA-record 2,628 rushing yards. He set 34 individual records during his lone season as the starting running back after backing up Thurman Thomas in his first two seasons. His 238.9 yards per game and 37 rushing touchdowns still stand as NCAA records as no other running back has averaged more than 200 yards per game for a full season since then.
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