MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Montee Ball is in charge of the entertainment for Wisconsin’s senior day.
Needing just two touchdowns to become the all-time leader in major college football, the Badgers running back would like nothing more than to get the record Saturday when Wisconsin (7-3, 4-2 Big Ten) hosts unbeaten Ohio State in Ball’s final game at Camp Randall Stadium.
”It’s going to be extra special to do it at home – if it happens,” he said. ”It’d be ideal to break a record like that on home turf, in front of our fans.”
Ball has 77 career touchdowns after running for three scores against Indiana last weekend. That’s two more than 1998 Heisman Trophy winner Ricky Williams, and one less than current FBS record holder Travis Prentice of Miami (Ohio).
”It’s pretty exciting. We take pride in that and having him be able to have the opportunity to break the record,” receiver Jared Abbrederis said. ”It’s been awesome watching him.”
Making Ball’s run all the more impressive is that he didn’t even become a starter – heck, a regular contributor – until midway through his sophomore season. Still, the career record seemed like a given after last year, when he scored 39 touchdowns to match Barry Sanders’ long-standing single-season mark. The Heisman finalist would need only 18 TDs to pass Prentice, and he’d averaged almost three per game in his previous 20 games.
Continue Reading: Needing 2 TDs, Ball hopes to make mark at home
