Big Ten Football Players of the Week: Nova, Carroo, and Martin didn't have a chance!

The Big Ten Conference announced that Melvin Gordon is really, really, really good:

Wisconsin's Melvin Gordon was named the national player of the week by the Walter Camp Football Foundation and Athlon Sports for his record-breaking performance against Nebraska on Saturday.

The junior running back rushed for a Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) record 408 yards and added four touchdowns as the 22nd-ranked Badgers defeated 11th-ranked Nebraska, 59-24. Gordon needed only 25 carries to rush for 408 yards and did not record a touch in the fourth quarter. He averaged 16.3 yards per carry and recorded four plays of 40 rushing yards or more.

Gordon eclipsed the previous FBS mark of 406 yards, set by TCU’s LaDainian Tomlinson in 1999.  In 10 games this year, the Badgers running back has 1,909 rushing yards and 23 touchdowns. Gordon leads the NCAA with 190.9 rushing yards and 15.0 points per outing.

Gordon is the third Wisconsin player to earn Walter Camp National Player of the Week honors since 2004, joining former Badger defensive back Scott Starks (Oct. 7, 2004) and running back Brian Calhoun (Sept. 6, 2005).

But he wasn't the only player who stood out on Saturday, as also announced by the conference:

Offensive Player of the Week

Melvin Gordon, Wisconsin, Jr., RB

• Set a school, Big Ten and Football Bowl Subdivision record with 408 rushing yards on 25 carries, including four touchdowns, as Wisconsin defeated nationally ranked Nebraska
• Recorded four carries of at least 40 yards, including a 62-yard touchdown run in the second quarter
• Averaged 16.3 yards per carry, improving his nation-leading average to 8.56 yards per attempt
• Earns the third Offensive Player of the Week award of his career and second this seaso

Defensive Player of the Week

Joe Schobert, Wisconsin, Jr., LB

• Registered 11 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, 0.5 sacks, one pass breakup and one fumble recovery to guide Wisconsin to a win over  nationally ranked Nebraska
• His 11 tackles and 2.5 tackles for loss were both career highs while the fumble recovery was the first of his career
• Led the way as the Badgers held the Huskers to 180 yards of offense, more than 300 yards below their average entering the contest
• Claims his first career Defensive Player of the Week honor
  

Special Teams Player of the Week

Jack Mitchell, Northwestern, So., K

• Converted four field goal attempts against nationally ranked Notre Dame, including a game-tying kick with 19 seconds remaining in regulation and the game-winner in overtime
• Made field goals from 46, 45, 41 and 31 yards
• The game-tying conversion came from 45 yards and the winning kick was a 41-yarder
• Earns his first career Special Teams Player of the Week honor

Freshman of the Week

J.T. Barrett, Ohio State, Fr., QB

• Accounted for 389 yards of total offense and four touchdowns to lead Ohio State to a win at nationally ranked Minnesota
• Completed 15 of 25 passes for 200 yards and three touchdowns
• Added 189 rushing yards and a touchdown on 17 carries, breaking the single-game school record for rushing yards by a quarterback
• Wins his sixth Freshman of the Week award, tying the Big Ten record set by Illinois’ Nathan Scheelhaase in 2010