Southern Miss emerged victorious in its LendingTree Bowl matchup with Rice, but the story of the Golden Eagles' 38-24 win on Saturday was the record-setting performance of their running back, Frank Gore Jr.
Gore racked up 329 yards on 21 carries in the bowl win, setting the new pace for rushing yards in an FBS bowl game and breaking a record that stood for just two years. Appalachian State's Camerun Peoples ran for 317 in the 2020 Myrtle Beach Bowl against North Texas.
The 329 yards is also a Southern Miss program record and the most rushing yards by any FBS player in a single game this season. At an average of 15 yards per carry and two touchdowns, Gore was getting the job done — and then some — with his feet, but still found the opportunity to complete two of three pass attempts, including a touchdown.
With Gore now leading the pack, here's a look at the top five rushing performances in FBS bowl game history:
| PLayer | yards | school | opponent | game |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frank Gore Jr. | 329 | Southern Miss | Rice | 2022 LendingTree |
| Camerun Peoples | 317 | App State | North Texas | 2020 Myrtle Beach |
| P.J. Daniels | 307 | Georgia Tech | Tulsa | 2004 Humanitarian |
| Johnny Jefferson | 299 | Baylor | North Carolina | 2015 Russell Athletic |
| Gartrell Johnson | 285 | Colorado State | Fresno State | 2008 New Mexico |
Alberto Camargo is the lead reporter for NCAA men's and women's soccer. He has worked at the USF Oracle and the Knoxville News-Sentinel. His writing has appeared in several newspapers around the USA Today South Region. Follow him on Twitter @albaretoe.
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