Editing Barry Sanders (section)

===College career===
Sanders enrolled at [[Oklahoma State University]], where he played for the [[Oklahoma State Cowboys football|Oklahoma State Cowboys]] from 1986 to 1988 and wore the No. 21 jersey.<ref name=":14" />{{Sfn|Crompton|2008|p=28}} During his first two years, he backed up Thomas at running back.{{Sfn|Crompton|2008|p=24}} In 1986, Sanders played in eight games and rushed for 325 rushing yards on 74 rushing attempts, with two rushing touchdowns.<ref name=":14" /> In 1987, he led the nation in yards per [[kickoff return]] (31.6), while rushing for 603 yards and scoring nine rushing touchdowns, catching four passes for 58 receiving yards and a touchdown, and scoring two touchdowns from 29 total [[special teams]] returns.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1987 College Football Summary |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/years/1987.html |access-date=2024-06-06 |website=[[Sports Reference]] |publisher=[[Sports Reference, LLC]] |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":14">{{Cite web |title=Barry Sanders College Stats, School, Draft, Gamelog, Splits |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/barry-sanders-1.html |access-date=2024-06-06 |website=[[Sports Reference]] |publisher=[[Sports Reference, LLC]] |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":19" /> He was named a second-team [[College Football All-America Team|College Football All-American]] as a [[return specialist]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=December 3, 1987 |title=OU lands 5 All-Americans |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/701840951/?terms=%22barry%20sanders%22%20%22all%20american%22&match=1 |access-date=June 10, 2022 |work=[[The Wichita Eagle]]|via=Newspapers.com |page=K-15}}</ref> While still a backup to Thomas, he received notable attention from his opponents. Oklahoma Sooners head coach [[Barry Switzer]] in particular told his players not to injure Thomas, in fear of Sanders starting in his place, telling them: "You won't touch this kid".{{Sfn|Crompton|2008|p=24}}<ref name=":23" /> Sanders was not fond of this as he believed Thomas to be a good teammate.<ref name=":23" /> Thomas moved on to the NFL in [[1988 NFL draft|1988]], which allowed Sanders to become the starter for his [[Junior (education year)|junior year]] in college.{{Sfn|Crompton|2008|p=24}}

In 1988, in what is considered one of the greatest individual seasons in college football history,<ref name=":15">{{Cite web |last=Maisel |first=Ivan |author-link=Ivan Maisel |date=August 3, 2014 |title=Great seasons are not created equal |url=http://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/page/theseason0804maisel/the-greatest-individual-seasons-college-football-history-not-created-equal |access-date=July 14, 2017 |website=ESPN.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Merron |first=Jeff |date=December 15, 2003 |title=Best individual college football seasons |url=https://www.espn.com/page2/s/list/collegefootball/seasons.html |access-date=June 16, 2022 |website=[[ESPN.com]]}}</ref> Sanders became the first player to open two consecutive seasons with a 100-yard kickoff return.{{Sfn|Crompton|2008|p=9}} He led the nation by averaging 7.6 yards per attempt and over 200 yards per game, including rushing for over 300 yards in four games.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cooper |first=Mark |date=2018-10-25 |title=Barry Sanders' 1988 season, game-by-game |url=https://tulsaworld.com/barry-sanders-1988-season-game-by-game/table_b72c7777-121d-5ff9-a1ab-6abc40aea11d.html |access-date=2024-06-11 |website=Tulsa World |language=en}}</ref> Despite his massive workload of 344 attempts, Sanders was still used as the team's punt and kickoff returner, adding another 516 yards on special teams. He set college football season records with 2,628 yards rushing, 3,250 total [[all-purpose yards]], broken by [[Christian McCaffrey]] in 2015, 234 points, broken by [[Montee Ball]] in 2011, 37 rushing touchdowns, and 39 total touchdowns, (37 rushing, one kick return, one punt return, tied with Ball).<ref name=":19">{{Cite web |title=Football Bowl Subdivision Records |url=http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/football_records/2020/FBS.pdf |access-date=September 30, 2021 |website=NCAA.org |publisher=National Collegiate Athletic Association |page=78}}</ref><ref name=":14" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Nathan |first=Alec |date=December 5, 2015 |title=Christian McCaffrey Breaks NCAA Single-Season All-Purpose-Yards Record |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2596174-christian-mccaffrey-breaks-ncaa-single-season-all-purpose-yards-record |access-date=June 10, 2022 |website=[[Bleacher Report]] |language=en}}</ref>

Sanders had five consecutive 200-yard games, scored at least two touchdowns in all eleven games, and eight times he scored at least three touchdowns.<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 5, 2011 |title=Barry Sanders' remarkable season |url=https://www.kansas.com/news/local/news-columns-blogs/article1071876.html |access-date=2024-06-06 |website=The Wichita Eagle}}</ref> Sanders ran for 222 yards and scored five touchdowns in just three quarters of action in the [[1988 Holiday Bowl]], a game that is not included in the official NCAA season statistics.<ref name="1988 Holiday Bowl">{{Cite web |title=1988 Holiday Bowl Summary |url=http://www.holidaybowl.com/game-history/1988.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071221175047/http://www.holidaybowl.com/game-history/1988.html |archive-date=December 21, 2007 |access-date=December 29, 2007 |website=[[Holiday Bowl]]}}</ref> When added to his original rushing total, Sanders recorded 2,850 rushing yards from a workload of 373 attempts, 3,472 [[all-purpose yards]], 264 points, 42 rushing touchdowns, and 44 total touchdowns.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kirshner |first=Alex |date=2018-12-08 |title=44 reasons Barry Sanders’ 1988 is football’s greatest season ever |url=https://www.bannersociety.com/2018/12/8/20728939/barry-sanders-1988-college-stats |access-date=2025-01-10 |website=Banner Society |language=en}}</ref> Sanders learned of his [[Heisman Trophy]] win while he was with the team in [[Tokyo]], [[Japan]] preparing to face [[1988 Texas Tech Red Raiders football team|Texas Tech]] in the [[Coca-Cola Classic (college football)|Coca-Cola Classic]], accepting the award via satellite;<ref>{{Cite web |last=Helsley |first=John |date=October 12, 2013 |title=Oklahoma State football: Barry Sanders' historic Heisman season, 25 years later |url=https://www.oklahoman.com/story/sports/college/cowboys/2013/10/12/oklahoma-state-football-barry-sanders-historic-heisman-season-25-years-later/60875370007/ |access-date=2024-06-10 |website=The Oklahoman |language=en-US}}</ref> he garnered 559 first-place votes for 1,878 points, becoming the eighth non-college senior to attain the trophy, and was selected as a [[List of unanimous All-Americans in college football|unanimous All-American]].<ref name=":20" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Trotter |first=Jake |author-link=Jake Trotter |date=August 8, 2014 |title=Sanders' 1988 season stands alone |url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/page/theseason0807sanders/barry-sanders-record-setting-1988-season-never-duplicated |access-date=August 8, 2014 |website=[[ESPN.com]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |year=2018 |title=Football Award Winners |url=http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/football_records/2018/awards.pdf |access-date=June 10, 2022 |website=NCAA.org |publisher=[[National Collegiate Athletic Association]] |page=24}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=January 1, 1989 |title=Sanders in Spectacular Form Again |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/01/01/sports/college-football-sanders-in-spectacular-form-again.html |access-date=February 4, 2023 |website=The New York Times|agency=Associated Press |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Nevertheless, he believed [[Rodney Peete]] should have won the award.<ref name=":18">{{Cite web |last=Roberts |first=M.B. |date=September 19, 2005 |title=ESPN Classic - Sanders' humility makes him distinctive |url=https://www.espn.com/classic/biography/s/sanders_barry.html |access-date=June 29, 2022 |website=[[ESPN.com]]}}</ref> Along with his Heisman Trophy, Sanders was awarded the [[Maxwell Award]], the [[Walter Camp Award]], and named the [[Big Eight Conference football#Conference Players of the Year|Big Eight Offensive Player of the Year]].<ref name=":14" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Mellor |first=Cam |date=November 13, 2021 |title=Barry Sanders' Oklahoma State career highlighted by 1988 Heisman Trophy run |url=https://www.profootballnetwork.com/barry-sanders-oklahoma-state-career-highlighted-by-1988-heisman-trophy-run/ |access-date=June 16, 2022 |website=Pro Football Network |language=en-US}}</ref> Sanders initially announced that he was not going to enter the [[NFL draft]], but after receiving pressure from his father, he announced his entrance into the draft.{{Sfn|Crompton|2008|p=26}}

====College statistics====
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! rowspan="2"| Season
! rowspan="2"| Team
! rowspan="2"| GP
! colspan="5"| Rushing
! colspan="3"| Receiving
|-
! Att !! Yds !! Avg !! Y/G !! TD !! Rec !! Yds !! TD
|-
! [[1986 NCAA Division I-A football season|1986]] || [[1986 Oklahoma State Cowboys football team|Oklahoma State]]
| 8 || 74 || 325 || 4.4 || 40.6 || 2 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
! [[1987 NCAA Division I-A football season|1987]] || [[1987 Oklahoma State Cowboys football team|Oklahoma State]]
| 11 || 105 || 603 || 5.7 || 54.8 || 9 || 4 || 58 || 1
|-
! [[1988 NCAA Division I-A football season|1988]] || [[1988 Oklahoma State Cowboys football team|Oklahoma State]]
| 11 || 344 || 2,628 || 7.6 || 238.9 || 37 || 19 || 106 || 0
|-
! colspan="2"|[https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/barry-sanders-1.html Total] || 30 || 523 || 3,556 || 6.8 || 118.5 || 48 || 23 || 164 || 1
|-
|}

====NCAA FBS records====
Sanders set 34 NCAA Division I FBS records in his college career, and still holds the following records:<ref name=":19" /><ref name=":20" />
* Most rushing yards in a season: 2,628<ref>{{Cite web |date=2008-01-07 |title=UCF tailback Smith changes direction, will go pro |url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/news/story?id=3184342 |access-date=2024-06-06 |website=[[ESPN.com]] |language=en |agency=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref>
* Most rushing yards gained in a three, four, and five game span: 937; 1,152; 1,472
* Most rushing touchdowns in a season: 37<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lederman  |first=Eli |date=2021-11-11 |title=Barry Sanders' single-season rushing record remains intact 33 years later. Will it ever be broken? |url=https://tulsaworld.com/sports/college/osu/barry-sanders-single-season-rushing-record-remains-intact-33-years-later-will-it-ever-be/article_6b6067bc-424e-11ec-b18e-1723123cdfc2.html |access-date=2024-06-06 |website=Tulsa World |language=en}}</ref>
* Most 2+ rushing touchdown games in a season: 11
* Most 3+ rushing touchdown games in a season: 8
* Most consecutive games scoring two or more touchdowns: 13 (from November 14, 1987, through 1988)
* Most scrimmage touchdowns in a season: 39 (tied with Ball)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rotermund |first=Maggie |date=2012-01-04 |title=Wentzville's Ball Ties Record in Rose Bowl |url=https://patch.com/missouri/wentzville/wentzville-s-ball-ties-record-in-rose-bowl-e15128cb |access-date=2024-06-06 |website=Wentzville, MO Patch |language=en}}</ref>
* Most games rushing for 300+ yards in a season and career: 4
* Most all-purpose yards per game in a season: 295.5
* Most rushing yards per game in a season: 238.9<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 5, 2015 |title=Ten unbreakable college football records |url=https://www.nfl.com/news/ten-unbreakable-college-football-records-0ap2000000356173 |access-date=2024-06-06 |website=NFL.com |language=en-US}}</ref>