Buffalo’s Jaret Patterson rushes for 8 TDs on historic day

Finally, Jaret Patterson seemed bottled up near the line of scrimmage.

Two Kent State defenders had their arms around the Buffalo running back Saturday, midway through the fourth quarter of the Bulls’ 70-41 blowout win. But then, as Patterson had done throughout the game, he shrugged off both defenders and scampered down the sideline for a 58-yard score — his eighth touchdown of the day.

Patterson, a Glendale, Maryland, native, tied a single-game FBS record with eight rushing touchdowns Saturday to go along with his 409 yards. He matched former Illinois running back Howard Griffith’s touchdown mark set in 1990, and Patterson came just 18 yards short of Samaje Perine’s single-game rushing yard record, set in 2014 for Oklahoma.

8 Touchdowns.
409 Yards.
Jaret Patterson put on one of the most dominant displays you’ll ever see. pic.twitter.com/7CxLwZUwL2

— CBS Sports Network (@CBSSportsNet) November 28, 2020

Patterson has been a force for Buffalo this season. The junior opened the campaign with 137 yards and two touchdowns in a win over Northern Illinois, then following with a now-pedestrian 73 yards and two touchdowns against Miami (Ohio).

But the last two weeks, the junior has put himself on the national stage. Patterson ran for 301 yards and four touchdowns in a win against Bowling Green before Saturday’s explosive performance. Patterson matches Ricky Williams as the only FBS running backs with consecutive games rushing for over 300 yards, although Patterson’s 710-yard total between those games surpasses the former Texas tailback’s yardage.

Out of St. Vincent Pallotti High School in Laurel, Maryland, Patterson was just a two-star recruit, according to 247Sports. He’s gaining national attention now, though, nearing his third straight season with 1,000 rushing yards.