Dayne is one of only two players in college football history to rush for 2,000-plus yards in a single season twice in his career, the other being Troy Davis of Iowa State.

[citation needed] Dayne would be the all-time rushing yards leader in NCAA Division I FBS history, with 7,125 yards with the bowl game statistics included, though the statistics accumulated in bowl games prior to 2002 are not accounted for by the NCAA.

[1] Due to a lack of reliable adult relatives, Dayne was forced to take on a parental role to his younger sister when he was just ten years old.

[2] Raised in Berlin Township, New Jersey,[3] his athleticism and speed made him a star running back at Overbrook High School in Pine Hill, where he was heavily recruited by many colleges.

Eventually, coach Barry Alvarez promised Dayne a tailback position and persuaded him to come to play for Wisconsin.

Over his four seasons, Dayne set the NCAA Division I-A rushing record for total yards in a career.

Dayne ended his career with 6,397 rushing yards (which does not include yardage from the four bowl games he played in), eclipsing the record set the previous year by Ricky Williams of Texas.

Dayne won the Heisman Trophy in 1999 as well as other awards throughout college, including Big Ten Player of the Year for 1999 and All-American placement in 1996, 1998 and 1999.

[6] Dayne was inducted into the University of Wisconsin-Madison's Athletic Hall Of Fame as part of the 2009 class alongside fellow NFL player Joe Panos and MLB pitcher Thornton Kipper.

[12] After Fassel was fired,[13] Dayne shed 40 pounds and received a second chance under new head coach Tom Coughlin.