HOUSTON — Minnesota’s Troy Stoudermire has broken the NCAA record for career kickoff return yards on the opening kickoff against Texas Tech in the Meineke Car Care Bowl.

Stoudermire returned the kickoff 26 yards to bring his career total to 3,530 yards. That surpassed the 3,517 yards Houston’s Tyron Carrier amassed in a career that ended in 2011.

The senior had 1,083 return yards in 2008, and 1,057 yards in 2009. He added 789 yards as a junior and had 173 last season. He missed the final eight games last year with an injury and received a medical redshirt before returning this season. He had 402 return yards this season entering Friday’s game.