Throughout the rich history of college football, many have etched their names as all-time greats in the sport. Many of those names have come from the running back position, running through defenses every week. Let’s dive into the top ten running backs who have graced the gridiron on Saturdays.
Top 10 Running Backs in College Football History
10. Archie Griffin, Ohio State
The former Buckeye was a workhorse for Ohio State, tallying 845 rushing attempts in his four years in Columbus. He made every one of those touches count, running for over 1,350 yards in three seasons, peaking at 1,620 his junior year. His immense touch paid off as he won the Heisman trophy in back-to-back seasons in 1974 and 1975, the only running back to win two Heismans.
9. Ashton Jeanty, Boise State
Although it can be argued that it is too early to put Jeanty on this list, there is no arguing that what the Boise State running back did last season was nothing short of amazing. Jeanty rushed for 2,601 yards with 29 touchdowns while carrying the Broncos to the College Football Playoff.
Although he didn’t win the Heisman, many believed he was the most deserving. He was so good that not only did he lead the FBS in rushing yards, but he would have been the second-leading rusher in the country if just his yards after contact counted.
8. Bo Jackson, Auburn
During his time as a Tiger, Bo Jackson rushed for over 4,000 yards even though he was limited to only 87 touches in his junior season. In 1985, his senior year, Jackson was running wild, putting up 1,786 rushing yards paired with 17 touchdowns. However, the most impressive stat from that Heisman-winning season Jackson was that they averaged 162 rushing yards per game. Truly unstoppable.
7. Jonathan Taylor, Wisconsin
Wisconsin has been known to produce great running backs, but no one has made more of an impact than Jonathan Taylor. During his three years in Madison, Taylor was unstoppable, running for 6,174 yards in those seasons, accounting for 55 total touchdowns. He rushed for over 2,000 yards in two out of his three seasons and was 13 yards away his freshman year from making it three 2,000-yard seasons.
6. O.J. Simpson, USC
In just two seasons at USC, Simpson left his mark, running for 3,124 yards and 33 touchdowns while averaging 156.2 yards per game. In 1967, he led the Trojans to a national championship and a Heisman trophy in 1968 off the back of a 1,709-yard, 22-touchdown season.
5. Herschel Walker, Georgia
The former Georgia running back was not to be taken lightly, and his stats back it up. In 33 games over three seasons in Athens, Walker made the most of it, rushing for 5,259 yards and 49 touchdowns. He never went a season with less than 15 touchdowns, and in 1982, he ran for 159.3 yards per game, earning himself a Heisman trophy.
4. Tony Dorsett, Pittsburgh
Tony Dorsett was the epitome of consistency, rushing for over 1,000 yards in all four seasons as a Panther. Needed a burst of offense, Dorsett was the man for the job, averaging 5.7 yards per attempt during his Career at Pittsburgh.
It will be tough to replicate a season like Dorsett’s in 1976. He rushed for 1,948 yards, averaged 177.1 per game, scored 21 touchdowns, won a Heisman, and led his team to a national championship.
3. Reggie Bush, USC
One of the most famous college running backs of the time, Reggie Bush, was a guy who would give defenses headaches every Saturday. In 2005, Bush cemented his name in college football history. He rushed for 1,740 yards on a mere 200 attempts, averaging 8.7 yards per carry, and scored 16 times on the ground.
He was also a threat as a receiver, tallying 37 receptions for 478 yards. He would go on to win the Heisman.
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2. Ricky Williams, Texas
If you’re looking for someone who tore apart defenses on Saturdays and improved each year, look no further than Ricky Williams. The former Longhorn rushed for 6,279 yards over four years at Texas, accounting for 75 total touchdowns.
His most impressive season was his 1998 campaign, in which he ran for 2,124 yards, scored 27 touchdowns, and averaged a whopping 193.1 yards per game, earning him the Heisman Trophy.
1. Barry Sanders, Oklahoma State
By far the best running back the college game has ever seen, thanks to one absurd season, arguably the best by any player. In 1988, Sanders rushed for 2,628 yards, a wild 37 touchdowns, averaged 7.6 yards per carry, and maybe the craziest stat yet ran for 238.9 yards per game.
He was a one-man offense who put up single-season stats that will probably never be topped, easily the most impressive Hiesman campaign ever.
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