College football has always been a progressive sport, embracing aerial attacks long before professional leagues caught up. But running backs have remained the heartbeat on the collegiate stage, and these duos epitomize the power, speed, and versatility that have kept the ground game as the backbone throughout the sport’s evolution.
College Football’s Best All-Time Running Back Duos
While not a comprehensive list, the top 10 features the most dominant and iconic RB duos in college football history, ordered by year. But there are far more than 10, so here are some honorable mentions, including two trios for good measure.
- Floyd Little and Larry Csonka, Syracuse (1965-66)
- Ricky Williams and Priest Holmes, Texas (1996)
- Clinton Portis, Frank Gore, and Willis McGahee, Miami (2001)
- Marshawn Lynch and Justin Forsett, Cal (2004-05)
- Jahvid Best and Shane Vereen, Cal (2008-09)
- Mark Ingram and Trent Richardson, Alabama (2009-10)
- Nick Chubb, Todd Gurley II, and Sony Michel, Georgia (2014)
- Blake Corum and Donovan Edwards, Michigan (2021-23)
- Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen, Penn State (2022-present)
- Quinshon Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson, Ohio State (2024-present)
Archie Griffin and Pete Johnson, Ohio State (1973-75)
While Archie Griffin earned the headlines and Heisman glory for Ohio State’s mid-’70s dominance, fullback Pete Johnson was the perfect complement. Johnson found the end zone 25 times in 1975, the same year Griffin claimed his second Heisman Trophy. Together, they racked up over 2,000 yards from scrimmage, making them a nightmare for opposing defenses.
Eric Dickerson and Craig James, SMU (1979-82)
The “Pony Express” duo of Eric Dickerson and Craig James tore through defenses during their time at SMU. Dickerson rushed for 1,428 yards in 1981 and an impressive 1,617 in 1982, while James contributed 1,147 and 938 yards, respectively. They accumulated a staggering 8,193 combined rushing yards, an NCAA record that still stands.
Barry Sanders and Thurman Thomas, Oklahoma State (1986-87)
Before they became NFL stars, Thurman Thomas and Barry Sanders formed a potent backfield duo for Oklahoma State. In 1987, Thomas generated a 251-1,613-17 rushing line, while Sanders posted a respectable 105-603-9 line as the clear backup.
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The following year, with Thomas off to the NFL, Sanders erupted for 2,628 rushing yards — an NCAA single-season record that remains today — cementing his status as one of the greatest running backs ever. Though they didn’t fully share the spotlight, both left a lasting legacy on the Cowboys’ football program.
Ronnie Brown and Cadillac Williams, Auburn (2001-04)
Auburn’s backfield has a rich history of dynamic duos, but none is more celebrated than Ronnie Brown and Carnell “Cadillac” Williams. In 2004, the pair led Auburn to a perfect 13-0 season, combining for 2,543 total yards and 22 TDs.
Known for his bruising style, Brown complemented Williams’ breakaway speed, solidifying them as one of the greatest backfield tandems in SEC history. Despite being snubbed from the BCS National Championship, they both went on to be top-five picks in the NFL Draft.
Marion Barber III and Laurence Maroney, Minnesota (2003-04)
Laurence Maroney and Marion Barber III formed one of the most dominant backfields in college football during their time at Minnesota. From 2003 to 2004, they became the first duo in NCAA history to each rush for over 1,000 yards in consecutive seasons. Barber ran for 1,196 and 1,269 yards while Maroney added 1,121 and 1,348 yards.
Maroney continued his success in 2005, teaming up with Gary Russell to rack up a combined 2,594 rushing yards, solidifying the Golden Gophers as one of the nation’s premier rushing offenses and marking the third straight season they had two rushers over 1,000 yards.
Reggie Bush and LenDale White, USC (2003-05)
Reggie Bush and LenDale White formed arguably the most iconic duo on this list, setting records and popping off the TV.
In 2005, the two combined for a jaw-dropping 3,042 rushing yards and 40 scores, a testament to their complementary styles. Bush dazzled with his speed and versatility, averaging 8.7 yards per carry en route to winning the Heisman Trophy, while White was the bruiser, leading the nation with 24 rushing TDs.
Together, they broke the NCAA record for most career TDs by a duo (99), highlighting an unforgettable chapter in college football history.
Darren McFadden and Felix Jones, Arkansas (2005-07)
Darren McFadden and Felix Jones were an absolute force in the SEC during their time at Arkansas, combining for 7,501 yards over three seasons — that’s 2,500 yards per year. In 2007 alone, they racked up a staggering 2,992 yards.
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McFadden, the two-time Heisman runner-up, was the lead back, rushing for over 1,600 yards in both 2006 and 2007. Jones, meanwhile, was equally lethal, averaging 7.7 yards per carry throughout his career and contributing on special teams with four kickoffs returned to the house.
Together, they dominated defenses with a perfect blend of finesse and strength, earning first-round selections in the NFL Draft. Even fullback Peyton Hillis added to their historic rushing attack, amassing 2,154 total yards and 23 TDs in his four-year career on top of paving lanes for the dynamic duo.
LaMichael James and Kenjon Barner, Oregon (2009-11)
Oregon’s late-2000s RB tandem was nothing short of electrifying, with Kenjon Barner and LaMichael James unleashing their blistering speed on opponents.
Barner’s versatility allowed him to score in multiple ways — rushing, receiving, and kick-returning — making him the first Duck to accomplish that feat since 1965. As for James, his speed and elusiveness were the cornerstone of Oregon’s offensive explosion, and he finished third in the 2010 Heisman voting after leading the nation in rushing yards with over 1,700.
These two epitomized Oregon’s high-octane play under Chip Kelly from 2009 to 2012, earning spots in the school’s Hall of Fame for their efforts.
Montee Ball and Melvin Gordon III, Wisconsin (2011-12)
Going from Montee Ball to Melvin Gordon III was the college football RB version of the Green Bay Packers going from Brett Favre to Aaron Rodgers. But unlike Favre and Rodgers, we were able to see Ball and Gordon in the same backfield for two years, and it was glorious.
As a true freshman in 2011, Gordon only rushed for 98 yards and a score on 20 carries, but Ball wrecked every defense in front of him, finishing with 1,923 yards and 33 TDs.
I repeat.
Thirty-three. Touchdowns.
The next year, Ball’s last with the Badgers, he only recorded 1,830 yards and 22 TDs, but Gordon picked up the slack, averaging 10 yards per carry with a 62-621-3 line. Ball left Wisconsin with an FBS record 77 total touchdowns, which is even more impressive when you consider he scored just four times his freshman season.
With Ball out of the picture, Gordon stepped into the RB1 role and played semi-decently in 2014:
- 343 carries
- 2,587 yards (Big Ten record; second in NCAA history to Sanders)
- 29 TDs
Oh, and don’t forget about James White, who was also in the backfield from 2010 to 2013 and took 716 touches for 4,685 yards and 48 scores. *Insert exploding head emoji*
Donnel Pumphrey and Rashaad Penny, San Diego State (2016)
The 5’8″, 176-pound Donnel Pumphrey relied on his razor-sharp cuts and extraordinary quickness to overcome his limited size, carving through defenses with finesse. Then there was the 5’11”, 220-pound Rashaad Penny, who embodied the prototypical downhill slasher, patiently waiting for holes to open before bursting through with a lethal combination of speed and power.
Together, they formed an unstoppable force, culminating in a remarkable 2016 season when Pumphrey tallied a jaw-dropping 2,133 rushing yards and 17 TDs, and Penny contributed 1,018 rushing yards and 11 scores.
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If that wasn’t enough, when Pumphrey closed his decorated four-year career at San Diego State, he set an NCAA FBS record with a staggering 6,405 career rushing yards. And once he was gone, Penny picked up where he left off, going ballistic with a 289-2,249-23 line.
Individually, they were impactful.
But together? They were devastating.
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