TJ Inman

College Football's New Reality: NIL Holdouts and Unrest

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The end of <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/jeremiyah-love/46067">Jeremiyah Love's</a> 2024 season marred an otherwise outstanding campaign. Love was injured for the final stretch and was limited throughout Notre Dame’s College Football Playoff run but averaged 6.9 yards per carry and racked up 1,125 yards on just 163 carries with 17 touchdowns. Love is explosive and a threat every time he touches the ball. The Fighting Irish return a stout offensive line, and you can bet Love is motivated to make amends for his lackluster playoff due to injury.
Class: Junior

1. Jeremiyah Love - RB - Notre Dame Fighting Irish

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The Penn State Nittany Lions had one of the best dynamic duos in the country at running back, and both horses are returning for a run at a national title in 2025 and 2026. <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/nicholas-singleton/49414">Nicholas Singleton</a> is the more explosive of the two backs and gets the nod as the No. 2 running back ahead of the 2025 campaign. Singleton averaged 6.39 yards per carry and scored 12 touchdowns in 2024 as the foundational anchor for PSU’s much-improved offense.
Class: Senior

2. Nicholas Singleton - RB - Penn State Nittany Lions

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This is probably the highest you will see Louisville’s dynamic sophomore running back on any “best of” lists, and I’m fine with planting my flag on <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/isaac-brown/20210">Isaac Brown</a> ahead of the 2025 season. There was a buzz about Brown before last season as Jeff Brohm’s staff was sure they had hit on a star after landing him out of Florida. Brown averaged 7.11 yards per carry as a freshman in the ACC and quickly emerged as Louisville’s best offensive weapon. He had games of 117 yards against SMU, 72 against Notre Dame, 146 against Virginia, 151 in a big win at Clemson, and 178 as the Cardinals blasted rival Kentucky. I believe 1,500 yards is within reach for the explosive emerging star.
Class: Sophomore

3. Isaac Brown - RB - Louisville Cardinals

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<a class="in-cell-link" href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/ncaaf/article/cfb-top-10-penn-state-nittany-lions-returning-for-another-college-football-playoff-run" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Top 10 Penn State Nittany Lions Returning For Another College Football Playoff Run</a>
The other half of the Penn State duo in the backfield is <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/kaytron-allen/49456">Kaytron Allen</a>. Allen was PSU’s leading rusher in 2024 but was not quite as explosive or efficient as his backfield mate (<a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/nicholas-singleton/49414">Nicholas Singleton</a>). Allen is a physical runner who perfectly complements Singleton. The trio (adding <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/drew-allar/49426">Drew Allar</a>) forms the basis for optimism in State College, creating hope the Nittany Lions can break through and knock off the nation’s elite next season.
Class: Senior

4. Kaytron Allen - RB - Penn State Nittany Lions

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The Missouri Tigers hope top transfer running back <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/ahmad-hardy/72453">Ahmad Hardy</a> is ready to shine in the SEC after a starring role for the Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks in 2024. As a freshman, Hardy surprised many by erupting for 1,351 yards on 237 carries with 13 rushing touchdowns. He was the No. 1, 2, and 3 options for the Warhawks, and he emerged down the stretch as a true star in the making. Hardy finished the season with 121 yards against Southern Mississippi, 104 against South Alabama, 206 against Marshall, 105 in a defeat against Texas State, 60 at Auburn, 204 at Arkansas State, and 172 against rival Lafayette. Hardy had the entire defense's attention but now gets to be on a balanced attack with other weapons and should benefit greatly.
Class: Sophomore

5. Ahmad Hardy - RB - Missouri Tigers

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<a class="in-cell-link" href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/ncaaf/article/cfb-top-10-oregon-ducks-returning-for-another-college-football-playoff-run" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Top 10 Oregon Ducks Returning For Another College Football Playoff Run</a>
<a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/makhi-hughes/30832">Makhi Hughes </a>migrating from Tulane to Oregon is one of the more under-the-radar moves of the transfer portal. Hughes is a workhorse with 265 carries for 1,401 yards and 15 touchdowns for the Green Wave. He won’t get quite that workload with the Ducks (who also return <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/noah-whittington/29363">Noah Whittington</a>). Still, Oregon will give Hughes a lot of opportunity and potentially large holes, thanks to their explosive weapons in the passing game. Hughes is one of the nation’s best backs and is now part of an offense where he won’t be the center of defensive attention.
Class: Junior

6. Makhi Hughes - Oregon Ducks

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Notre Dame has what I consider to be the nation’s best running back, but he is not alone. <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/jadarian-price/46048">Jadarian Price</a> would be featured on nearly every other team in the country, but he’s getting his respect on this list. Price averaged 6.22 yards per carry as a sophomore and scored seven touchdowns in a 60/40 workload share with <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/jeremiyah-love/46067">Jeremiyah Love</a>. Price and Love are back, and with questions in the passing game, you can bet the Fighting Irish will continue to rely on the two excellent backs and road-grading offensive line.
Class: Senior

7. Jadarian Price - Notre Dame Fighting Irish

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The 2024 season did not go as planned for the Kansas State Wildcats. They hoped to have a dominant rushing attack with quarterback <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/avery-johnson/18504">Avery Johnson</a> and a pair of good running backs, but the Cats could not translate the 6.08 yards per carry they achieved to Big 12 title contention. They finished 9-4 after beating Rutgers in a bowl game. One cog in the running game (<a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/dj-giddens/18501">DJ Giddens</a>) is off to the NFL, which opens an opportunity for the explosive <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/dylan-edwards/39426">Dylan Edwards</a> to ascend to stardom. Edwards averaged 7.38 yards per carry on 74 attempts after transferring from Colorado. He’s also an outstanding receiving back, and I believe he’ll lead the Big 12 in rushing.
Class: Junior

8. Dylan Edwards - Kansas State Wildcats

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It's hard to know what to do with <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/noah-whittington/29363">Noah Whittington</a>. The Oregon Ducks leaned heavily on <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/jordan-james/29437">Jordan James</a>, who produced 15 touchdowns and 1,267 yards. Whittington churned away as his backup and put up good numbers. With James off to the NFL, Whittington was slated to move up to RB1, but then Oregon landed <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/makhi-hughes/30832">Makhi Hughes,</a> and it appears highly likely Whittington will again be in a timeshare in the backfield. Despite his less-than-gaudy yardage totals, Whittington is a talented and physical runner who is effective as a pass-catcher.
Class: Senior

9. Noah Whittington - Oregon Ducks

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The Georgia Bulldogs need more from the running game in 2025, and <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/nate-frazier/72092">Nate Frazier</a> flashed the goods to provide it to them. During his freshman season, he surpassed the banged-up <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/trevor-etienne/22623">Trevor Etienne</a> and ended up with 671 rushing yards, eight touchdowns, and 85 receiving yards. In the season's final four games, Frazier averaged 6.48 yards per carry, 4.55, 7.83, and 9.25 yards per rush as the Bulldogs fell in the College Football Playoff to Notre Dame. He offers an explosive element to the UGA offense and will be leaned on more this coming season.
Class: Sophomore

10. Nate Frazier - Georgia Bulldogs

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<a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/jonah-coleman/32685">Jonah Coleman</a> is an exceptional player. He should probably be a bit higher on this list, but a lack of weapons around him limits his production. Coleman transferred from Arizona to Washington ahead of the 2024 season, following Jedd Fisch from Tuscon to Seattle. He is only 5’9” but stocky, stout, and difficult for defenders to bring down. If quarterback <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/demond-williams/63965">Demond Williams</a> can progress for the Huskies, they could have a dynamic one-two punch.

11. Jonah Coleman - Washington Huskies

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Minnesota is known for having strong rushing attacks anchored by good running backs. <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/darius-taylor/32171">Darius Taylor</a> is not the physical punisher past Gopher backs have been, but he’s a multipurpose threat who has produced well in his first two seasons in Minneapolis. Taylor was shy of 1,000 rushing yards as a sophomore and added 350 yards as a receiver. Minnesota could do a better job blocking for him, as his efficiency numbers are not what you’d hope for with an elite back.

12. Darius Taylor - Minnesota Golden Gophers

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<a class="in-cell-link" href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/ncaaf/article/top-25-college-football-quarterbacks-for-the-2025-season" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ranking the Top College Football Quarterbacks for 2025</a>
<a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/desmond-reid/40094">Desmond Reid</a> is a small back at just 5’8” and only 175 pounds, but the former FCS star was a shifty playmaker for the Pitt Panthers in 2024. He excels as a pass-catcher out of the backfield and is the leading returning receiving running back in the country after putting up 540 yards in 2024. He will not line up and handle 25 carries per game up the middle, but Reid will play a vital role in Pitt’s offense in 2025 and will be one of the best backs in the ACC.

13. Desmond Reid - Pittsburgh Panthers

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West Virginia lost <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/cj-donaldson/32496">CJ Donaldson</a> to Ohio State, meaning more of the workload will shift to <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/jahiem-white/32504">Jahiem White</a>. As Rich Rodriguez takes over as the new head coach (again) for the Mountaineers, White is in line for a terrific 2024 campaign. White averaged 6.5 yards per carry, an elite number through two seasons. He’s only 5’7”, but Rodriguez knows how to maximize speedy runners in his system, and I cannot think of a better head coach to take White’s game to another level. He’s a dark horse candidate to lead the Big 12 in rushing in 2025.

14. Jahiem White - West Virginia Mountaineers

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The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets lean heavily on the running game, and quarterback <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/haynes-king/30011">Haynes King</a> and running back <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/jamal-haynes/30048">Jamal Haynes</a> are back for more in 2025. Haynes does not benefit from an elite offensive line but had 1,145 yards after contact and 2,005 rushing yards total over the past two seasons. Haynes is a true home-run hitter. He’ll go eight or nine carries without gaining more than a few yards per carry and will hit a seam and beat every defender with his elite speed for a considerable gain.

15. Jamal Haynes - Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

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<a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/cj-baxter/41192">CJ Baxter</a> was expected to be the centerpiece of the rushing attack for the Texas Longhorns in 2024 after serving as the true freshman backup to <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/nfl/players/jonathon-brooks/60009">Jonathon Brooks</a> in 2023 and gaining 659 yards. However, Baxter was lost for the season before the campaign even began, and Texas was left with a hole in the backfield they never quite filled. Baxter should be completely healthy by the time the 2025 season begins, and he is the presumed starter next to <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/arch-manning/41118">Arch Manning</a>. Baxter won’t get every carry as there is some good depth behind him, but he'll be expected to flirt with a 1,000-yard season.

16. CJ Baxter - Texas Longhorns

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The Florida Gators were counting on <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/montrell-johnson/44090">Montrell Johnson</a> to be the offense's focal point in 2024. They faced a brutal schedule and suffered early losses before turning to <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/dj-lagway/44049">DJ Lagway</a> and giving more carries to freshman <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/jadan-baugh/44074">Jadan Baugh</a> at running back. Lagway looks like a Bonafide star, and Baugh amassed 673 yards and averaged better than five yards per carry with seven touchdowns. Johnson is gone, leaving Baugh as the unquestioned number-one running back in Gainesville. The schedule is very tough once again, but Baugh could be an All-SEC running back, and Lagway might be the best quarterback in the conference.

17. Jadan Baugh - Florida Gators

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<a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/jaydn-ott/49560">Jaydn Ott</a> is back at Cal for his senior season after a disappointing 2024 campaign. A combination of a poor offensive line, an ankle injury, and increased trust in the passing game limited Ott’s production after really good seasons in 2022 and 2023. Ott is an explosive player who can be a good receiver out of the backfield, but he’ll need to be healthy and shoulder a large share of the offense after defections around him.

18. Jaydn Ott - Cal Golden Bears

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Ohio State is starting over at running back, but it would be foolish to think that the ground game will suddenly cease productivity. <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/james-peoples/38092">James Peoples</a> was a freshman last season and got spot duty but averaged only 4.02 yards per carry, so Ryan Day got big back <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/cj-donaldson/32496">CJ Donaldson</a> from West Virginia via the transfer portal. Donaldson will be Ohio State’s biggest running back since Beanie Wells, and his physicality should provide an interesting wrinkle to the offense and serve as a thunder element to the lightning of <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/jeremiah-smith/38164">Jeremiah Smith</a> and the receivers. Donaldson averaged 4.5 yards per carry and had a team-high 11 touchdowns for the Mountaineers in 2024.

19. CJ Donaldson - Ohio State Buckeyes

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Michigan offered fans a glimpse of the future at the season's end as they beat Ohio State and Alabama and offered a larger role to running back <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/jordan-marshall/45256">Jordan Marshall</a>. The freshman appeared in only five games but was very good against Alabama as the lead back, gaining 100 yards and showcasing a skillset that reminded Michigan coaches of <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/nfl/players/blake-corum/60185">Blake Corum</a>. Marshall will be the starting running back as Michigan tries to invigorate the offense in 2025, and he’ll have plenty of opportunities to shine behind a good offensive line.

20. Jordan Marshall - Michigan Wolverines

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North Carolina State lost Kevin Concepcion, but they return a fantastic weapon in <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/hollywood-smothers/16983">Hollywood Smothers</a>. NC State acquired <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/jordan-waters/16951">Jordan Waters</a> from Duke and planned on leaning on him in the backfield, but redshirt freshman Smothers quickly established himself as the better option. He got more work as the season wore on and ended up with 571 yards and 6.4 yards per carry, plus a fantastic performance in the bowl game (139 yards on 15 rushes). Smothers is terrific after contact (4.49 yards per rush) and will be the Wolfpack offense's focal point in 2025.

21. Hollywood Smothers - North Carolina State Wolfpack

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<a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/josh-mccray/22403">Josh McCray</a> is a perfect Bret Bielema running back. He’s big, physical, and runs with an intensity and intent to punish defenders. He split carries in 2024 but still gained 609 yards and served as the Illini’s finisher in the red zone with ten touchdowns. <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/aidan-laughery/22328">Aidan Laughery</a> is back, but McCray should continue to be RB1 for the Illini, and they have a schedule that sets them up for a run at the College Football Playoff in Champaign, with McCray getting increased attention as a result.

22. Josh McCray - Illinois Fighting Illini

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Speaking of the College Football Playoff, the Indiana Hoosiers lost Justice Ellison and Ty Son Lawton but added <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/lee-beebe/44492">Lee Beebe</a> from UAB and landed a big turtle (err…a big fish) with the addition of <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/roman-hemby/47800">Roman Hemby</a> from Maryland. The three-year starter for the Terrapins had a frustrating 2024 campaign behind a miserable Maryland offensive line, but he still managed to rack up 607 yards and six touchdowns (both team highs) after 680 yards in 2023 and 989 yards in 2022 as a freshman. Hemby is also a capable pass-catcher, and he could approximate the role played by Jaydn Ott next to former Cal quarterback <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/fernando-mendoza/49656">Fernando Mendoza</a>.

23. Roman Hemby - Indiana Hoosiers

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<a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/fluff-bothwell/42399">Fluff Bothwell</a>: what a fantastic name for a running back. Casual fans might not know this guy yet, but they will be during the 2025 season. He transferred from South Alabama after averaging 7.5 yards per carry as a freshman and scoring 13 touchdowns. He will now lead the backfield at Mississippi State. The Bulldogs desperately need some punch from the running game, and Bothwell is a physical force that should drastically improve Mississippi State on that side of the ball. Jeff Lebby landed an under-the-radar gem here.

24. Fluff Bothwell - Mississippi State Bulldogs

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Wake Forest has few positives entering the 2025 season, but running back <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/demond-claiborne/24687">Demond Claiborne</a> is an exception. He returns after earning third-team All-ACC in 2024, gaining 1,049 yards on 225 carries and scoring 11 touchdowns. Claiborne led the ACC in forced missed tackles for returning players, adding more than 250 receiving yards as a versatile threat. The Demon Deacons’ new offensive coordinator was at South Alabama last season, and the Jaguars had a strong rushing attack that they hope will translate to Winston-Salem.

25. Demond Claiborne - Wake Forest Demon Deacons

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The BYU Cougars will be one of the favorites in the Big 12. A big reason is the return of running back <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/lj-martin/30316">LJ Martin</a> after a successful 2024 campaign. Now a junior, Martin averaged an impressive 5.24 yards per carry on 137 attempts and scored seven touchdowns to lead the Cougars. His best performances came against Oklahoma State (120), UCF (101), and Colorado (88 yards and two touchdowns), and he forms a potent one-two punch with quarterback Jake Retzlaff.

26. LJ Martin - BYU Cougars

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Abu Sama was expected to emerge as the star running back in Ames for Iowa State, but big back <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/carson-hansen/45123">Carson Hansen</a> stole the show out of nowhere. Hansen averaged a team-best 4.98 yards on 151 carries and scored 13 touchdowns as the team’s short-yardage finisher. Hansen is difficult to bring down, and he steamrolled over many defenders in helping the Cyclones storm their way to the Big 12 Championship Game. Teams know about him now, but that won’t make him any easier to stop in 2025.

27. Carson Hansen - Iowa State Cyclones

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<a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/justice-haynes/19397">Justice Haynes</a> is an interesting and challenging player to evaluate. He arrived in Tuscaloosa as a five-star recruit and was expected to take over the backfield and become the next great Alabama running back. His freshman season was mostly uneventful, but Nick Saban retired, and Haynes fell behind Jam Miller on the depth chart. He was limited to just 79 carries as Miller had 145, but he was far more efficient, averaging 5.67 yards per carry to Miller’s 4.61. Both scored seven touchdowns on the ground, while quarterback Jalen Milroe had 2m. Haynes has now transferred to Michigan and is expected to share the backfield. He may outperform this ranking quite a bit or be a forgotten man in Ann Arbor on an offense that ends up struggling.

28. Justice Haynes - Michigan Wolverines

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The Rutgers Scarlet Knights have a gigantic hole to fill in their backfield as Kyle Monangai left for the NFL. Greg Schiano turned to the transfer portal and landed an under-the-radar gem in Florida Atlantic transfer <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/cj-campbell/44227">CJ Campbell Jr.</a> Campbell Jr. had 844 yards and 11 touchdowns. He averaged 5.12 yards per carry and had strong games to close the season against Charlotte (150 yards on 7.14 yards per carry) and Tulsa (100 yards on 15 carries).

29. CJ Campbell Jr. - Rutgers Scarlet Knights

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The Louisville Cardinals have the nation’s best young backfield. Keyjuan Brown had 243 yards as a freshman, and Isaac Brown exploded for 1,173 yards on 165 carries. They sandwich fellow freshman <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/duke-watson/20255">Duke Watson</a>, who was somehow even more efficient than Brown in 2024. Watson had 597 yards with an average of a remarkable 8.91 yards per carry with seven touchdowns. Watson’s overall ranking is only hindered by having to share a backfield with Brown, which will limit his numbers. Still, the Cardinals are loaded at running back, and Watson is a big piece of that.

30. Duke Watson - Louisville Cardinals

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The Texas A&amp;M Aggies should have an elite running game in 2025 as they return mobile threat <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/marcel-reed/45716">Marcel Reed</a> at quarterback, a strong offensive line, and powerful back <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/leveon-moss/45665">Le’Veon Moss</a>. The Baton Rouge native averaged 6.3 yards per carry in 2024 and had ten rushing touchdowns. Moss does not have elite breakaway speed, but he’s explosive and has proven his ability to run between the tackles. The senior had only three games with more than 100 yards, and he missed the final four games of the campaign after getting injured against South Carolina.

31. Le'Veon Moss - Texas A&M Aggies

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LSU has, quite surprisingly, struggled to run the ball in recent years. The passing offenses have been generally exceptional, but Jayden Daniels, a quarterback, has been the best running threat for the Bayou Bengals since Clyde Edwards-Helaire in 2019. <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/caden-durham/51378">Caden Durham</a> appears to be poised to change that. As a freshman in 2024, Durham beat out <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/kaleb-jackson/51342">Kaleb Jackson</a> and <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/josh-williams/51320">Josh Williams</a> and emerged as the best running back on the team. He only ended up with 140 carries, but averaged 5.38 yards per rush and had terrific games against Oklahoma and Baylor to close the season. Durham did not have a single fumble and had a breakaway rate of 41.8%, near the top mark in the conference. Durham will be the feature back in Baton Rouge in 2025.

32. Caden Durham - LSU Tigers

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<a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/phil-mafah/37142">Phil Mafah</a> has moved on, and the Clemson Tigers have a big hole in the backfield. Some returning candidates could step up, but the most likely future star is a true freshman who appears poised for an immediate role. Gideon Davidson, a star recruit from Virginia who racked up 2,054 yards and 34 touchdowns as a senior, has impressed in spring practice, and offensive coordinator Garrett Riley has not been shy about heaping praise on the young back. “The guy’s just natural. I mean, he’s a natural, natural balance, a cutter. He can be a violent runner, I think he’s got natural hands and can do things where you’re spreading him out or things in the passing game.” Dabo Swinney is typically reticent to trust young players with the ball, but he played true freshmen at receiver last season, and if Davidson is the best back, he’ll see the field, and I believe that once he does, he won’t give the starting running back job back.

33. Gideon Davidson - Clemson Tigers

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Damien Martinez was the bell-cow running back for the Miami Hurricanes in 2024, but he is off to the NFL. That means <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/mark-fletcher/22793">Mark Fletcher Jr.</a> will finally get his chance to be the lead back for the Hurricanes. He had 112 carries last season and averaged 5.4 yards per carry, plus nine touchdowns, and his experience showed he was good enough to excel in that role. The offense likely takes a step back this season with Cam Ward gone, but Fletcher Jr. is a capable back.

34. Mark Fletcher - Miami Hurricanes

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It is bizarre to see the first Alabama running back on this list at No. 35 and not in the top ten or twenty, but the numbers do not lie. The Crimson Tide failed to run the ball effectively from the running back position. Of the group, <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/jam-miller/19476">Jam Miller</a> had a team-high 145 carries for 4.61 yards per carry and seven touchdowns on the ground. He’s a capable pass-catcher, but the Tide have to do a better job of blocking for the run, and Miller needs to be more explosive with the ball in his hands.

35. Jam Miller - Alabama Crimson Tide

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The first half of the season was miserable for the Baylor Bears. They were just 2-4, head coach Dave Aranda was on the hottest of seats, and running back <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/bryson-washington/35723">Bryson Washington</a> only had 186 rushing yards. Washington took over the lead back role for the back half of the season and had 818 yards and 11 touchdowns down the stretch of the season. Aranda is back, and quarterback Sawyer Robertson returns as QB1, so the Bears should be one of the contenders in a crowded Big 12.

36. Bryson Washington - Baylor Bears

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The USC Trojans are in an exciting spot heading into the 2025 season. Lincoln Riley has failed to live up to expectations thus far, and there were a lot of portal departures from a roster that underperformed in 2024. Still, the Trojans also brought some talent in, and there is hope the program is morphing into a more physical and defensive-minded one to compete in the Big Ten. One of the big pieces that entered ahead of the 2025 season is California native and New Mexico transfer <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/eli-sanders/45146">Eli Sanders</a>. Sanders ran for 1063 yards and averaged a whopping 7.2 yards per carry for the Lobos, bringing an exciting element to the rushing attack for USC. “Eli’s explosive,” Lincoln Riley told the media, “I mean you just see his explosion, it just kind of jumps off the tape already, which is what we saw on tape."

37. Eli Sanders - USC Trojans

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<a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/rahsul-faison/48687">Rahsul Faison</a> is getting an extra year of eligibility because he spent the 2021 and 2022 seasons at Snow College in Utah. That’s a junior college, and he only appeared in games during his second season there. Faison was actually a freshman in 2019 at Marshall. He did not appear in any games, attended online classes in 2020 at Lackawanna College, and was out of football. He spent two seasons at Snow College and then was at Utah State in 2023 and 2024. The circuitous route has ended up in South Carolina as a member of Shane Beamer’s squad after he earned second team All-Mountain West Conference honors and ran for 1,109 yards with eight touchdowns. With LaNorris Sellers at quarterback, Faison will have many opportunities to showcase what he can do as a true veteran presence.

38. Rahsul Faison - South Carolina Gamecocks

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The Texas Longhorns are welcoming CJ Baxter back to the fold, and the return of <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/quintrevion-wisner/41183">Quintrevion Wisner</a> gives Texas one of the better backfields in the country, at least on paper. Wisner was a surprising contributor as he was buried on the depth chart when the 2024 season began in Austin. However, injuries mounted, and Wisner was impressive every time he was on the field, becoming the lead back for Texas in the back half of the season. He ended up with 1,060 yards but only averaged 4.7 yards per carry, lacking top-end explosive speed.

39. Quintrevion Wisner - Texas Longhorns

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Mississippi State head coach Jeff Lebby would like to air the ball out, but his offensive personnel for the 2025 season in Starkville is very suited to pound the rock. <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/davon-booth/48688">Davon Booth</a> was with Faison in 2023 at Utah State before transferring to Mississippi State ahead of last season. Despite playing from behind in most games and having an overmatched offensive line, Booth ran for 757 yards and five touchdowns. He had several explosive plays and is now paired with Fluff Bothwell to form an underrated duo for the Bulldogs.

40. Davon Booth - Mississippi State Bulldogs

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The Texas A&amp;M Aggies could have one of the nation’s best rushing attacks. Le’Veon Moss and quarterback Marcel Reed are the one-two punch at quarterback and running back, and the duo will be joined by powerful redshirt sophomore back <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/rueben-owens/45713">Rueben Owens</a>. Owens played only two games in 2024 before missing the remainder of the season to injury, but he was a decorated recruit and is very capable of returning to form and providing good rotation in the backfield.

41. Rueben Owens - Texas A&M Aggies

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The Utah Utes were uncharacteristically shaky during the 2024 season, and they only ran for 3.88 yards per carry. Micah Bernard led the offense, amassing 1,009 yards and an average of 5.12 yards per carry. However, the Utes desperately needed to shake up the offense, and they have done so with additions at quarterback, Devon Dampier, and running back, <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/wayshawn-parker/20494">Wayshawn Parker</a>. Parker had 735 for the Washington State Cougars and averaged 5.36 yards per carry. He did this as a freshman and should see improved production with the Utah offensive line paving the way.

42. Wayshawn Parker - Utah Utes

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The Texas Tech Red Raiders have gone “all in” for the 2025 season, investing in the transfer portal and loading up on quality transfers as they push for a Big 12 Championship. The Red Raiders needed to replace Tahj Brooks at running back, and they turned West and grabbed former USC Trojans back <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/quinten-joyner/36466">Quinten Joyner</a>. Joyner averaged 7.59 yards per carry as a freshman for USC, and there is a lot of excitement about what he can do with an increased workload.

43. Quinten Joyner - USC Trojans

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Essentially nothing went right for the Florida State Seminoles in 2024. After winning the ACC in 2023, the Seminoles won two games last season. They enter 2025 with questions about head coach Mike Norvell's approach and whether his reworked staff is up to the challenge of producing a consistent winner. Florida State turns to freshman running back Ousmane Kromah, who averaged 8.1 yards per carry at Leesburg in Georgia. There is instant pressure on the four-star recruit to produce right away after Lawrance Toafili exhausted his eligibility.

44. Ousmane Kromah - Florida State Seminoles

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Minnesota has quietly assembled one of the best backfields in the Big Ten. They return Darius Taylor and add outstanding young back <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/aj-turner/33026">A.J. Turner</a> from Marshall. As a sophomore, Turner averaged 8.31 yards per carry and racked up 864 yards with six touchdowns. Marshall was not great last season, but Turner was a bright spot, with 103 yards against Virginia Tech, 124 against Western Michigan, and 4.57 against eventual champion Ohio State. He’s an explosive back who will prosper in Minnesota’s system.

45. A.J. Turner - Minnesota Golden Gophers

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Nebraska’s running game in 2024 left quite a bit to be desired. The Huskers ran for only 3.79 yards per carry, and the lack of a consistent rushing attack and a competent offensive line were key factors in the relative struggles for freshman quarterback Dylan Raiola. As Nebraska tries to continue Matt Rhule’s trend of winning big in Year 3 of his coaching stops, they will need to see improved production from the running back position. Dante Dowdell left for Kentucky, leaving junior <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/emmett-johnson/37709">Emmett Johnson</a> as the unquestioned lead back. As a sophomore, he averaged 5.11 yards per carry and will see a much bigger workload in 2025 than in 2024.

46. Emmett Johnson - Nebraska Cornhuskers

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Omarion Hampton was a superstar in Chapel Hill, but he’s off to the NFL after a tremendous junior year (1660 yards and 15 touchdowns). New UNC head coach Bill Belichick will need to rely on <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/davion-gause/33061">Davion Gause's</a> progression to fill the backfield void. Gause ran the ball 67 times for 326 yards (4.87 yards per carry) and scored four touchdowns as a freshman in 2024. He was a coveted four-star recruit landed by Mack Brown’s staff.

47. Davion Gause - North Carolina Tar Heels

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The Ohio State Buckeyes had an ultra-productive offense anchored by running back duo Quinshon Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson. Both are off to the NFL, leaving a real opportunity. Ryan Day turned to West Virginia and plucked big back CJ Donaldson from the portal and will pair with sophomore <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/james-peoples/38092">James Peoples</a> in what is expected to be a two-man rotation. Peoples was a much-hyped recruit. As a freshman last season, he ran for 197 yards and two scores on 49 rushes. The pair is unlikely to reach the heights achieved by Judkins and Henderson, but OSU will have a productive rushing attack.

48. James Peoples - Ohio State Buckeyes

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The Michigan State Spartans lost Nate Carter and Kay’ron Lynch-Adams and only had inexperienced backs Makhi Frazier and Brandon Tullis returning. Jonathan Smith dipped down a level and grabbed Sacramento State back <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/elijah-tau-tolliver/39827">Elijah Tau-Tolliver</a> to become the lead back. Tau-Tolliver is an all-purpose back who accumulated nearly 3,000 yards across rushing, kick returns, and receiving and has six career 100-yard rushing games. It’s a huge step-up to the Big Ten, and the Spartans will have a rotation, but it’s expected that Tau-Tolliver will lead the way.

49. Elijah Tau-Tolliver - Michigan State Spartans

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The Tennessee Volunteers lost one of their primary backups when <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/cameron-seldon/38673">Cameron Seldon</a> left Knoxville for a likely starting role with the Virginia Tech Hokies. VT lost their star running back to the NFL, and this is a critical season for head coach Brent Pry. Seldon averaged 5.13 yards per game in a limited role, and it will be very interesting to see how he does with a bigger usage rate.

50. Cameron Seldon - Virginia Tech Hokies

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Running backs play a critical role in college football, and the 2025 season should feature some great ones. Who are the best running backs for next season?

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