Ranking all 18 Big Ten running back rooms from worst to first

The calendar has turned to July, which means it’s time to turn full focus toward the upcoming college football season.

With official visits for the class of 2026 recruiting cycle now complete, and most of the cycle’s top prospects verbally committed, fall training camp is the next major milestone on the college football calendar. As of Saturday, July 5, only eight Saturdays remain until the season officially kicks off.

Our offseason work to date has included a ranking of the Big Ten’s 18 football stadiums, a specific evaluation of each based on its in-game atmosphere, plus a ranking of the conference’s uniform combinations, its classic collection of helmets, its memorable fight songs and, finally, its primary logos. Of course, that is in addition to an in-depth power ranking of every Big Ten team after spring practice, as well as a look at the difficulty of every team’s schedule.

With focus now on the upcoming season, that preview work is shifting to the conference’s various position groups. The quarterback landscape has already been analyzed, then re-analyzed after UCLA added Nico Iamaleava. Up next is the conference’s 18 running back rooms, ranked from worst to first.

FAU running back C.J. Campbell Jr. bursts free against the Charlotte defense during Saturday’s game in Boca Raton.

Starter: C.J. Campbell (transfer, FAU)

Backup: Antwan Raymond

A theme in these rankings will be teams that are tasked with replacing All-Conference-caliber players at the position. Rutgers fits into that category, with multi-year starter Kyle Monangai off to the NFL. The program added former Florida State and FAU RB C.J. Campbell via the transfer portal. His dual-threat ability (844 rushing yards, 466 receiving yards in 2024) could provide an offense that ranks in the conference’s bottom tier. However, it’s hard to see Campbell replicating Monangai’s rushing production (2,541 yards over the last two seasons).

17. Maryland Terrapins

Nov 16, 2024; College Park, Maryland, USA; Maryland Terrapins running back Nolan Ray (25) tries to slip past Rutgers Scarlet Knights defensive back Eric Rogers (0)during the first half at SECU Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images

Starter: Nolan Ray

Backup: DeJuan Williams

Maryland turns to a redshirt sophomore in Nolan Ray, who rushed for 374 yards on 75 carries last season. Three-year starter Roman Hemby transferred to Indiana this offseason. With starting quarterback Billy Edwards now at Wisconsin, Maryland may struggle to move the ball, both on the ground and through the air. Ray would do extremely well to approach 1,000 yards.

16. Northwestern Wildcats

Nov 30, 2024; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Northwestern Wildcats running back Cam Porter (1) runs the ball against the Illinois Fighting Illini during the second half at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images

Starter: Cam Porter

Backup: Joseph Himon

Cam Porter should be a familiar name to Big Ten football fans. The veteran running back has carried the ball 460 times over the last five seasons, totaling 1,771 yards and 17 touchdowns. His 3.9 yards-per-carry average reflects a hard-nosed running style that is mostly built around moving the chains. Porter is disadvantaged by Northwestern’s bottom-tier offense. However, even a system like Iowa’s still wouldn’t push him into the conference’s top half.

15. Illinois Fighting Illini

Nov 30, 2024; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini running back Aidan Laughery (21) runs for a touchdown against Northwestern Wildcats during the first half at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images

Starter: Aidan Laughery

Backup: Kaden Feagin

Illinois deployed a three-man committee at running back last season, with Josh McCray (609 yards), Laughery (589 yards) and Feagin (306 yards) all handling a significant portion of the workload. McCray, the clear best of the group last season, transferred to Georgia this offseason. That move puts more on Laughery and Feagin’s respective shoulders. While the duo may produce solid yardage while running behind a strong offensive line, they’re far from the most talented in the conference.

Oct 26, 2024; Berkeley, California, USA; California Golden Bears running back Jaivian Thomas (25) reacts after scoring a touchdown against the Oregon State Beavers during the second quarter at California Memorial Stadium. Thomas was ruled down before the end zone after a video review. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images

Starter: Jaivian Thomas (transfer, Cal)

Backup: Jalen Berger

UCLA is one of several teams with a transfer set to handle the starting role. Thomas transfers in after two seasons at Cal. He excelled as a sophomore in 2024, taking 100 carries for 626 yards and seven touchdowns. His placement at No. 14 has more to do with the Big Ten’s depth of talent at the position than any shortcoming of talent.

Get more (UCLA) news, analysis and opinions on UCLA Wire

13. Michigan State Spartans

Sep 16, 2023; Stanford, California, USA; Sacramento State Hornets running back Elijah Tau-Tolliver (25) scores a touchdown during the second quarter against the Stanford Cardinal at Stanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sergio Estrada-USA TODAY Sports

Starter: Elijah Tau-Tolliver (transfer, Sacramento State)

Backup: Brandon Tullis

Tau-Tolliver is a player to watch in 2025 after a 958-yard, seven-touchdown season at Sacramento State in 2024. The big-play threat will provide a complement to Spartans quarterback Aidan Chiles, who flashed top-tier play during his first year as the full-time starter. This is an underrated backfield entering 2025.

Get more (Michigan State) news, analysis and opinions on Spartans Wire

12. Indiana Hoosiers

Sep 21, 2024; College Park, Maryland, USA; Maryland Terrapins running back Roman Hemby (24) runs the ball against the Villanova Wildcats during the first quarter at SECU Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images

Starter: Roman Hemby (transfer, Maryland)

Backup: Kaelon Black

Indiana has two capable running backs in Hemby and Black. The room won’t be one of the conference’s more explosive, as both running backs have career yards-per-carry averages under five. But this is a classic high-floor group that will provide stability to the Hoosiers’ offense.

11. USC Trojans

Former Escambia running back, and top junior college recruit, Waymond Jordan Jr. signed with the University of Southern California during a ceremony on Sunday, Jan. 5, 2024.

Starter: Waymond Jordan (transfer, Hutchinson CC)

Backup: Eli Sanders (transfer, New Mexico)

Jordan is an intriguing player to watch entering 2025. He rushed for 1,614 yards and 20 touchdowns at Hutchinson CC in 2024. While that production translating to the Big Ten isn’t a guarantee, he’ll be surrounded by a terrific offensive system. Don’t be surprised if he rockets up the rankings once the season begins.

Get more (USC) news, analysis and opinions on Trojans Wire

10. Purdue Boilermakers

Oct 5, 2024; Madison, Wisconsin, USA; Purdue Boilermakers quarterback Hudson Card (1) hands the football off to running back Devin Mockobee (45) during the fourth quarter against the Wisconsin Badgers at Camp Randall Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images

Starter: Devin Mockobee

Backup: Jaheim Merriweather

Running back may be the one position where Purdue grades out favorably. Senior Devin Mockobee is back to lead the room after totaling 505 carries, 2,466 yards and 19 touchdowns over the last three seasons. He’ll be surrounded by an entirely new offensive roster, so projecting his stats is a challenge. That said, Mockobee is one of the conference’s more proven players at the position.

9. Nebraska Cornhuskers

Oct 28, 2023; Lincoln, Nebraska, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers running back Emmett Johnson (21) runs for a touchdown against the Purdue Boilermakers during the fourth quarter at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dylan Widger-USA TODAY Sports

Starter: Emmett Johnson

Backup: Kwinten Ives

Johnson (598 yards, one touchdown) was the 1B to 1A Dante Dowdell (614 yards, 12 touchdowns) in 2024. Johnson should take the full-time job in 2025, where expectations will be high for both him and the entire Nebraska offense. I’d slot the veteran running back in as another high-floor, low-ceiling running back entering the season.

Get more (Nebraska) news, analysis and opinions on Cornhuskers Wire

Sep 7, 2024; Madison, Wisconsin, USA; Wisconsin Badgers running back Darrion Dupree (13) rushes with the football during the fourth quarter against the South Dakota Coyotes at Camp Randall Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images

Starters: Dilin Jones, Darrion Dupree

Backup: Cade Yacamelli

Previewing Wisconsin’s backfield requires a bit of projection. Dupree played well as a true freshman in 2024 (79 carries, 317 yards), while Jones’ emergence was the primary talk of spring practice. That top underclassman duo, and a senior in Yacamelli (274 yards, 8.3 yards per carry in 2024), will run in Wisconsin’s new pro-style system, behind a strong offensive line. The backfield’s carry distribution is a bit of an unknown. But Jones and Dupree could be one of the conference’s better duos by the time the season concludes.

7. Iowa Hawkeyes

Nov 23, 2024; College Park, Maryland, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes running back Kamari Moulton (28) runs for a touchdown during the second half against the Maryland Terrapins at SECU Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images

Starter: Kamari Moulton

Backup: Jaziun Patterson

Iowa is tasked with replacing NFL draft pick Kaleb Johnson (240 carries, 1,537 yards, 21 rushing touchdowns in 2024). Moulton is a strong option after rushing for 473 yards and three scores as Johnson’s complement in 2024. It’s Iowa, so it’s reasonable to expect the program’s next running back to be a good one.

Get more (Iowa) news, analysis and opinions on Hawkeyes Wire

6. Washington Huskies

Nov 2, 2024; Seattle, Washington, USA; Washington Huskies quarterback Will Rogers (7) celebrates a rushing touchdown by running back Jonah Coleman (1) against the USC Trojans during the first quarter at Alaska Airlines Field at Husky Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images

Starter: Jonah Coleman

Backup: Adam Mohammed

Coleman is back to lead the Huskies’ backfield after rushing for 1,053 yards and 10 scores in 2024. He’ll be surrounded by an improved supporting cast, headlined by quarterback Demond Williams Jr. Don’t exclude Coleman from conversations about the conference’s potential rushing leader.

Get more (Washington) news, analysis and opinions on Huskies Wire

5. Ohio State Buckeyes

Ohio State Buckeye James Peoples (20) carries the ball during warm ups before the start of the spring game at Ohio Stadium on April 12, 2025.

Starter: James Peoples

Backup: C.J. Donaldson (transfer, West Virginia)

Ohio State is another program that seems to churn out top-tier running backs every season. With stars TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins off to the NFL, Peoples is the first in line to capture the backfield carries. He rushed for 197 yards and two scores last season after joining the program as a four-star recruit in the class of 2024. Donaldson, a West Virginia transfer, is also worth monitoring after surpassing 700 yards in each of the last two seasons.

Get more (Ohio State) news, analysis and opinions on Buckeyes Wire

4. Michigan Wolverines

Team Blue running back Justice Haynes (22) runs against Team Maize during the first half of the spring game at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on Saturday, April 19, 2025.

Starter: Justice Haynes (transfer, Alabama)

Backup: Jordan Marshall

Michigan will have a former five-star recruit at both quarterback and running back in 2025. The running back is Haynes, who was the No. 29 overall recruit in the class of 2023. He rushed for 448 yards and seven touchdowns as a sophomore at Alabama in 2024. Now the full-time starter at Michigan, many are predicting a breakthrough season.

Get more (Michigan) news, analysis and opinions on Wolverines Wire

3. Minnesota Golden Gophers

Nov 9, 2024; Piscataway, New Jersey, USA; Minnesota Golden Gophers running back Darius Taylor (1) fights for yards as Rutgers Scarlet Knights linebacker Tyreem Powell (22) tackles during the first half at SHI Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

Starter: Darius Taylor

Backup: A.J. Turner (transfer, Marshall)

Taylor is one of the Big Ten’s more established players at the position. He rushed for 799 yards and five scores as a freshman in 2023, then followed that performance with a 986-yard, 10-touchdown season in 2024. Taylor, who will be the engine of the Minnesota offense in 2025, has a chance to lead the Big Ten in rushing.

2. Oregon Ducks

Nov 16, 2024; Annapolis, Maryland, USA; Tulane Green Wave running back Makhi Hughes (21) scores a touchdown during the first half against the Navy Midshipmen at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images

Starter: Makhi Hughes (transfer, Tulane)

Backup: Noah Whittington

Like Ohio State and other top programs, Oregon churns out top running back talent every season. Next on that list may be Hughes, who transferred in after two fantastic seasons at Tulane — 1,378 yards and seven touchdowns in 2023, then 1,401 yards and 15 touchdowns in 2024. Oregon’s high-powered offense should help Hughes to even greater yardage and touchdown totals in 2025.

Get more (Oregon) news, analysis and opinions on Ducks Wire

1. Penn State Nittany Lions

Dec 31, 2024; Glendale, AZ, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions running back Nicholas Singleton (10) rushes for a touchdown against the Boise State Broncos during the Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Starters: Nicholas Singleton, Kaytron Allen

Backup: Quinton Martin

The top running back room on this list shouldn’t come as much of a surprise. Both Singleton and Allen elected to forgo the NFL draft and return to the Nittany Lions for the 2025 season. The two combined for 2,207 rushing yards and 20 touchdowns last year. A repeat of that performance, especially with another deep College Football Playoff run, would give the room the Big Ten’s rushing title.

Get more (Penn State) news, analysis and opinions on Nittany Lions Wire

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This article originally appeared on Badgers Wire: Power ranking all 18 Big Ten running back rooms from worst to first

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