30 Best College Running Backs of All-Time

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Honorable Mention

Understandably, cutting the list of the greatest running backs in college football history to just 30 names was difficult, and it would be impossible to move forward without mentioning many extraordinary running backs who made huge impacts on their teams, schools, and in some cases, the game itself.

Honorable Mention (in Alphabetical Order):

• Damien Anderson, Northwestern 4,485 rushing yards, 38 TD
• Montee Ball, Wisconsin, 5,140 rushing yards, 77 TD
• Jay Berwanger, Chicago, 1935 Heisman Trophy
• Doc Blanchard, Army, 1,670 rushing yards, 30 TD, 1945 Heisman Trophy
• Billy Cannon, LSU, 1,876 rushing yards, 19 TD, 1959 Heisman Trophy
• Avon Cobourne, West Virginia, 5,039 rushing yards, 43 TD
• Anthony Davis, USC, 3,724 rushing yards, 44 TD
• Ernie Davis, Syracuse, 2,386 rushing yards, 20 TD, 1961 Heisman Trophy
• Glen Davis, Army, 2,309 rushing yards, 36 TD, 1946 Heisman Trophy
• Damion Fletcher, Southern Miss, 5,302 rushing yards, 44 TD
• Clint Frank, Yale, 1937 Heisman Trophy
• Mike Garrett, USC, 1965 Heisman Trophy
• Eddie George, Ohio State, 3,768 rushing yards, 44 TD, 1995 Heisman Trophy
• Tom Harmon, Michigan, 1940 Heisman Trophy
• Michael Hart, Michigan, 5,040 rushing yards, 41 TD
• Mark Ingram, Alabama, 3,261 rushing yards, 42 TD, 2009 Heisman Trophy
• Terry Miller, Oklahoma State, 4,754 rushing yards, 49 TD
• Ray Rice, Rutgers, 4,926 rushing yards, 49 TD
• Rashaan Salaam, Colorado, 3,057 rushing yards, 33 TD, 1994 Heisman Trophy
• Frank Sinkwich, Georgia, 1942 Heisman Trophy
• Ken Simonton, Oregon State, 5,044 rushing yards, 59 TD
• Kevin Smith, UCF, 4,679 rushing yards, 45 TD
• Darren Sproles, Kansas State, 4,979 rushing yards, 45 TD
• Thurman Thomas, Oklahoma State, 4,847 rushing yards, 43 TD
• Anthony Thompson, Indiana, 5,299 rushing yards, 67 TD
• Doak Walker, SMU, 1948 Heisman Trophy
• Lorenzo White, Michigan State, 4,887 rushing yards, 43 TD
• Carnell “Cadillac” Williams, Auburn, 3,831 rushing yards, 45 TD

If that’s the list of players who didn’t make the cut, you can imagine the success of those that did. Ranking them 30-1 was even harder, and with such an exercise, there is sure to be controversy, so leave your thoughts in the comments section.

So, without further ado, we count down the 30 best running backs of all-time in college football.

Note: Stats referenced come from sports-reference.com. In some cases, bowl game statistics not recognized by the NCAA are included. 

Next: No. 30 Running Back of All-Time