College Football: 5 running backs who’ll contend for Heisman Trophy in 2020

When it comes to filling the Jonathan Taylor role, the most likely candidate is Oklahoma State’s Chuba Hubbard. Like Taylor, Hubbard doesn’t get talked about as much as some of the other names on this list, mainly because the Oklahoma State brand, similar to Wisconsin, isn’t quite at the level of an Alabama or Clemson.

Also like Taylor, Hubbard has announced his presence with sheer volume of production. In 2019, the Cowboy tailback eclipsed the 2,000-yard mark, rushing for 2,094 yards and finding the end zone 21 times. Only Barry Sanders has rushed for at least 2,000 yards in Stillwater.

Needless to say, Hubbard is in great company.

There was only one game in 2019 that Hubbard didn’t rush for at least 100 yards. That was against McNeese State, a game in which he only carried the ball eight times. Even more impressive, Hubbard rushed for at least 200 yards on four occasions, and at least 250 twice.

Against Kansas State, he came just four yards shy of 300 yards.

There’s no question about it, Hubbard has put out Heisman-level production. With the lack of a Burrow-esque season and storyline from a quarterback in 2020, and a replication of his 2019 numbers, the Heisman Trophy has a good chance of finally returning to Stillwater.