Top 10 Greatest College Football Running Backs

Bo Jackson won the 1985 Heisman with 1,786 yards on 278 carries, which is a 6.4 average. Barry won the 1988 Heisman with 2,850 yards on 373 carries, which is a 7.6 average. Oh, and he had 42 touchdowns. He averaged 237.5 yards per game, and that was one season. His lowest yards per carry average was against Nebraska at 5.4. Nebraska was up 42-0 less than 19 minutes into the game and won 63-42 thanks to Barry running for 4 touchdowns.

In comparison, in 1981 Herschel Walker had 385 carries for 1,891 yards and 18 touchdowns. This was his best season, and he averaged 4.9 yards per carry. Barry had 18 touchdowns in his final 5 games of the 1988 season. If you include the bowl game, he had 5 more for a total of 23 in 6 games! For good measure, he averaged 7.81 yards per carry for a total of 1,694 yards. In those 6 games, he averaged 282 yards per game. That's running the ball, not throwing. These numbers are hard to duplicate in a video game!

To put into perspective just how good Barry was, in 2017 there was a post on Twitter comparing Barry's 1988 season to the top running back every week in college football. Barry still had better stats.

There is absolutely no doubt who the best college running back of all time is.

Just look at his aggregate Heisman trophy votes during his entire career. He came in third his first year, second his second year, and won it his third year. Over three years, I'm not sure you can say that about the other leaders. Barry Sanders had one great year and was a backup his freshman and sophomore years. Marcus DuPree had talent, no doubt, but to put him over Herschel? Come on, man. This is not a vote on potential but actual accomplishments. Bo gets compared to Herschel all the time because they both played similarly, wore #34, and played in the SEC. The truth is Bo may have been the overall better athlete with consideration to his baseball accomplishments, but those shouldn't weigh in on the running back argument. "Oh, you Herschel Walker!"

The most underrated GREAT running back in history. You NEVER hear his name mentioned in the discussions of the best all-time runners, and that is a crime. People dismiss the fact that he was the all-time leading rusher when he left college and the second all-time leading rusher when he left the NFL. They also overlook the fact that he had incredible toughness and durability for a 180-pound running back - kickers are bigger than that these days.

Agree with everything said about Tony "D." My favorite running back of all time by far. Watching the 1976 season was really my first infatuation with football, where TD broke a long run every game. Sitting and waiting to see it happen was just as much of a thrill as it was watching it happen!

No one had the combination of power, blinding speed, moves, and the ability to be solid in pro baseball. Arm strength, home runs, stealing bases, hitting curveballs - only thing he didn't do was kickoffs and punt returns, didn't need to. ESPN got it right: G.O.A.T. Watch out for Fournette/Lau. Power, speed, moves, returns kickoffs.

Bo and Mr. Dupree, men among men, neither really trained, just god-given mixes of size, strength, speed, and smarts. Bo ran a 4.1 40-yard dash at an NFL combine, still a record to this day. Bo's entrance into the NFL was a "hobby" to keep him from getting bored in the MLB off-season. Not enough can be said about him in his college days. His stories are bunyonesque.

He owns one of the best games in college football history. No doubt he should be on this list.

Ok, we are talking about college, right? This guy was electrifying in college!

Marcus was a definite first down when you needed it. He was so smooth. Not considered fast and strong but hard to catch. Slashing through the defense. Did I mention he could catch and throw?

A tragedy that this great football athlete is underrated at the collegiate level as well as the pro level. A graceful runner leaving you amazed. Just ask the Washington Redskins!

Marcus was the business! 200-yard games, 300-yard games, and he mostly played as a backup his first two years.

No question one of the greatest running backs of all time. He was big and fast. Wow. That's all you can say about this guy.

Out of all the RBs on this list, while he may not be the best, he is the one I would least like to try and tackle in the open field.

Besides Bo and Herschel, Earl Campbell is the next best.

Every time he touched the ball, he made at least one guy miss. He was never tackled by the first guy. And if he got into the open field, it was an automatic six points.

He shared time and still was incredible. Imagine if he was the only back they used.

He was great to see on TV. Always electrifying!

Respect to all previously stated, other than Reggie Bush. He was a track star that could catch the ball out of the backfield, not a running back. Smh at you guys that think he even deserves to be mentioned with these guys. Ricky is top 3, hands down. He broke all their records, they knew he was getting it, and it didn't matter.

I almost didn't comment because this list is so uninformed. But Ricky Williams is by far a Top 5 running back in college football history. Over 2,000 rushing yards his final two college seasons speak for themselves.

Should be top three at least, maybe best ever (modern era).

All the Rams had was Eric Dickerson running left and Eric Dickerson running right.

He compiled one of the greatest freshman seasons in NCAA history, gaining 1,429 yards rushing, with 23 total touchdowns (21 rushing), and 140 points scored. In one game, he rushed for 386 yards and 7 touchdowns.

His freshman year, 2004, was the greatest any freshman has produced. His power, speed, and phenomenal vision were as good as the game's ever seen! Peterson has been great at every level since he first picked up a football.

Even though he was injured, he was still undoubtedly a top ten college back of all time. Go look at his highlight reel. It's better than any other player's.

Nick Chubb is a beast. He can truck like no other person.