Athlon Sports Unveils Top 10 Running Back Units in College Football for 2025

The running back position has been overlooked at times in recent years but has been having a renaissance in recent seasons. Clearly one of the most important groups on a team, Athlon Sports came out and ranked their Top 10 RB units in the sport for the 2025 season.

Athlon didn’t set any specific parameters for what it took to get ranked. However, throughout the list, there are teams ranked who are returning excellent production from last season, rather than just potential. Unsurprisingly, all of these teams are also teams that have hopes of at least making it to the College Football Playoff .

It remains to be seen if these teams are able to live up to preseason expectations. With all of that in mind, here’s a look at how Athlon broke down the top RB rooms in the country.

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10. Michigan Wolverines

The Michigan Wolverines are looking to bounce back from a bit of a difficult season in 2024 after winning the national championship in 2023. To do so, they’re likely going to lean on what should be one of the best running back rooms in the country, which Athlon lists as the number 10 unit going into the season. It’s a RB room led by Justice Haynes .

A transfer from Alabama , Haynes rushed for 448 yards and seven touchdowns last season. He also had 17 receptions for 99 yards. After that, Jordan Marshall is the top returning running back from last season’s team. That was on 31 carries for 120 yards on the season as he was limited by injury. So, while the group is relatively unproven, there is a lot of potential.

9. Florida Gators

The Florida Gators seemingly have placed their offensive hopes next season on DJ Lagway ‘s arm. However, the Gators are going to balance that approach with a strong running game as well. Jadan Baugh is the team’s top returning running back from last season with 133 carries for 673 yards and seven touchdowns.

Beyond Baugh, Florida is going to have options. Ja’Kobi Jackson also returns after going for 509 yards last season. Confident with that room, head coach Billy Napier didn’t dip into the Transfer Portal to add any new backs. So, there is confidence that the current group can take a step forward. The Gators did, however, add three incoming freshmen at RB.

8. Baylor Bears

The Baylor Bears finished the 2024 season on a high note, seemingly finding what they want their backfield for the future to be. A key piece of that is running back Bryson Washington . He broke out last season with 1,028 yards and 12 touchdowns. On top of that, Baylor returns Dawson Pendergrass , whose 671 yards and six touchdowns were second on the team in rushing yards.

That unit should prove to be among the best in the entire Big 12 and the country next season. If they live up to the potential that Athlon has set for them, then there’s a good chance that they’ll compete for a conference championship. Do that and Baylor becomes a College Football Playoff contender.

7. Louisville Cardinals

The Louisville Cardinals are hoping to catch some teams by surprise next season. If they’re able to do that, it will likely be on the strength of their running back room, which Athlon expects to be among the best nationally. Of course, that also makes it among the best in the ACC.

Running back Isaac Brown is the highlight of the RB room at Louisville. Undersized, Brown had been overlooked at one point but no longer. A monster for the Cardinals, Brown rushed for 1,173 on 7.1 yards per carry with 11 touchdowns last season. He also had 30 receptions for 152 yards and another score. Overlooked no longer, Louisville will pair him with Duke Watson to make for an interesting and underrated running back room.

6. Georgia Bulldogs

The Georgia Bulldogs expect to compete for national championships. To do that in 2025, they’re going to need to answer some questions along the offensive side of the ball, particularly at quarterback. Given those concerns, it’s going to make getting solid play from the RB room that much more vital. That starts with Nate Frazier .

In 2024, Frazier broke out as a freshman with 671 yards and eight touchdowns on the ground. He also had 12 receptions for 85 yards. From the Transfer Portal, the Bulldogs also added Josh McCray , who went for 609 yards and 10 touchdowns and brings with him plenty of experience. That combination should prove to be one of the best in the SEC as they hope to overcome some growing pains.

5. Oregon Ducks

Athlon has the defending Big Ten Champions coming in fifth on its RB room list. That’s despite not returning tons of talent from last year’s team. Jordan James , who rushed for more than 1,200 yards last season, has moved on to the NFL. Instead, the Ducks have leaned on the Transfer Portal, bringing in Makhi Hughes .

Previously a star for Tulane , Hughes put up 2,779 yards rushing, or 99.3 yards per game, with 22 rushing touchdowns in 28 career games. He joins Noah Whittington and Da’Jaun Riggs among others in Eugene but is expected to be the standout. Whittington, as well, will likely begin playing in a larger role.

4. Texas A&M Aggies

The Texas A&M Aggies are hoping to take a major leap forward in their second season under head coach Mike Elko . To do that, they’ll likely lean on the RB room, which Athlon ranks among the best nationally. That is a unit that’s going to be led by Le’Veon Moss , who led the Aggies in rushing last season while only playing in nine games. Still, he managed to put up 765 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns.

Behind Moss was Amari Daniels . He’ll also return after putting up 661 rushing yards and eight touchdowns of his own last season. Even the team’s third-leading rusher from last season, EJ Smith , is returning in 2025. So, the Aggies have plenty of proven experience returning after having a phenomenal season as a unit last year.

3. Texas Longhorns

The Texas Longhorns were expected to have one of the best RB rooms in the country last season. Then, injuries took over and the Longhorns’ depth was seriously tested. The worst of those injuries was likely to CJ Baxter , who tore the LCL and PCL in his right knee. Now, he should be healthy for the 2025 season.

One benefit of battling through injuries is that it forced others to step up for Texas. Among those backs, Tre Wisner managed to become a key piece of the puzzle. He finished with 1,064 yards rushing and five touchdowns. He also caught 44 passes for 311 yards and another touchdown. So, there’s plenty to build on there too.

2. Notre Dame Fighting Irish

In the end, Notre Dame came up just short of winning a national championship last season. Still, it was a fantastic year where the Irish battled through injuries. One Notre Dame star who kept battling through those injuries was running back Jeremiyah Love . Despite being banged up late in the year, he had a phenomenal Playoff run and finished the season with 1,125 yards and 17 touchdowns to go along with 28 receptions for 237 yards receiving and two receiving touchdowns.

Notre Dame has depth beyond Love, though. In particular, Jadarian Price and Aneyas Williams are going to be vital to the Irish in 2025. As a secondary option, Price rushed for 746 yards and seven touchdowns. Williams, meanwhile, was in his freshman season. He’d break out and flash his potential with 219 yards and two rushing touchdowns on the ground, while also catching 18 passes for 172 yards.

1. Penn State Nittany Lions

The Penn State Nittany Lions are coming off a phenomenal 2024 season, going to the College Football Playoff semifinal. That was, in no small part, thanks to their dynamic running back duo of Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen . They both rushed for better than 1,000 yards last season and they’d both decided to return for the 2025 season.

2025 will be the fourth season in a row where these two share a backfield for Penn State. For his career, Singleton has played in 41 games and has 2,912 yards, 32 touchdowns, 78 receptions, 768 receiving yards, and eight receiving touchdowns. Allen, meanwhile, has played in 42 games and has 2,877 yards, 24 touchdowns, 52 receptions, 422 receiving yards, and four receiving touchdowns.

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