Top 25 RB rankings entering Week 3 of college football

It’s been a slow(ish) start to the season for some of the nation’s top running backs in 2023, leaving the On3 Top 25 running back rankings somewhat in flux ahead of Week 3 as teams feel their way out in the early stages of the year. Be it facing fierce defenses, adjusting to new schemes or getting back to speed following an injury, there’s reason for optimism that these are just early doldrums for the top-flight backs.

And plenty of performers from across the country have popped up on the radar after strong starts. All told, the On3 Top 25 running backs include six each from the Big Ten and Pac-12, four from the SEC, three each from the ACC and Group of 5, two from the Big 12 and one Audric Estime from Notre Dame.

Check out the full On3 Top 25 running back rankings below.

1. Blake Corum, Michigan

Corum only has 25 carries through two games as he works his way back to game speed following offseason knee surgery. Even still, he’s been effective.

Corum is currently averaging 6.1 yards per carry and powered in for three touchdowns against UNLV. He’s got four touchdowns and 153 yards to his name through two contests.

2. Nick Singleton, Penn State

Elsewhere in the Big Ten East, Penn State has leaned heavily on Singleton — and fellow back Kaytron Allen — as quarterback Drew Allar makes his first few starts. The sophomore tailback has answered the call.

It’s been generally easy sledding as Single has carried 25 times for 117 yards in two games. He also accounted for a trio of touchdowns last weekend to bring his season total to four.

3. Omarion Hampton, North Carolina

While all eyes have been on the QB for North Carolina, the ground game as dominated. Hampton is a big reason why.

He starred in a double-overtime win in Week 2, carrying 26 times for 234 yards — 9 per carry — for three touchdowns. He took his lone catch for 10 yards, for good measure.

4. Audric Estime, Notre Dame

Notre Dame is 3-0 largely on the back of an offense that pounds the rock and lets quarterback Sam Hartman make efficient throws off play action. Estime and the offensive line have more than held up their end of the bargain.

He’s yet to carry more than 16 times in a game, but already has 345 yards and four touchdowns in three games. Against NC State on Saturday, he carried the ball 14 times for a season-high 134 yards and two touchdowns.

5. Jaylen Wright, Tennessee

The Tennessee passing game has been hit-or-miss through two games with a new quarterback at the helm. In lieu of gaudy passing numbers, Wright has keyed the offense in for the Volunteers.

He went over 100 yards in each of the Volunteers first two games on 12 and 13 carries, respectively. He hasn’t scored a touchdown — yet — but is averaging 9.1 yards per carry after two games.

6. Trey Benson, Florida State

After helping FSU grind out a big Week 1 win, Benson showed some serious pop in Week 2. He scored three times on just nine carries.

His services weren’t heavily relied upon as the Seminoles won a blowout, but 79 yards and three touchdowns on nine carries is a good day of work. Benson figures to keep getting fed as a counter to the FSU passing attack.

7. Jo’quavious Marks, Mississippi State

Mississippi State is making a big scheme change from the Air Raid to an outside zone running attack. Marks has been the main beneficiary.

The senior, through two games, has carried the ball 43 times for 250 yards and three touchdowns. And his receiving ability is for real, with eight catches for 91 yards so far this season.

8. Braelon Allen, Wisconsin

Allen, one of the better pure physical talents at running back, and the new spread out Wisconsin offense didn’t look like a perfect marriage in a road loss to Washington State. Even still, his Week 1 performance was solid enough to keep him high in these rankings.

Allen carried just seven times for 20 yards in a game Wisconsin trailed by a large margin. The week prior, Allen rushed for 141 yards on 17 carries in the opener, plus a pair of touchdowns. He’s caught 13 passes for 36 yards so far.

9. Jaydn Ott, Cal

Ott got banged up against Auburn but is expected to play against this weekend. That’s big new for Cal as he drives much of their offense.

He also managed to punch in the lone touchdown that Cal scored against the Tigers. Ott has 40 carries for 270 yards and three touchdowns in two games, including a 192-yard performance in the opener.

10. Bucky Irving, Oregon

After turning in maybe the most efficient stat line of any running back in Week 1 — four carries, 119 yards, two touchdowns plus three receptions for 30 yards — it was a bit slower on Saturday against Tech Texas. Even still, he’s been highly productive through two games.

Erving had 11 carries for just 38 yards against the Red Raiders, but did add a touchdown and 50 yards on seven receptions. He’ll look to bounce back and be his usual explosive self.

Running backs 11 through 25

11. Damien Martinez, Oregon State
12. MarShawn Lloyd, USC
13. Devin Neal, Kansas
14. Marcus Carroll, Georgia State
15. Rasheen Ali, Marshall
16. Will Shipley, Clemson
17. Carson Steele, UCLA
18. Raheim Sanders, Arkansas
19. Dylan Edwards, Colorado
20. Corey Kiner, Cincinnati
21. Nathan Carter, Michigan State
22. Ray Davis, Kentucky
23. Kimani Vidal, Troy
24. TreVeyon Henderson, Ohio State
25. Kaytron Allen, Penn State

A number of running backs just missed the cut who likely could’ve qualified to be in the Top 25 RBs, but will also have plenty of chances to play their way in — or back in. And with conference play starting to get going in the back half of September, the games get more meaningful and the performances from these running backs will matter that much more.