Top 25 RB rankings entering Week 5 of college football

It is once again time for another installment of the On3 Top 25 running back rankings. And as Week 5 comes to pass, some big names have climbed back into the rankings.

Be it injuries, new schemes or slow starts, some of the top running backs in the sport have had slow starts but have since gotten things rolling. Some are stilling waiting to get into a higher gear.

All told, five backs entered (or re-entered) the rankings after Week 4, while the No. 1 back remained unchanged. The full conference breakdown is as follows: Six from the SEC, five from the Big 10, four from the ACC, three from the Group of 5, Big 12 and Pac-12 and one Notre Dame rusher.

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

1. Blake Corum, Michigan

Corum keeps on cooking as Michigan rolled to a 4-0 start with a win on Saturday. Corum added almost 100 yards and two touchdowns.

He’s averaging 6.1 yards per carry and has eight touchdowns in four games. He and the Wolverines have a big test going on the road the first time all season this weekend.

2. Audric Estimé, Notre Dame

After spending the first four games steamrolling opposing defenses, Estimé ran into some walls on Saturday against Ohio State. He was held to 5 yards a carry versus the Buckeyes, his lowest mark on the season.

He also turned in a season-low 70 yards, done on 14 carries. But in a 17-14 grinder of a game, Estimé’s limited production isn’t overly concerning.

3. Omarion Hampton, North Carolina

Hampton continues to eat up carries for the Tar Heels. He has been relatively quiet since going for 234 yards in Week 2, totaling just 112 in Weeks 3 and 4 combined.

But he’s scored a touchdown every game he’s played and is averaging more than 5 yards a carry. The Tar Heels will keep feeding him, especially in the red area.

4. Braelon Allen, Wisconsin

Purdue hasn’t defeated Wisconsin in West Lafayette since the turn of the century. Allen kept that streak alive on Saturday.

The burly running back carried 16 times for 116 yards and a pair of scores. And he consistently left the first defender trying to tackle him in the dirt.

5. Darius Taylor, Minnesota

A true freshman running back, Taylor has been electric for Minnesota basically out of the gates. He had just one carry in Week 1, but has been on fire since.

He’s gone over 100 yards in three straight games and has four touchdowns in those contests. In the three games, he’s averaging more than 6 yards per carry — his average stat line is almost 29 carries and more than 176 yards in those games.

6. Jawhar Jordan, Louisville

Jordan is a lightning bolt out of the backfield, providing big-play pop for the Cardinals. His most recent outing: 18 carries for 134 yards and two touchdowns, plus a 75 yard receiving touchdown.

Jordan has 50 carries in four games and is averaging 9.6 yards per carry, coming four yards shy in the opener of going north of 100 in all four contests. He also returns kicks at times.

7. Devin Neal, Kansas

Kansas is 4-0 and Neal has been a major part of the hot start. He’s been the bell cow for the Jayhawks offense a third of the way through the season.

Neal has 57 carries and 394 yards in four games, plus five touchdowns. He’s also got 11 receptions for 145 yards and a score.

8. MarShawn Lloyd, USC

Lloyd has quietly been hyper effective and efficient for USC. On Saturday, he finally broke double-digit carries as USC needed to somewhat grind out a win on the road.

Lloyd took 14 carries for 154 yards in the win. He’s averaging 8.9 yards per carry and has two touchdowns in four games, and touches are only at a premium because of how USC spreads touches around on offense.

9. Nate Noel, Appalachian State

Noel has played in four games in 2023. He has four 100-plus yard games in 2023.

In four games, the Appalachian State star tailback has racked up an eye-watering 105 carries for 542 yards and four touchdowns. The Mountaineers will keep riding Noel as far as he’ll take them.

10. TreVeyon Henderson, Ohio State

Henderson looked more like his 2021, pre-injury self on Saturday against Notre Dame. He particularly popped on a long touchdown run to give Ohio State a 10-0 lead at the time.

He’s been effective in the various scenarios that Ohio State has deployed him this season. Saturday was his first 100 yard performance this year, and included his fifth touchdown.

Running backs No. 11 through 25

11. Damien Martinez, Oregon State
12. Rasheen Ali, Marshall
13. Emani Bailey, TCU
14. Jo’Quavious Marks, Mississippi State
15. Jaylen Wright, Tennessee
16. Marcus Carroll, Georgia State
17. Jonathan Brooks, Texas
18. Bucky Irving, Oregon
19. Trey Benson, Florida State
20. Trevor Etienne, Florida
21. Jase McClellan, Alabama
22. Ray Davis, Kentucky
23. Will Shipley, Clemson
24. Quinshon Judkins, Ole Miss
25. Nick Singleton, Penn State

Re-entering or appearing for the first time in the Top 25 running backs are: Bailey (No. 13), Carroll (No. 16), Brooks (No. 17), McClellan (No. 21) and Judkins (No. 24). Falling out of the Top 25 are Penn State’s Kaytron Allen, Arkansas‘ Raheim ‘Rocket’ Sanders, UCLA’s Carson Steele, Rutgers‘ Kyle Monangai and Cal’s Jaydn Ott.