Top 25 RB rankings entering Week 6 of college football

It is at last time for the pre-Week 6 installment of the On3 Top 25 running back rankings. All told, there’s not a lot of change throughout the list.

Only two players moved in or out of the Top 25, but a pair of players already ranked did climb into the Top 10. That inevitably pushed a pair of players out of the Top 10, but they remain ranked. The conference breakdown is as follows: Five each from the Big Ten and SEC, four each from the Pac-12 and Group of 5 schools, three each from the ACC and Big 12 and one from Notre Dame.

See the full On3 Top 25 running back ranking below.

1. Blake Corum, Michigan

Michigan asserted its will on the ground early against Nebraska and threw things into a middle gear to cruise to a road win. Corum rolled along as he carried just 16 times for 74 yards and a touchdown.

He’s averaged 4.6 yards per carry in two straight weeks to start Big Ten play, totaling 171 yards and three scores. He’s tied for the national lead with nine rushing touchdowns on the season.

2. Audric Estimé, Notre Dame

Estimé has been held under 100 yards in back-to-back games by stout defenses but was still plenty effective. He went for 81 yards and a pair of touchdowns on the ground on 18 carries as the Irish squeezed out a road win on Saturday night.

Even with a few muted performances, Estimé is still the national leader in rushing yards at 672, albeit with one more game than most. And with 95 carries on the season, he’s still averaging a gaudy 7.1 yards per carry.

3. Omarion Hampton, North Carolina

Hampton had an off week, but will get tested against a fairly stout Syracuse rushing defense on Saturday. And outside of one stellar performance, it’s been tough sledding for Hampton.

He racked up 234 yards on 26 carries, plus three touchdowns, against Appalachian State. In the other three games he’s played, he’s got 149 yards and four touchdowns combined.

4. Braelon Allen, Wisconsin

Wisconsin didn’t play in Week 5, meaning Allen should be well rested heading into Week 6. The bruising, burly tailback started to come into his own after an uneven start.

Allen looked strong in the opener, taking 17 carries for 141 yards and two touchdowns. But a paltry Week 2 left onlookers worried. Rushing for 210 yards and four touchdowns on 28 carries in Weeks 3 and Week 4 combined silenced any worry.

5. Darius Taylor, Minnesota

One of the best freshmen in the entire country, Taylor missed Minnesota’s Week 5 win but will potentially make his return when the Gophers host Michigan in Week 6. It’d be a chance for the freshman from the metro Detroit area to shine against the Wolverines.

After taking one carry in Minnesota’s opener, Taylor has torn it up in the three other games he’s played and earned Big Ten freshman of the week honors three straight times. His average stat line from Weeks 2-4: 29 carries for 176 yards. He’s got four touchdowns, too.

6. Ray Davis, Kentucky

Davis played so well on Saturday his performance earned historical comparisons as he rivaled performances from Kentucky legends like Alvin “Shipwreck” Kelly. He had more than 200 rushing yards with more than nine minutes to play… in the second quarter.

While Davis won’t likely rush for nearly 300 yards in a game again, he can keep being a bell cow for Kentucky. He’ll face a massive test this weekend as the Wildcats travel to Georgia.

7. Nate Noel, Appalachian State

While Estimé remains atop the rushing leader chart, Noel is quickly closing him down. And he’s done it with a run of dominant games.

Noel has yet to go for fewer than 100 yards in five contests this season. He rushed for 109 on 18 carries as the Mountaineers won on Saturday in Week 5.

8. MarShawn Lloyd, USC

Lloyd has provided a near perfect counterpunch to the steady dosage of Caleb Williams and USC’s receivers featured by the USC offense. He had a solid all-around day in Week 5, including a highlight reel touchdown run cutting back across the field. He finished with 96 yards from scrimmage and that touchdown.

Lloyd has lacked a steady diet of touches, not breaking the double-digit carries mark until recently. But every time he gets the ball, he’s just as dangerous as the rest of the USC skill players.

9. Jonathon Brooks, Texas

Much like Lloyd above, Brooks is something of a changeup to the fastball for Texas that is Quinn Ewers in the quick passing game with the cadre of elite receivers. And Brooks has been more than adequate stepping in as the primary back.

He had probably the best game of his college career in Week 5. Brooks carried 21 times for 218 yards and two touchdowns and added one catch for 23 yards.

10. Jawhar Jordan, Louisville

Jordan had easily his worst game of 2023 to date as Louisville still held on for a win in Week 5. He turned 17 touches into just 58 yards, going for 32 yards rushing on 16 carries.

But Jordan has been a lightning bolt for Louisville, a danger every time he touches the ball. He’s averaging 7.7 yards per carry and 22.7 yards per reception and has seven total touchdowns.

Running backs No. 11 through 25

11. TreVeyon Henderson, Ohio State
12. Damien Martinez, Oregon State
13. Jaylen Wright, Tennessee
14. Emani Bailey, TCU
15. Devin Neal, Kansas
16. Rasheen Ali, Marshall
17. Marcus Carroll, Georgia State
18. Bucky Irving, Oregon
19. Jase McClellan, Alabama
20. Jo’Quavious Marks, Mississippi State
21. Trey Benson, Florida State
22. Quinshon Judkins, Ole Miss
23. Nick Singleton, Penn State
24. Ashton Jeanty, Boise State
25. Jaydn Ott, Cal

New to or back in the Top 25 are Jeanty (No. 24) and Ott (No. 25). Dropping out of the Top 25 running backs are Florida’s Trevor Etienne and Clemson’s Will Shipley.