Ranking the Big Ten: Running Back
As the 2025 college football season quickly approaches, it is time to look at the top players at each position in the Big Ten.
We continue our annual Ranking the Big Ten series today with the running backs. Penn State dominates the league with two of the top three backs, but Oregon added the best RB in the transfer portal cycle.
Previous Ranking the Big Tens: QB |
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1. Nicholas Singleton, Penn State
Running back Nicholas Singleton is back for his final season with the Nittany Lions after a huge 2024 season. He is one of the top returning backs in the country. His 1,099 rushing yards were the third most among returning Power Four backs. His 6.4 yards per carry ranks eighth among returners.
He led the Big Ten and was ranked seventh nationally with 1,805 all-purpose yards. In 2024, the 6-foot-0, 220-pound back recorded 1,099 running yards, 172 carries and 12 rushing touchdowns. He had 41 receptions for 375 receiving yards and five TDs in the pass game.
Singleton had five rushing touchdowns in the College Football Playoff. He had three against Notre Dame in the national semifinals. The Shillington, Pa. native tied Ki-Jana Carter’s record for the most rushing TDs in a bowl or playoff game by a Nittany Lion.
Singleton was an All-Big Ten honorable mention in 2024. But the All-Big Ten first, second and third team picks all moved on. He is lined up for another eye-popping season.
2. Makhi Hughes, Oregon
Makhi Hughes might be new to the Big Ten in 2025, but will make a big splash with the Ducks. At Tulane, Hughes was a semifinalist for the 2024 Doak Walker Award, which is given to the top running back in college football. He was considered the top running back in the transfer portal. PFF named Hughes the fifth-best returning running back in college football.
As a sophomore, the 5-foot-11, 210-pound back rushed for 1,401 yards on 265 carries. Hughes averaged 5.3 yards per carry and added 9.3 yards per reception. He rushed for 15 touchdowns and had two receiving TDs.
He will be sharing the workload with senior running back Noah Whittington. The 5-foot-9, 175-pound back rushed for 540 yards on 118 carries and six touchdowns in 2024.
3. Kaytron Allen, Penn State
The Nittany Lions have the best running back duo in the Big Ten and arguably nationally. In 2024, Kaytron Allen and Singleton became the first Penn State backs to eclipse 1,000 rushing yards each in a single season.
Last season, Allen rushed for 1,108 yards on 220 carries and recorded eight touchdowns. The 5-foot-11, 217-pounder added 153 receiving yards on 18 catches and had one touchdown catch. Allen recorded four 100-yard rushing performances to double his previous career total.
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The senior back ranked fifth in the Big Ten in rushing yards and leads the returning conference backs. Allen and Singleton are the top two returning rushers in the conference.
4. Jonah Coleman, Washington
Running back Jonah Coleman is entering his second season with Washington after spending two at Arizona. The media voted Coleman a third-team All-Big Ten selection, and he was an honorable mention by the coaches.
In his first year in the Big Ten, Coleman led UW with 1,053 rushing yards and 10 rushing TDs. He recorded five 100-yard rushing games and had one 95-yard performance. Coleman broke off 38 explosive plays in 2024, which was third in the conference in 2024 but is the top returning number this season.
The 5-foot-9, 228-pound back posted a 95.4 PFF rush grade over his three seasons in college football. His 4.6 yards after contact per attempt in his last two seasons ranks third among all FBS running backs. Coleman’s 35 percent missed fumbles rate is second among Power Four running backs in the span.
5. Darius Taylor, Minnesota
Minnesota back Darius Taylor is looking to build on an impressive sophomore campaign. Taylor rushed for 986 yards, including five 100-yard games, and 10 touchdowns in 2024. He accounted for 350 receiving yards on 54 receptions and two TDs.
Taylor is dangerous after contact. He racked up 805 yards after contact and had 27 explosive plays or plays longer than 10 yards. As a freshman in 2023, he had 799 rushing yards, 92 receiving yards and five touchdowns.
The 6-foot-0, 215-pound back was an All-Big Ten honorable mention by the coaches and players last season.
