CBS Sports ranks top RB rooms in 2025 ahead of summer workouts

Summer workouts are rapidly approaching and the 2025 college football season is only a few months away. Ahead of that, CBS Sports ranked the top five RB rooms in the country.

A position that has often been overlooked in recent seasons, there’s been a resurgence of respect for the running back position. So, while quarterbacks may still be the headliners come award season and NFL Draft talk, more fans are recognizing that it’s the running game that offenses often rely on to carry them deep into the postseason. It’s no surprise that last season’s national champion had a pair of dominant running backs and that the majority of the RB room that CBS Sports ranked are considered national contenders.

CBS Sports didn’t use a particular methodology for its rankings. Instead, it’s based on the analysis of the depth and talent in each team’s RB room.

1. Penn State Nittany Lions

The Penn State Nittany Lions rode their two-headed RB room to the College Football Playoff semifinal last season. Then, they returned both star running backs, Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen. Now, both going into their senior season, they’re a major reason why the Nittany Lions are viewed as a College Football Playoff contender.

Singleton and Allen have already played three seasons together, building up some excellent chemistry and a balance to their usage. Last season, they’d both rush for better than 1,000 yards. 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.

2. Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Notre Dame came up just short, losing in the national championship, and intends to make another deep run in 2025. Unsurprisingly, that’s largely because of its running back room led by Jeremiyah Love. He was able to help the Irish make that run while battling injury and getting some help from the depth of the unit. In particular, Jadarian Price and Aneyas Williams were key depth pieces.

Love is looking to stay healthy in 2025. After a season where he rushed for 1,125 yards and 17 touchdowns to go along with 28 receptions for 237 yards receiving and two receiving touchdowns, he’s capable of taking another big step forward. That’s after a season where Notre Dame, as a team, was 19th nationally in rushing offense, averaging 200.94 rushing yards per game. Returning the majority of their RB room behind a healthy offensive line could make for an excellent season.

3. Oregon Ducks

The Oregon Ducks are the first team on CBS Sports’ RB room rankings that is replacing its top running back from last season. Jordan James, who rushed for more than 1,200 yards last season, is in the NFL now. So, head coach Dan Lanning turned his attention to the transfer portal and landed one of the top Group of Five players in Makhi Hughes.

In two seasons and 28 games for Tulane, Hughes put up 2,779 yards rushing, or 99.3 yards per game, with 22 rushing touchdowns. He also caught 30 passes for 243 yards and two more touchdowns. He joins a running back room in Oregon that includes Noah Whittington and Da’Jaun Riggs. In particular, Whittington is expected to have a larger role after going for 540 yards last season.

4. Texas Longhorns

A lot of the excitement at Texas in 2025 is surrounding the QB room, with Arch Manning set to take over. That’s allowed a strong RB room to go under the radar so far. A big part of that room is going to come down to the health of CJ Baxter, though. A stud when he’s healthy, Baxter missed the entirety of 2024 after tearing the LCL and PCL in his right knee.

Beyond Baxter, Texas has plenty of talent. Tre Wisner stepped up amid a crop of running back injuries last season for the Longhorns and was excellent. He finished with 1,064 yards rushing and five touchdowns. He also caught 44 passes for 311 yards and another touchdown. If he and Baxter stay healthy, that’s a legitimate two-headed monster, even before considering the likes of Jerrick Gibson who rounds out the RB room.

5. Louisville Cardinals

The Louisville Cardinals are the only team CBS Sports ranks here that isn’t coming off a trip to the College Football Playoff. That doesn’t mean they can’t contend in 2025, though. That’s particularly true if this RB can manage to play to its potential and contend in the ACC.

Undersized running back Isaac Brown broke out in 2024. He did that while rushing 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. If Duke Watson, who has proven explosive capability, can break out and become a two-headed monster next season, then the Cardinals are going to be formidable running the ball.

Honorable Mention RB rooms

• Georgia Bulldogs
• Minnesota Golden Gophers
• Oklahoma Sooners
• Texas A&M Aggies