Greg McElroy ranks top 10 running backs in college football for 2025

ESPN’s Greg McElroy revealed his top 10 running backs going into the 2025 college football season. It’s a loaded list spread across the nation!

Running backs have become increasingly valuable in the NFL. So in turn, they could be more valuable in college football right? It’s the return of the running back!

Without further ado, let’s dive into McElroy’s list of the best running backs. We start with a projected first round pick in next year’s draft!

1. Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame

2024 stats: 163 carries, 1,125 yards, 17 touchdowns, 6.9 yards per carry, 28 catches, 237 yards, two touchdowns.

Love was a star for the Notre Dame offense last season. He’s expected to be the focus of that side of the ball once again, regardless of quarterback. Averaging nearly seven yards per carry, it’s hard to stop this man.

2. Makhi Hughes, Oregon

2024 stats (with Tulane): 265 carries, 1,401 yards, 15 touchdowns, 5.3 yards per carry, 19 catches, 176 yards, two touchdowns

Hughes was a sneaky good running back last year that most might’ve not seen since he played for Tulane. But now with Oregon, Hughes is expected to have a big role. 2024 wasn’t a fluke either considering he ran for 1,378 yards in 2023.

3. Kaytron Allen, Penn State

2024 stats: 220 carries, 1,108 yards, eight touchdowns, five yards per carry, 18 catches, 153 yards, two touchdowns

Allen, like his teammate Nick Singleton, decided to return to the Nittany Lions in 2025. It gives Penn State a lethal one-two punch. How would they stand on their own? Pretty darn good but have fun defending both.

4. Nick Singleton, Penn State

2024 stats: 172 carries, 1,099 yards, 12 touchdowns, 6.4 yards per carry, 41 catches, 375 yards, five touchdowns

Singleton had a bit of a return to form last year by cracking 1,000 yards. In 2023, he was limited to just 753. He’s also more of a receiving back than Allen and you really can’t go wrong with either running back.

5. Desmond Reid, Pittsburgh

2024 stats: 184 carries, 966 yards, five touchdowns, 5.3 yards per carry, 52 catches, 579 yards, four touchdowns

Interestingly enough, Reid is only the fifth best running back per McElroy. He can basically get you a first down every two carries and he’s a lethal receiving running back. 52 catches? Yeah, that’ll help the Panthers offense.

6. Jamal Haynes, Georgia Tech

2024 stats: 169 carries, 944 yards, nine touchdowns, 5.6 yards per carry, 28 catches, 166 yards, three touchdowns

Going from wide receiver to running back over the last two years has paid off for Haynes. He enters his fifth year at Georgia Tech with over 2,000 yards to his name over the last two seasons. His final one should be his best.

7. Tre Wisner, Texas

2024 stats: 226 carries, 1,064 yards, five touchdowns, 4.7 yards per carry , 44 catches, 311 yards, one touchdown

Texas has gone through plenty of running backs due to graduation, injuries and so on and so forth. The Longhorns do bring back Wisner though, who’s a multi-purpose back. Except him to have a large role in the offense and for Arch Manning to rely on him as a safety valve.

8. Isaac Brown, Louisville

2024 stats: 165 carries, 1,173 yards, 11 touchdowns, 7.1 yards per carry, 30 catches, 152 yards, one touchdown

Brown played at a really high level as a freshman last season. This running back could end up being one of, if not the best in the country when we get to the season’s end. He’s due for a big follow up campaign as a sophomore,

9. Ahmad Hardy, Missouri

2024 stats (with Louisiana-Monroe): 237 carries, 1,351 yards, 13 touchdowns, 5.7 yards per carry, eight catches, 72 yards

Hardy comes to Missouri after transferring from Louisiana-Monroe. Now going into his sophomore season, Hardy could be one of the better running backs in the SEC. MIssouri got a good one going into 2025.

10. Jaydn Ott, Oklahoma

2024 stats (with Cal): 116 carries, 385 yards, four touchdowns, 3.3 yards per carry, 24 catches, 222 yards, one touchdown

Ott had less than half of his production that he had in 2023. After a few years at Cal, he’s now at Oklahoma. McElroy thinks the 2023 version could return to the table in 2025, when he ran for 1,315 yards and 12 touchdowns.