Top 25 RB rankings entering Week 8 of college football
The On3 Top 25 running back rankings are back for another installment ahead of Week 8 and some big matchups. And there are some big movers up and down the list.
Two backs re-entered the Top 10 and one climbed from No. 22 to No. 12 while a few other tweaks and shifts came throughout the ranking. The conference breakdown is as follows: Five from the Big Ten and SEC, four from the Big 12 and Group of 5 schools, three from the Pac-12, two from the ACC and one Notre Dame running back.
Check out the full On3 Top 25 running backs below.
1. Blake Corum, Michigan
It was a relatively quiet day for Corum as Michigan steamrolled Indiana. He carried the ball just 13 times for 52 yards, but he did score two touchdowns.
He also tacked on a reception for 15 yards. Through seven weeks, Corum leads the country with 12 rushing touchdowns and is a massive part of Michigan’s high offensive floor.
2. Audric Estimé, Notre Dame
Notre Dame and Estimé rolled over USC on Saturday night in a rivalry romp. He carried 22 times for 95 yards and two touchdowns.
Estimé continues to be massively productive and key to Notre Dame’s identity on offense, as he’s carried 127 times for 787 yards in eight games. He added nine touchdowns to boot.
3. Jonathon Brooks, Texas
Brooks and Texas had the week off to lick their wounds after losing to bitter rivals Oklahoma. And the Longhorns will keep leaning on Brooks as a counterpunch to Quinn Ewers and Co. in the passing game.
He has been über productive this season, rushing for 726 yards a 6.7 yard per carry clip for six touchdowns. He’s also been a modestly productive receiver with 10 catches for 121 yards and a touchdown.
4. Omarion Hampton, North Carolina
Hampton broke back out after a string of quiet games. As North Carolina rolled, he carried 24 times for 197 yards and a touchdown.
Hampton also added two catches for 20 yards and another touchdown. He’s been the Tar Heels’ go-to in the red zone and should keep churning out touchdowns.
5. Braelon Allen, Wisconsin
Allen churned out another solid game as the Wisconsin offense got held in check. After starting quarterback Tanner Mordecai broke his finger, there wasn’t much Allen could do against an Iowa defense hammering the run.
Still, Allen accounted for 103 total yards. He rushed for 87 and took three catches for 16. And Wisconsin won’t play another defense as good as Iowa any time soon.
6. Ray Davis, Kentucky
Davis was plenty productive in a losing effort for Kentucky on Saturday night. He carried the ball 20 times for 128 yards — 6.4 yards per carry. He also added a receiving touchdown.
He’s got 781 yards at a seven yards per carry clip and eight rushing touchdowns plus five receiving touchdowns. And Kentucky will need Davis to get off a two-game losing streak.
7. Jawhar Jordan, Louisville
Jordan came off a stellar performance against Notre Dame and unfortunately got injured early on against Pittsburgh. He finished with two carries for eight yards and one catch for six yards.
Jordan has averaged 7.4 yards per carry and has scored nine touchdowns from scrimmage this season. Louisville will need him back to push ahead and try and keep the loss to Pittsburgh the only one.
8. Damien Martinez, Oregon State
Oregon State beat UCLA and continued a torrid run of play since losing to Washington State. He carried 15 times for 90 yards against the Bruins.
He’s averaged 6.4 yards per carry en route to 676 yards. He’s only got three touchdowns this season but has been a key part of the Beavers offense.
9. Jaylen Wright, Tennessee
Tennessee has, oddly, been something of a ground-and-pound team on offense in 2023. And Wright has been one of the biggest beneficiaries.
In a win on Saturday, he rushed 19 times for 136 yards, a 7.2 yards per carry clip. Despite 571 yards at more than seven yards a carry, he has just one touchdown.
10. Darius Taylor, Minnesota
Taylor got out to a roaring start before an injury derailed his true freshman season. And the Minnesota offense has languished without his rushing ability.
After carrying once in the season opener, Taylor went on a three-game tear: 529 yards at a nearly 6.2 yards per carry clip and four touchdowns. Getting him back will be huge for the Gophers.
Running backs No. 11 through 25
11. MarShawn Lloyd, USC
12. Ashton Jeanty, Boise State
13. Nate Noel, Appalachian State
14. TreVeyon Henderson, Ohio State
15. Marcus Carroll, Georgia State
16. Emani Bailey, TCU
17. Devin Neal, Kansas
18. Rasheen Ali, Marshall
19. Bucky Irving, Oregon
20. Tahj Brooks, Texas Tech
21. Jo’Quavious “Woody” Marks, Mississippi State
22. Quinshon Judkins, Ole Miss
23. Kimani Vidal, Troy
24. Kyle Monangai, Rutgers
25. Jase McClellan, Alabama
Brooks (No. 20), Vidal (No. 23) and Monangai (No. 24) are the three new entrants into the rankings this week. Wyoming’s Harrison Waylee, Cal’s Jaydn Ott and Penn State’s Nick Singleton all dropped from the Top 25 ahead of Week 8.