Big Ten Football: Power Ranking the Top 25 RBs in Conference History

Stop right there and look no further because some of the greatest running backs in college football history are set to unleash their legendary feats upon your football-loving soul.

The Big Ten has produced some of the most remarkable runners since the existence of college football. These out-of-this-world runners have created some of the most magical moments and it is now time that we relive their greatness as we rank the top 25 running backs in Big Ten history.

We’ve seen Big Ten runners completely change the landscape of college football and rewrite the NCAA record books, but it’s now time to put the best of the Big Ten best up against one another.  

Wisconsin’s Ron Dayne, Michigan’s Mike Hart and Ohio State’s earth-shattering school duo of Archie Griffin and Eddie George are just four of the 25 greatest Big Ten runners ready to state their claim for No. 1 in conference history.

Honorable Mention

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TAMPA, FL - JANUARY 01: Shonn Green #23 of the Iowa Hawkeyes celebrates a touchdown run against the South Carolina Gamecocks during the Outback Bowl on January 1, 2009 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images)

Ronnie Harmon, Iowa

Career Stats: 8,850 yards from scrimmage, 34 total touchdowns

Shonn Greene, Iowa

Career Stats: 2,228 rushing yards, 22 rushing touchdowns

Tavian Banks, Iowa

Career Stats: 2,977 rushing yards, 34 rushing touchdowns

Bronko Nagurski, Minnesota

All-American as fullback and defensive tackle

Chris Wells, Ohio State

Career Stats: 3,382 rushing yards, 30 rushing touchdowns

Maurice Clarett, Ohio State

Career Stats: 1,237 yards, 18 touchdowns

25. Larry Johnson, Penn State

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COLUMBUS - OCTOBER 26: Penn State tailback Larry Johnson #5 rushes during the NCAA football game against Ohio State at Ohio Stadium on October 26, 2002 in Columbus, Ohio. The Ohio State Buckeyes defeated the Penn State Nittany Lions in a closely fought

Career Stats: 2,782 Rushing Yards, 25 Rushing Touchdowns

Although he only had one successful year, Johnson produced one of the most remarkable single seasons in college history.

He finished third in the 2002 Heisman race, but won the Doak Walker, Maxwell and Walter Camp awards.

He rushed for over 2,000 yards on the fewest amount of carries and almost averaged a ridiculous 8.0 yards per carry his senior campaign.

24. Mike Alstott, Purdue

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24 Sep 1994: Fullback Mike Alstott of the Purdue Boilermakers stands on the field during a game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Indiana. Notre Dame won the game 39-21.

Career Stats: 3,635 Rushing Yards, 39 Rushing Touchdowns

The former Super Bowl Champion started destroying wanna-be defenders at the collegiate level for the Purdue Boilermakers.

He rushed for double-digit touchdowns in three straight seasons, in which he was also named the school’s MVP.

Alstott left Purdue as the school’s career leading rusher in yards and touchdowns, though his touchdown record was eventually broken in 2008 by Kory Sheets.

23. Robert Holcombe, Illinois

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2 SEP 1995: UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS RUNNING BACK ROBERT HOLCOMBE #35 MAKES A CUT TO THE INSIDE TO AVOID PURSUING MICHIGAN DEFENDERS DURING THE FIGHTING ILLINIs'' 38-14 LOSS TO THE MICHIGAN WOLVERINES AT ILLINOIS MEMORIAL STADIUM IN CHAMPAIGN, ILLINOIS. M

Career Stats: 4,105 Yards, 25 Touchdowns

Holcombe may have been ranked higher but despite his efforts, the Fighting Illini failed to put up much of a fight in the win column.

He did carry the team to one winning season and anytime a back rushes for over 4,000 yards, it’s impressive.

He went on to become a second-round selection with the St. Louis Rams, but not before changing the record books at Illinois.

22. Laurence Maroney, Minnesota

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MINNEAPOLIS, MN - SEPTEMBER 24: Laurence Maroney #22 of Minnesota carries the ball against Cliff Avril #85, Brandon Villareal #55 and Rob Ninkovich #93 of Purdue in the third quarter on September 24, 2005 at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis

Career Stats: 3,933 Rushing Yards, 32 Rushing Touchdowns

Maroney’s NFL career has taken a downward spiral but his collegiate career was nothing short of golden for the Gophers.

He managed to gain the massive yardage despite splitting time with Marion Barber III, which may have been the reason he was able to put up the numbers he did. He was always able to stay fresh and his combination of speed and power made it extremely difficult for defenders to take him down.

He never failed to record double-digit touchdowns in all three of his seasons at Minnesota.

21. Sedrick Shaw, Iowa

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11 Nov 1995: Running back Sedrick Shaw of the Iowa Hawkeyes (left) breaks the tackle of cornerback Chris Martin of the Northwestern Wildcats during a game at Dyche Stadium in Evanston, Illinois. Northwestern won the game, 31-20. Mandatory Credit: Jonath

Career Stats: 4,156 Rushing Yards, 33 Rushing Touchdowns

Although Ladell Betts and Shonn Greene came close to matching the dominance of Shaw at Iowa, Shaw is still the No. 1 running back in Hawkeyes history.

He went on to become a third-round draft selection by the New England Patriots but had an unsuccessful career.

Still, his collegiate accomplishments stand on their own.

20. Vic Janowicz, Ohio State

Career Stats: 1,746 All-Purpose Yards, 21 Touchdowns (13 Passing)

Janowicz is one of the great all-around college football players of all time. Not only did he play running back, he also served as quarterback, return specialist and played on defense.

Let’s not forget that he was also the punter for crying out loud!

Can we get the man a water break, please!

Although he only ran for 802 yards and zero touchdowns, his all-around play guarantees him a spot on the list of great Big Ten backs.

If not his all-around skills, then certainly his 1950 Heisman Trophy serves as justification.

19. Tyrone Wheatley, Michigan

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

7 Nov 1992: MICHIGAN RUNNING TYRONE WHEATLEY BACK LEAPS OVER THE LINE OF SCRIMMAGE DURING THE WOLVERINES GAME AT THE NORTHWESTERN WILCATS IN EVANSTON, ILLINOIS.

Career Stats: 4,178 Rushing Yards, 47 Rushing Touchdowns

Wheatley is one of the all-time great running backs in Michigan history. His 47 touchdowns and 4,513 yards rank among the elite Wolverine rushers.

He has since been surpassed by other Michigan greats, but his numbers still dictate his immense success. He paved the way for the future backs of the new millennium at Michigan.

The 1992 Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year was also named the MVP of the Rose Bowl.

18. Javon Ringer, Michigan State

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ORLANDO, FL - JANUARY 1: Running back Javon Ringer #23 of the Michigan State Spartans rushes upfield against the Georgia Bulldogs during the 2009 Capital One Bowl at the Citrus Bowl on January 1, 2009 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty

Career Stats: 4,398 Rushing Yards, 34 Rushing Touchdowns

One would think Ringer was the exact clone of another Michigan State runner, which we will get to later in the list.

He is still trying to find success in the NFL, but Ringer was a true star for the Spartans.

He excelled for the green and white and was named the best true freshman in school history. He ranks second on the Spartans’ all-time list in yards, 100-yard games and carries, but first in all-purpose yards.

In his senior season, Ringer was a Heisman candidate as he gained 1,637 yards and 22 touchdowns on the ground.

17. Darrell Thompson, Minnesota

Career Stats: 4,654 Rushing Yards, 40 Rushing Touchdowns

Thompson went on to become a first-round draft selection by the Green Bay Packers following his illustrious career at Minnesota.

Had the Golden Gophers won more games during his tenure, Thompson might be ranked higher.

In no way, shape or form, though, does his lack of supporting cast diminish his remarkable career.

Thompson was a one-man show and did everything in his power to lead the Gophers to victory.

16. Nile Kinnick, Iowa

Career Stats: 2,790 All-Purpose Yards, 20 Touchdowns (13 Passing)

The 1939 Heisman winner was more than just a running back—he was the epitome of a football player.

He was the offensive star, scoring 107 of the teams 130 points and played in 402 of 420 minutes.

He even played defense, tallying 18 interceptions.

His all-around ability and legendary place in college football history cements his place on the list.

15. Damien Anderson, Northwestern

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18 Nov 2000: Damien Anderson #20 of the Northwestern Wildcats runs with the ball during the game against the Illinois Fighting Illini at Ryan Field in Evanston, Illinois. The Wildcats defeated the Fighting Illini 61-23.Mandatory Credit: Jamie Squire /Al

Career Stats: 4,485 Rushing yards, 38 Touchdowns

The greatest running back in Northwestern history, the numbers tell the story. Anderson was a monster as he rushed for nearly 4,500 yards and 40 touchdowns to lead the Wildcats to a bowl victory during his tenure.

In 2000, he became the fourth Big Ten running back to rush for over 2,000 yards. That season, he was second in the nation in rushing to TCU’s LaDainian Tomlinson. Not bad considering Tomlinson has gone on to become one of the greatest running backs in football history.

His rushing yards and touchdown totals are school records, as well as his 5,261 yards all-purpose yards.

14. Anthony Davis, Wisconsin

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EAST LANSING, MI - NOVEMBER 13: Running back Anthony Davis #28 of the Wisconsin Badgers runs upfield against the Michigan State Spartans during the game at Spartan Stadium on November 13, 2004 in East Lansing, Michigan. Michigan State defeated Wisconsin

Career Stats: 4,676 Rushing Yards, 42 Rushing Touchdowns

Davis stepped in as the Badgers starting running back as a freshman. His career trailed off in his last two seasons, but he opened his career with two years averaging around 1,500 yards and 12 touchdowns.

He was one of the most elusive backs in college football and although it did not translate to the NFL, his pure dominance at Wisconsin was nothing short of amazing.

He finished his Badgers career second in rushing yards in school history to only the great Ron Dayne.

13. Lorenzo White, Michigan State

Career Stats: 4,513 Rushing Yards, 41 Rushing Touchdowns

White finished fourth in the Heisman race in 1985 and 1987, as he simply dominated the season. In 1985, he rushed for 17 touchdowns and over 2,000 yards—the first Big Ten back to ever rush for more than 2,000 yards.

Although he was a smaller back, he was the epitome of a workhorse in those two seasons, recording well over 300 carries per year and went on to total 991 attempts in his career.

12. Anthony Thomas, Michigan

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1 Jan 2001: Anthony Thomas #32 of the Michigan Wolverines carries the ball up the field during the Citrus Bowl Game aganst the Auburn Tigers at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Florida. The Wolverines defeated the Tiger 31-28.Mandatory Credit: Eliot J. Sche

Career Stats: 4,472 Rushing Yards, 55 Rushing Touchdowns

By the time Thomas finished his Wolverines career, he was the greatest runner in school history. He led the school in rushing and touchdowns.

This is no easy feat considering the talent that has worn the maize and blue.

The A-Train truly was an unstoppable machine full of steam as he rumbled for touchdown after touchdown as one of the most powerful backs in college.

Thomas led the Wolverines to an undefeated season and championship, and still stands as the school leader in rushing touchdowns.

11. Bob Ferguson, Ohio State

Career Stats: 2,162 Rushing Yards, 26 Rushing Touchdowns

The bruising power back finished second in the Heisman voting in 1961, was a two-time All-American and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1996.

Quite the résumé.

Ferguson has since been surpassed as the top Buckeye running back, but he set the bar high during his time.

10. Howard Cassady, Ohio State

Career Stats: 4,403 All-Purpose Yards, 222 Points Scored

The 1955 Heisman winner was also inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1979—and rightfully so.

Cassady was unlike most in OSU history, as he played just about every position it seemed.

He scored 37 touchdowns in 36 games and also led the team to a national championship.

He rushed for a then school-record 2,466 yards in his career.

Cassady also played on defense. He was so good that not a single pass was completed against him in four seasons.

9. Bruce Smith, Minnesota

Career Stats: 1,799 All-Purpose Yards, 16 Touchdowns (4 Passing)

Arguably the greatest Gopher of all time, the 1941 Heisman winner captained two consecutive undefeated championship seasons for Minnesota.

This is almost unthinkable in today’s collegiate level, which not only makes Smith one of the greatest backs of all time, but also one of the greatest college football players of all time.  

Not only was Smith’s No. 54 jersey retired, he was also inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.

Even pitching coach Dave Duncan said that Lohse looked like he was back to his 2008 form. “He's pitching like he was when he won a bunch of games for us,” Duncan told Rick Hummel of the Saint Louis Post Dispatch.

8. Red Grange, Illinois

Career Stats: 3,132 All-Purpose Yards, 31 Touchdowns (3 Passing)

Grange has been called the greatest college football player of all time—he certainly has a case.

He simply did it all for his school, as he played on offense and defense, recording 11 interceptions.

He rushed for over 2,000 yards in his career and scored in 19 of his 20 games played.

In one of the great college games of all time, Grange accumulated 402 all-purpose yards (more than 200 rushing) and a whopping six touchdowns.

Simply astonishing.

7. Tom Harmon, Michigan

Career Stats: 3,665 All-Purpose Yards, 33 Touchdowns (16 Passing)

Like many others during his time, Harmon was not just the running back for the Wolverines, but also played quarterback, kicker, return man and defense.

He tallied six interceptions on defense and threw for 1,300 yards and 16 touchdowns as the quarterback.

Harmon, the 1940 Heisman and Maxwell Awards winner, is the greatest player to ever grace Michigan’s campus, as he outscored every other collegiate player for two straight seasons.

6. Eddie George, Ohio State

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30 Sep 1995: Tailback Eddie George of the Ohio State Buckeyes runs down the field during a game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. Ohio State won the game 45-26. Mandatory Credit: Andy Lyons /Allsport

Career Stats: 3,768 Rushing Yards, 44 Rushing Touchdowns

George was simply one of the best and could even be higher on this list.

He was the 1995 Heisman, Maxwell, Walter Camp, Jim Brown and Doak Walker awards winner.

That’s some serious hardware right there.

During that season, George set a school record by rushing for 1,927 yards and 24 touchdowns, including three 200-yard performances and even one 300-yard performance.

He excelled in those two seasons and had he been given more playing time as a freshman and sophomore, George may have gone down as the greatest college football running back of all time.

5. Alan Ameche, Wisconsin

Career Stats: 3,212 Rushing Yards, 25 Rushing Touchdowns

Ameche was one of the greatest backs of his generation.

The 1954 Heisman winner is one of just six Badgers to have his jersey retired.

During his Heisman campaign, he averaged more than four yards per carry and scored nine touchdowns.

He was also elected into the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame in 1967.

4. Mike Hart, Michigan

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ORLANDO, FL - JANUARY 01: Running back Mike Hart #20 of the Michigan Wolverines tries to avoid a tackle attempt by safety Major Wright #21of the Florida Gators in the Capital One Bowl at Florida Citrus Bowl on January 1, 2008 in Orlando, Florida. Michig

Career Stats: 5,040 Rushing Yards, 41 Touchdowns

Like Eddie George, Hart may have gone down as the greatest Big Ten runner in conference history had he not missed time during his sophomore season.

As a freshman, Hart set a school record by rushing for 1,455 yards.

In his final two seasons as a Wolverine, he sliced and diced defenses for 2,923 yards and 28 touchdowns on the ground.

Although his 41 touchdowns rank third among all-time school records, his 5,040 yards and 1,015 carries rank at the top of the list.

3. Anthony Thompson, Indiana

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Halfback Anthony Thompson of the Indiana Hoosiers in action during a game.

Career Stats: 5,299 Rushing Yards, 65 Rushing Touchdowns

Although Thompson failed to win a Heisman, he did place second and has a host of other awards to his credit.

In 1989, he was awarded the Maxwell and Walter Camp honors. He also won the Chicago Tribune Silver Football Award Trophy twice.

In his final two seasons at Indiana, he accumulated well over 3,000 yards rushing and scored 48 touchdowns.

He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2007 and rightfully so, as he broke the NCAA career record for touchdowns in 1989.

2. Ron Dayne, Wisconsin

Tom Hauck/Getty Images

2 Oct 1999: Ron Dayne #33 of the Wisconsin Badgers carries the ball during the game against the Ohio State Buckeyes at the Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. The Badgers defeated the Buckeyes 42-17. Mandatory Credit: Tom Hauck /Allsport

Career Stats: 6,397 Rushing Yards, 63 Rushing Touchdowns

You name the award—Ron Dayne probably won it.

Dayne was the recipient of the Heisman, AP Player of the Year, Maxwell, Walter Camp, Chic Harley, Doak Walker and Jim Brown awards in 1999 in addition to being named the Rose Bowl MVP.

In 2000, he was named the Rose Bowl MVP and Big Ten player of the year.

Dayne was the epitome of a workhorse runner, carrying the rock 1,115 times. He is the NCAA career leading rusher and his numbers do not even include bowl games.

Yeah, that’s how good he was—he could leave some yardage on the table in this case, although he never did on the field.

Still—just because I know you’re dying to know—Dayne amassed 7,125 rushing yards when including bowl games.

His jersey has since been retired and he should retire as the greatest runner in Big Ten history.

1. Archie Griffin, Ohio State

Career Stats: 5,589 Rushing Yards, 26 Touchdowns

Archie Griffin can say something nobody else in football history can say—he is a two-time Heisman trophy winner. He is also the only runner in conference history to lead the Big Ten in rushing for three-straight seasons.

He is one of two players in college football history to start in the Rose Bowl four consecutive times.

By the end of his career, he was the all-time leading rusher in NCAA history. He also won the Big Ten MVP and Walter Camp awards twice, as well as the Maxwell Award in 1975.

Finally, in 1986, he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.