As the college football season winds down, we are finishing off our rankings of each power conference school’s best player at the skill positions. Last, but not least, are the running backs from the Big 12.

Our rankings of the Big 12’s quarterbacks and wide receivers can be found here. 

Arizona – Paul Robinson

Robinson played from 1968 to 1973 and was a two-time Pro Bowler and an All-Pro his rookie year. He led the league in rushing yards and touchdowns in 1968 en route to winning Rookie of the Year. He never reached that same level of success again, but he still rushed for around 400 yards per year for the remainder of his career.

Career stats: 737 attempts, 2,947 yards, 24 touchdowns
Honorable Mention: Hubie Oliver

Arizona State – Mario Bates

Mario Bates takes the top spot here over Rachaad White, though White may pass him soon since he is still active. Bates did not have many accolades, but he rushed for over 3,000 yards during his career. His best season came in 1995, when he ran for 951 yards and seven touchdowns.

Career stats: 841 attempts, 3,048 yards, 38 touchdowns
Honorable Mention: Rachaad White

Baylor – Ronnie Bull

Bull played from 1962 to 1971 and rushed for over 3,200 yards in his career. He won Rookie of the Year and an NFL Championship before the Super Bowl era. His rushing seasons were never eye-popping, but he averaged around 300 yards per season.

Career stats: 881 attempts, 3,222 yards, 9 touchdowns
Honorable Mention: Walter Abercrombie

BYU – Jamaal Williams

Williams had a solid career but was never anything special. His best season came in 2022, when he recorded his lone 1,000-yard rushing season and rushed for 17 touchdowns, breaking the Lions’ franchise record.

Career stats: 1,069 attempts, 4,122 yards, 32 touchdowns
Honorable Mention: Tyler Allgeier

Cincinnati – Jerome Ford

Cincinnati has not produced many strong NFL running backs, but Jerome Ford had a solid year in 2023 when Nick Chubb was injured. He rushed for 813 yards and four touchdowns, along with 300 receiving yards. Since then, he has not received another opportunity to be the main back in Cleveland.

Career stats: 340 attempts, 1,463 yards, 7 touchdowns
Honorable Mention: N/A

Colorado – Rashaan Salaam

Salaam won the Heisman Trophy in 1994, but his NFL career never took off. He was a first-round pick by the Bears in 1995 and rushed for 1,074 yards and 10 touchdowns that year. Injuries derailed his career after that, as he played in only 17 games over the next three seasons, rushing for just 610 yards.

Career stats: 471 attempts, 1,684 yards, 13 touchdowns
Honorable Mention: Eric Bieniemy

Houston – Antowain Smith

Smith was a first-round pick by the Bills in 1997 and scored 26 touchdowns in his four seasons there. After signing with New England in 2001, he immediately had his best year, rushing for 1,157 yards and 12 touchdowns. He never earned major personal accolades, but he did win two Super Bowls with the Patriots in 2001 and 2003.

Career stats: 1,784 attempts, 6,881 yards, 54 touchdowns
Honorable Mention: Robert Newhouse

Iowa State – David Montgomery

Iowa State has not produced many quality NFL running backs, but two active players stand out. Montgomery was a star for the Bears before signing with Detroit in 2023 and forming a strong duo with Jahmyr Gibbs, while Breece Hall is an exciting young back stuck on the Jets. Even while sharing touches with Gibbs, Montgomery has scored 33 touchdowns since joining Detroit. By the time their careers end, Hall may take the top spot here, but Montgomery remains ahead for now.

Career stats: 1,477 attempts, 6,115 yards, 59 touchdowns
Honorable Mention: Breece Hall

Kansas – John Riggins

This pick could have gone to Gale Sayers, but Riggins had a longer career and finished with more total yards. Riggins rushed for over 1,000 yards five times and won MVP of Super Bowl XVII. After playing only five games in 1977 due to injury, he rushed for 1,014 yards and five touchdowns in 1978, earning Comeback Player of the Year. Riggins was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1992.

Career stats: 2,916 attempts, 11,352 yards, 104 touchdowns
Honorable Mention: Gale Sayers

Kansas State – Darren Sproles

As effective as Sproles was as a running back, he was even better as a receiver. He totaled nearly 5,000 receiving yards and 32 touchdowns, while earning three Pro Bowl selections and a First Team All Pro nod as a returner. He also amassed over 19,000 all-purpose yards across rushing, receiving, and returns, putting him in rare historical company. Sproles was part of the Eagles team that won Super Bowl LII, though he appeared in only three games that season due to injury.

Career stats: 732 attempts, 3,552 yards, 23 touchdowns
Honorable Mention: Don Calhoun

Oklahoma State – Barry Sanders

Many schools have produced star running backs, but Oklahoma State stands above the rest with two Hall of Famers in Barry Sanders and Thurman Thomas. Sanders is one of the most decorated running backs of all time and is often considered the best to ever play. He was a six-time All-Pro, MVP, two-time Offensive Player of the Year, and Rookie of the Year, and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2004.

Career stats: 3,062 attempts, 15,269 yards, 99 touchdowns
Honorable Mention: Thurman Thomas

TCU – LaDainian Tomlinson

Tomlinson is one of the most electric running backs ever to step on a football field. During his 11-year career, he won MVP, Offensive Player of the Year, Walter Payton Man of the Year, and was a three-time All-Pro. He rushed for over 1,100 yards in eight straight seasons to start his career and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2017.

Career stats: 3,174 attempts, 13,648 yards, 145 touchdowns
Honorable Mention: Norm Bulaich

Texas Tech – Donny Anderson

Anderson was a first-round pick by Green Bay in the 1965 NFL Draft. He won Super Bowls I and II with the Packers and led the league in playoff rushing attempts in 1967. He rushed for over 4,600 yards and 41 touchdowns during his nine-year career.

Career stats: 1,197 attempts, 4,696 yards, 41 touchdowns
Honorable Mention: Sammy Morris

UCF – Latavius Murray

Murray was a sixth-round pick by the Raiders in 2013 and retired in 2023. He rushed for 1,000 yards only once, but consistently hovered between 600 and 800 yards most seasons. He was a Pro Bowler in 2016, when he rushed for 1,066 yards and six touchdowns.

Career stats: 1,560 attempts, 6,552 yards, 59 touchdowns
Honorable Mention: Kevin Smith

Utah – Jamal Anderson

Anderson was an All-Pro in 1998 when he rushed for 1,846 yards and 14 touchdowns. Over his eight-year career, he rushed for more than 1,000 yards four times, including three straight seasons. For a seventh-round pick, he was one of the best of his era.

Career stats: 1,329 attempts, 5,336 yards, 34 touchdowns
Honorable Mention: Mike Anderson

West Virginia – Tom Woodeshick

Woodeshick never won any major awards, but he was named Second-Team All-Pro twice and made the Pro Bowl once in 1968. He finished with over 3,500 rushing yards but never reached 1,000 yards in a single season.

Career stats: 836 attempts, 3,577 yards, 21 touchdowns
Honorable Mention: Jim Braxton

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