The Top 6 Ranked Big 10 Running Backs by Season Help Keep the Site Ad Free By Supporting us at Patreon
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The Top 6 Ranked Big 10 Running Backs by Season
Notes: The rankings are based on college stats.
What players did in the pros does not factor into this list.
| Rnk | 1960 | College |
| 1 | Bob Ferguson | Ohio St. |
| 2 | Larry Ferguson | Iowa |
| 3 | Mike Stock | Northwestern |
| 4 | Willie Jones | Purdue |
| 5 | Tom Wiesner | Wisconsin |
| 6 | Jim Tiller | Purdue |
| Rnk | 1961 | College |
| 1 | Bob Ferguson | Ohio St. |
| 2 | Bennie McRae | Michigan |
| 3 | George Saimes | Michigan St. |
| 4 | Joe Williams | Iowa |
| 5 | Paul Warfield | Ohio St. |
| 6 | Dave Raimey | Michigan |
| Rnk | 1962 | College |
| 1 | George Saimes | Michigan St. |
| 2 | Lou Holland | Wisconsin |
| 3 | Sherman Lewis | Michigan St. |
| 4 | David Francis | Ohio St. |
| 5 | Steve Murphy | Northwestern |
| 6 | Marvin Woodson | Indiana |
| Rnk | 1963 | College |
| 1 | Sherman Lewis | Michigan St. |
| 2 | Tom Nowatzke | Indiana |
| 3 | Paul Warfield | Ohio St. |
| 4 | Jim Grabowski | Illinois |
| 5 | Roger Lopes | Michigan St. |
| 6 | Lou Holland | Wisconsin |
| Rnk | 1964 | College |
| 1 | Jim Grabowski | Illinois |
| 2 | Tom Nowatzke | Indiana |
| 3 | Mel Anthony | Michigan |
| 4 | Randy Minniear | Purdue |
| 5 | Willard Sander | Ohio St. |
| 6 | Gordon Teter | Purdue |
| Rnk | 1965 | College |
| 1 | Jim Grabowski | Illinois |
| 2 | Clinton Jones | Michigan St. |
| 3 | Bob Apisa | Michigan St. |
| 4 | Tom Barrington | Ohio St. |
| 5 | Willard Sander | Ohio St. |
| 6 | Bob McKelvey | Northwestern |
| Rnk | 1966 | College |
| 1 | Clinton Jones | Michigan St. |
| 2 | Perry Williams | Purdue |
| 3 | Bob Apisa | Michigan St. |
| 4 | Jim Detwiler | Michigan |
| 5 | Carl Ward | Michigan |
| 6 | Dave Fisher | Michigan |
| Rnk | 1967 | College |
| 1 | Leroy Keyes | Purdue |
| 2 | Ron Johnson | Michigan |
| 3 | Perry Williams | Purdue |
| 4 | Chico Kurzawski | Northwestern |
| 5 | Rich Johnson | Illinois |
| 6 | John Isenbarger | Indiana |
| Rnk | 1968 | College |
| 1 | Leroy Keyes | Purdue |
| 2 | Ron Johnson | Michigan |
| 3 | Jim Otis | Ohio St. |
| 4 | Ed Podolak | Iowa |
| 5 | Rich Johnson | Illinois |
| 6 | Tim Sullivan | Iowa |
| Rnk | 1969 | College |
| 1 | Jim Otis | Ohio St. |
| 2 | John Isenbarger | Indiana |
| 3 | Stan Brown | Purdue |
| 4 | Alan Thompson | Wisconsin |
| 5 | Don Highsmith | Michigan St. |
| 6 | Randy Cooper | Purdue |
| Rnk | 1970 | College |
| 1 | John Brockington | Ohio St. |
| 2 | Mike Adamle | Northwestern |
| 3 | Leo Hayden | Ohio St. |
| 4 | Billy Taylor | Michigan |
| 5 | Eric Allen | Michigan St. |
| 6 | Otis Armstrong | Purdue |
| Rnk | 1971 | College |
| 1 | Eric Allen | Michigan St. |
| 2 | Billy Taylor | Michigan |
| 3 | Rufus Ferguson | Wisconsin |
| 4 | Otis Armstrong | Purdue |
| 5 | Ernie Cook | Minnesota |
| 6 | Al Robinson | Northwestern |
| Rnk | 1972 | College |
| 1 | Otis Armstrong | Purdue |
| 2 | Champ Henson | Ohio St. |
| 3 | John King | Minnesota |
| 4 | Rufus Ferguson | Wisconsin |
| 5 | Ed Shuttlesworth | Michigan |
| 6 | Ken Starling | Indiana |
| Rnk | 1973 | College |
| 1 | Archie Griffin | Ohio St. |
| 2 | Billy Marek | Wisconsin |
| 3 | Rick Upchurch | Minnesota |
| 4 | Ed Shuttlesworth | Michigan |
| 5 | Stan Key | Northwestern |
| 6 | Bruce Elia | Ohio St. |
| Rnk | 1974 | College |
| 1 | Archie Griffin | Ohio St. |
| 2 | Billy Marek | Wisconsin |
| 3 | Gordon Bell | Michigan |
| 4 | Rick Upchurch | Minnesota |
| 5 | Courtney Snyder | Indiana |
| 6 | Jim Pooler | Northwestern |
| Rnk | 1975 | College |
| 1 | Archie Griffin | Ohio St. |
| 2 | Gordon Bell | Michigan |
| 3 | Pete Johnson | Ohio St. |
| 4 | Billy Marek | Wisconsin |
| 5 | Greg Boykin | Northwestern |
| 6 | Rob Lytle | Michigan |
| Rnk | 1976 | College |
| 1 | Rob Lytle | Michigan |
| 2 | Scott Dierking | Purdue |
| 3 | Pete Johnson | Ohio St. |
| 4 | Jeff Logan | Ohio St. |
| 5 | Harlan Huckleby | Michigan |
| 6 | Richard Baes | Michigan St. |
| Rnk | 1977 | College |
| 1 | Ron Springs | Ohio St. |
| 2 | Russell Davis | Michigan |
| 3 | Ric Enis | Indiana |
| 4 | Harlan Huckleby | Michigan |
| 5 | John Skibinski | Purdue |
| 6 | Leroy McGee | Michigan St. |
| Rnk | 1978 | College |
| 1 | Marion Barber | Minnesota |
| 2 | Steve Smith | Michigan St. |
| 3 | Russell Pope | Purdue |
| 4 | Mike Harkrader | Indiana |
| 5 | John Macon | Purdue |
| 6 | Paul Campbell | Ohio St. |
| Rnk | 1979 | College |
| 1 | Dennis Mosley | Iowa |
| 2 | Butch Woolfolk | Michigan |
| 3 | Marion Barber | Minnesota |
| 4 | Calvin Murray | Ohio St. |
| 5 | Wally Jones | Purdue |
| 6 | Garry White | Minnesota |
| Rnk | 1980 | College |
| 1 | Calvin Murray | Ohio St. |
| 2 | Lonnie Johnson | Indiana |
| 3 | Garry White | Minnesota |
| 4 | Butch Woolfolk | Michigan |
| 5 | Marion Barber | Minnesota |
| 6 | Steve Smith | Michigan St. |
| Rnk | 1981 | College |
| 1 | Butch Woolfolk | Michigan |
| 2 | Tim Spencer | Ohio St. |
| 3 | Jim Gayle | Ohio St. |
| 4 | Phil Blatcher | Iowa |
| 5 | Frank Jacobs | Minnesota |
| 6 | Darryl Smith | Illinois |
| Rnk | 1982 | College |
| 1 | Tim Spencer | Ohio St. |
| 2 | Lawrence Ricks | Michigan |
| 3 | Mel Gray | Purdue |
| 4 | Ricky Edwards | Northwestern |
| 5 | Orlando Brown | Indiana |
| 6 | Eddie Phillips | Iowa |
| Rnk | 1983 | College |
| 1 | Keith Byars | Ohio St. |
| 2 | Thomas Rooks | Illinois |
| 3 | Rick Rogers | Michigan |
| 4 | Mel Gray | Purdue |
| 5 | Gary Ellerson | Wisconsin |
| 6 | Owen Gill | Iowa |
| Rnk | 1984 | College |
| 1 | Keith Byars | Ohio St. |
| 2 | Ronnie Harmon | Iowa |
| 3 | Thomas Rooks | Illinois |
| 4 | Owen Gill | Iowa |
| 5 | Ray Wallace | Purdue |
| 6 | Marck Harrison | Wisconsin |
| Rnk | 1985 | College |
| 1 | Lorenzo White | Michigan St. |
| 2 | Ronnie Harmon | Iowa |
| 3 | Rodney Carter | Purdue |
| 4 | Larry Emery | Wisconsin |
| 5 | John Wooldridge | Ohio St. |
| 6 | Ray Wallace | Purdue |
| Rnk | 1986 | College |
| 1 | Darrell Thompson | Minnesota |
| 2 | Rick Bayless | Iowa |
| 3 | Jamie Morris | Michigan |
| 4 | Vince Workman | Ohio St. |
| 5 | Gerald White | Michigan |
| 6 | Stanley Davenport | Northwestern |
| Rnk | 1987 | College |
| 1 | Lorenzo White | Michigan St. |
| 2 | Jamie Morris | Michigan |
| 3 | Darrell Thompson | Minnesota |
| 4 | Anthony Thompson | Indiana |
| 5 | Marvin Artley | Wisconsin |
| 6 | Kevin Harmon | Iowa |
| Rnk | 1988 | College |
| 1 | Anthony Thompson | Indiana |
| 2 | Tony Boles | Michigan |
| 3 | Blake Ezor | Michigan St. |
| 4 | Keith Jones | Illinois |
| 5 | Tony Stewart | Iowa |
| 6 | Leroy Hoard | Michigan |
| Rnk | 1989 | College |
| 1 | Anthony Thompson | Indiana |
| 2 | Darrell Thompson | Minnesota |
| 3 | Blake Ezor | Michigan St. |
| 4 | Bob Christian | Northwestern |
| 5 | Carlos Snow | Ohio St. |
| 6 | Scottie Graham | Ohio St. |
| Rnk | 1990 | College |
| 1 | Hyland Hickson | Michigan St. |
| 2 | Howard Griffith | Illinois |
| 3 | Nick Bell | Iowa |
| 4 | Vaughn Dunbar | Indiana |
| 5 | Tico Duckett | Michigan St. |
| 6 | Jon Vaughn | Michigan |
| Rnk | 1991 | College |
| 1 | Vaughn Dunbar | Indiana |
| 2 | Mike Saunders | Iowa |
| 3 | Ricky Powers | Michigan |
| 4 | Kameno Bell | Illinois |
| 5 | Tico Duckett | Michigan St. |
| 6 | Carlos Snow | Ohio St. |
| Rnk | 1992 | College |
| 1 | Tyrone Wheatley | Michigan |
| 2 | Craig Thomas | Michigan St. |
| 3 | Robert Smith | Ohio St. |
| 4 | Tico Duckett | Michigan St. |
| 5 | Darren Boyer | Illinois |
| 6 | Brent Moss | Wisconsin |
| Rnk | 1993 | College |
| 1 | Tyrone Wheatley | Michigan |
| 2 | Brent Moss | Wisconsin |
| 3 | Raymont Harris | Ohio St. |
| 4 | Mike Alstott | Purdue |
| 5 | Terrell Fletcher | Wisconsin |
| 6 | Duane Goulbourne | Michigan St. |
| Rnk | 1994 | College |
| 1 | Ki-Jana Carter | Penn St. |
| 2 | Chris Darkins | Minnesota |
| 3 | Terrell Fletcher | Wisconsin |
| 4 | Mike Alstott | Purdue |
| 5 | Eddie George | Ohio St. |
| 6 | Alex Smith | Indiana |
| Rnk | 1995 | College |
| 1 | Eddie George | Ohio St. |
| 2 | Darnell Autry | Northwestern |
| 3 | Tshimanga Biakabutuka | Michigan |
| 4 | Sedrick Shaw | Iowa |
| 5 | Mike Alstott | Purdue |
| 6 | Scott Greene | Michigan St. |
| Rnk | 1996 | College |
| 1 | Darnell Autry | Northwestern |
| 2 | Ron Dayne | Wisconsin |
| 3 | Pepe Pearson | Ohio St. |
| 4 | Sedrick Irvin | Michigan St. |
| 5 | Curtis Enis | Penn St. |
| 6 | Robert Holcombe | Illinois |
| Rnk | 1997 | College |
| 1 | Curtis Enis | Penn St. |
| 2 | Tavian Banks | Iowa |
| 3 | Ron Dayne | Wisconsin |
| 4 | Sedrick Irvin | Michigan St. |
| 5 | Edwin Watson | Purdue |
| 6 | Robert Holcombe | Illinois |
| Rnk | 1998 | College |
| 1 | Ron Dayne | Wisconsin |
| 2 | Michael Wiley | Ohio St. |
| 3 | Sedrick Irvin | Michigan St. |
| 4 | Anthony Thomas | Michigan |
| 5 | Ladell Betts | Iowa |
| 6 | Joe Montgomery | Ohio St. |
| Rnk | 1999 | College |
| 1 | Ron Dayne | Wisconsin |
| 2 | Thomas Hamner | Minnesota |
| 3 | Anthony Thomas | Michigan |
| 4 | Michael Wiley | Ohio St. |
| 5 | Levron Williams | Indiana |
| 6 | Rocky Harvey | Illinois |
| Rnk | 2000 | College |
| 1 | Damien Anderson | Northwestern |
| 2 | Anthony Thomas | Michigan |
| 3 | Michael Bennett | Wisconsin |
| 4 | Tellis Redmon | Minnesota |
| 5 | T.J. Duckett | Michigan St. |
| 6 | Levron Williams | Indiana |
| Rnk | 2001 | College |
| 1 | Levron Williams | Indiana |
| 2 | T.J. Duckett | Michigan St. |
| 3 | Jonathan Wells | Ohio St. |
| 4 | Anthony Davis | Wisconsin |
| 5 | Ladell Betts | Iowa |
| 6 | B.J. Askew | Michigan |
| Rnk | 2002 | College |
| 1 | Larry Johnson | Penn St. |
| 2 | Maurice Clarett | Ohio St. |
| 3 | Anthony Davis | Wisconsin |
| 4 | Chris Perry | Michigan |
| 5 | Antoineo Harris | Illinois |
| 6 | Joey Harris | Purdue |
| Rnk | 2003 | College |
| 1 | Chris Perry | Michigan |
| 2 | Jason Wright | Northwestern |
| 3 | Marion Barber III | Minnesota |
| 4 | Jerod Void | Purdue |
| 5 | Fred Russell | Iowa |
| 6 | Laurence Maroney | Minnesota |
| Rnk | 2004 | College |
| 1 | Noah Herron | Northwestern |
| 2 | Michael Hart | Michigan |
| 3 | Laurence Maroney | Minnesota |
| 4 | Marion Barber III | Minnesota |
| 5 | Anthony Davis | Wisconsin |
| 6 | Tony Hunt | Penn St. |
| Rnk | 2005 | College |
| 1 | Laurence Maroney | Minnesota |
| 2 | Brian Calhoun | Wisconsin |
| 3 | Tyrell Sutton | Northwestern |
| 4 | Gary Russell | Minnesota |
| 5 | Albert Young | Iowa |
| 6 | Antonio Pittman | Ohio St. |
| Rnk | 2006 | College |
| 1 | Michael Hart | Michigan |
| 2 | P.J. Hill | Wisconsin |
| 3 | Tony Hunt | Penn St. |
| 4 | Antonio Pittman | Ohio St. |
| 5 | Amir Pinnix | Minnesota |
| 6 | Kory Sheets | Purdue |
| Rnk | 2007 | College |
| 1 | Rashard Mendenhall | Illinois |
| 2 | Chris Wells | Ohio St. |
| 3 | Michael Hart | Michigan |
| 4 | P.J. Hill | Wisconsin |
| 5 | Jehuu Caulcrick | Michigan St. |
| 6 | Javon Ringer | Michigan St. |
| Rnk | 2008 | College |
| 1 | Shonn Greene | Iowa |
| 2 | Javon Ringer | Michigan St. |
| 3 | Kory Sheets | Purdue |
| 4 | Evan Royster | Penn St. |
| 5 | P.J. Hill | Wisconsin |
| 6 | Chris Wells | Ohio St. |
| Rnk | 2009 | College |
| 1 | John Clay | Wisconsin |
| 2 | Ralph Bolden | Purdue |
| 3 | Evan Royster | Penn St. |
| 4 | Mikel Leshoure | Illinois |
| 5 | Brandon Saine | Ohio St. |
| 6 | Brandon Wegher | Iowa |
| Rnk | 2010 | College |
| 1 | Mikel Leshoure | Illinois |
| 2 | John Clay | Wisconsin |
| 3 | Dan Herron | Ohio St. |
| 4 | Montee Ball | Wisconsin |
| 5 | Edwin Baker | Michigan St. |
| 6 | James White | Wisconsin |
| Rnk | 2011 | College |
| 1 | Montee Ball | Wisconsin |
| 2 | Rex Burkhead | Nebraska |
| 3 | Marcus Coker | Iowa |
| 4 | Le'Veon Bell | Michigan St. |
| 5 | Silas Redd | Penn St. |
| 6 | Fitzgerald Toussaint | Michigan |
| Rnk | 2012 | College |
| 1 | Montee Ball | Wisconsin |
| 2 | Le'Veon Bell | Michigan St. |
| 3 | Venric Mark | Northwestern |
| 4 | Stephen Houston | Indiana |
| 5 | Carlos Hyde | Ohio St. |
| 6 | Ameer Abdullah | Nebraska |
| Rnk | 2013 | College |
| 1 | Carlos Hyde | Ohio St. |
| 2 | Ameer Abdullah | Nebraska |
| 3 | Jeremy Langford | Michigan St. |
| 4 | James White | Wisconsin |
| 5 | Melvin Gordon | Wisconsin |
| 6 | Josh Ferguson | Illinois |
| Rnk | 2014 | College |
| 1 | Melvin Gordon | Wisconsin |
| 2 | Tevin Coleman | Indiana |
| 3 | Ameer Abdullah | Nebraska |
| 4 | Ezekiel Elliott | Ohio St. |
| 5 | Jeremy Langford | Michigan St. |
| 6 | David Cobb | Minnesota |
| Rnk | 2015 | College |
| 1 | Ezekiel Elliott | Ohio St. |
| 2 | Jordan Canzeri | Iowa |
| 3 | Jordan Howard | Indiana |
| 4 | Justin Jackson | Northwestern |
| 5 | Markell Jones | Purdue |
| 6 | Saquon Barkley | Penn St. |
| Rnk | 2016 | College |
| 1 | Saquon Barkley | Penn St. |
| 2 | Justin Jackson | Northwestern |
| 3 | Curtis Samuel | Ohio St. |
| 4 | Corey Clement | Wisconsin |
| 5 | Rodney Smith | Minnesota |
| 6 | Akrum Wadley | Iowa |
| Rnk | 2017 | College |
| 1 | Saquon Barkley | Penn St. |
| 2 | Jonathan Taylor | Wisconsin |
| 3 | Justin Jackson | Northwestern |
| 4 | Akrum Wadley | Iowa |
| 5 | J.K. Dobbins | Ohio St. |
| 6 | Karan Higdon | Michigan |
| Rnk | 2018 | College |
| 1 | Jonathan Taylor | Wisconsin |
| 2 | J.K. Dobbins | Ohio St. |
| 3 | Devine Ozigbo | Nebraska |
| 4 | Miles Sanders | Penn St. |
| 5 | Stevie Scott | Indiana |
| 6 | Karan Higdon | Michigan |
| Rnk | 2019 | College |
| 1 | Jonathan Taylor | Wisconsin |
| 2 | J.K. Dobbins | Ohio St. |
| 3 | Journey Brown | Penn St. |
| 4 | Stevie Scott | Indiana |
| 5 | Rodney Smith | Minnesota |
| 6 | Dedrick Mills | Nebraska |
| Rnk | 2020 | College |
| 1 | Mohamed Ibrahim | Minnesota |
| 2 | Tyler Goodson | Iowa |
| 3 | Stevie Scott | Indiana |
| 4 | Trey Sermon | Ohio St. |
| 5 | Master Teague | Ohio St. |
| 6 | Isaih Pacheco | Rutgers |
| Rnk | 2021 | College |
| 1 | Kenneth Walker III | Michigan St. |
| 2 | Hassan Haskins | Michigan |
| 3 | TreVeyon Henderson | Ohio St. |
| 4 | Braelon Allen | Wisconsin |
| 5 | Tyler Goodson | Iowa |
| 6 | Evan Hull | Northwestern |
| Rnk | 2022 | College |
| 1 | Blake Corum | Michigan |
| 2 | Mohamed Ibrahim | Minnesota |
| 3 | Chase Brown | Illinois |
| 4 | Braelon Allen | Wisconsin |
| 5 | Roman Hemby | Maryland |
| 6 | Nicholas Singleton | Penn St. |
| Rnk | 2023 | College |
| 1 | Blake Corum | Michigan |
| 2 | Braelon Allen | Wisconsin |
| 3 | Kyle Monangai | Rutgers |
| 4 | TreVeyon Henderson | Ohio St. |
| 5 | Nicholas Singleton | Penn St. |
| 6 | Roman Hemby | Maryland |
| Rnk | 2024 | College |
| 1 | Kaleb Johnson | Iowa |
| 2 | Nicholas Singleton | Penn St. |
| 3 | Jordan James | Oregon |
| 4 | Kyle Monangai | Rutgers |
| 5 | Quinshon Judkins | Ohio St. |
| 6 | Darius Taylor | Minnesota |
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