Who are the running backs to watch with the college football season hitting the stretch run? Top 10 ranked teams like Notre Dame, Oregon and Texas are looking to make a run at the college football playoffs and each of those teams have running backs they will be looking at to help them flourish.
When it comes to a team like Notre Dame, their dynamic duo of Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price sets them apart as a team who can make some noise based on how dominant those running backs can be when they get going.
2026 NFL Draft running backs: Bad news for one top running back
Lower ranked teams like Virginia, Georgia Tech and Michigan are also leaning on their running game as the end of the football season nears. Unfortunately for Michigan, Heisman Trophy hopeful Justice Haynes is likely out for the regular season following foot surgery which propelled sophomore Jordan Marshall into the spotlight. Marshall has taken advantage of his opportunity rushing for over 100 yards in each of his last 4 contests.
If the sophomore was 2026 NFL Draft eligible, he would be a threat to break the top 5. In eliminating Haynes due to the injury, here is a look at the power 5 running backs entering Week 13 of the college football season.
No. 1: Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame Fighting Irish
2025 Stats: Rush Yards: 1,135 | TD: 14 | Yards Per Carry: 6.4 | Rec: 26 | Rec Yards: 274
Jeremiyah Love is rolling, and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish are rolling. After starting the season at 0-2, the Irish are winners of 8 straight games and right back in the mix for the college football playoffs. It is no coincidence that Notre Dame’s revival started once Love got going. That continued in a Week 12 win over No. 22 Pittsburgh on Saturday. Love ran for 123 yards on 23 carries and a touchdown in the 37-15 beatdown. The top running back in the nation continued to wow with this 56-yard touchdown run:
ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE☘️
— Notre Dame Football (@NDFootball) November 15, 2025
THERE. HE. GOES. #GoIrish☘️ | @JeremiyahLove pic.twitter.com/C2cSTYLo2N
Draft projection: First Round, top 10
No. 2: Kaytron Allen, RB, Penn State Nittany Lions
2025 Stats: Rush Yards: 917 | TD: 12 | Yards Per Carry: 5.6 | Rec: 20 | Rec Yards: 188
Kaytron Allen continued to be the bright spot to Penn State’s season in Week 12. The powerful running back ran through Michigan State with 181 yards rushing in a 28-10 victory. Allen showed off all his attributes including his vision and lower body power in leading his team to their 4th victory of the season. With the performance, Allen earned Big Ten Player of the Week honors as he continues to look like one of the best running backs in the nation and a player several NFL teams will be scouting once the season is over.
Draft projection: Early - Third Round
No. 3: Jonah Coleman, RB, Washington Huskies
2025 Stats: Rush Yards: 645 | TD: 13 | Yards Per Carry: 4.9 | Rec: 29 | Rec Yards: 335
Jonah Coleman hasn’t been spectacular as of late, but he is still a top running back prospect to watch. After suffering a knee injury which help him out against Purdue in Week 11, Coleman has a chance to play in Week 12 against UCLA. Can Coleman, who ranks fourth in the nation in touchdowns and 14th in all-purpose yardage, get back on track and increase his draft stock over the final weeks of the college football season?
It will depend on that knee, but when he is fully healthy, Coleman is a rushing machine who is known for his physicality with the ball in his hand and most importantly for a running back his pass blocking and ball security.
Draft projection: Early-Third Round
4. Demond Claiborne, RB, Wake Forest
2025 Stats: Rush Yards: 812 | TD: 9 | Yards Per Carry: 5.3 | Rec: 23 | Rec Yards: 110
Demond Claiborne’s production has dipped a bit since a 144-yard rushing performance against Oregon State in Week 7. But the Wake Forest tailback started to look great again in a 28-12 win over North Carolina. In that game Claiborne rushed for 98 yards on 23 carries and a touchdown. Although the explosive running back slowed down a bit as far as production, he is still a running back NFL teams will have their eyes on due to his burst, receiving capability and value in special teams.
Draft projection: Fourth Round
No. 5: J’Mari Taylor, RB, Virginia Cavaliers
2025 Stats: Rush Yards: 917 | TD: 13 | Yards Per Carry: 4.9 | Rec: 35 | Rec Yards: 185
Virgina’s J’Mari Taylor is not a name garnering much attention, but the 5-foot-9, 204-pound senior running back has been a workhorse for the No. 19 ranked Cavaliers. So far in 2025 he has rushed for 917 yards and 13 touchdowns. He has also shown the ability to catch the ball out of the backfield with 35 receptions for 185 yards. In Week 12, Taylor rushed for 133 yards in a 34-17 victory over Duke. It marked his second biggest performance of the season. Taylor rushed for 150 yards on 17 carries in a 35-31 loss to N.C. State back in Week 2.
Draft projection: Late-round pick