For a long time, running backs ruled over college football. And nowhere were they better than in the Big 12 Conference and its previous incarnation as the Big Eight Conference.
While the days of the running back being the centerpiece of college football are long gone, our memories of those great running backs are not. And you never know … things have a way of coming back around.
Here’s a look at the greatest running back of all time from all 16 schools in the Big 12 Conference in 2024:
Arizona, Ka'Deem Carey (2011-2013): Carey was a two-time consensus All-American at Arizona and rushe for 1,800 yards each year, earning Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year honors in 2013.
Arizona State, Woody Green (1971-1973): The Oregon native skipped town on the Ducks and Beavers to play for Arizona State, where he was a two-time All-American and rushed for over 1,000 yards in three consecutive seasons. The Sun Devils went 32-4 with Green on the roster, including an 11-1 record and Fiesta Bowl win as a senior in 1973.
Baylor, Walter Abercrombie (1978-1981): The Waco, Texas, native stayed in his hometown to play college football and was a two-time All-SWC pick, setting Baylor’s career rushing record with 3,655 rushing yards.
BYU, Luke Staley (1999-2001): Staley was an elite combination of size and speed who won the Doak Walker Award as the nation’s top running back in 2001, when he rushed for 1,582 yards and 24 touchdowns and averaged an incredible 8.1 yards per carry. Knee injuries derailed his career and he never played in the NFL.
Cincinnati, Reggie Taylor (1983-1986): Just 5-foot-8 and 175 pounds, Taylor starred for the Bearcats in the mid-1980s while his school played as an Independent. He rushed for over 1,000 yards in each of his last three seasons and his 4,242 career rushing yards is stil the Cincinnati record almost 40 years after he played his final college game.
Colorado, Eric Bienemy (1987-1990): An explosive runner who was only 5-foot-7 and 2 205 pounds, Bienemey helped lead Colorado to a national championship in 1990, when he was named Big Eight Offensive Player of the Year.
Houston, Robert Newhouse (1969-1971): Known as “The Human Bowling Ball” at 5-foot-10 and 209 pounds, Newhouse led the Cougars to three Top 25 finishes in each of his three seasons.
Iowa State, Breece Hall (2019-2021): The youngest player to make this list, Hall went from Wichita (Kansas) Northwest High School to Iow a State, where he was a two-time All-American and two-time Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year. In three seasons, Hall rushed for 3,941 yards and 50 touchdowns to go with 734 receiving yards and six touchdowns.
Kansas, Gale Sayers (1962-1964): Sayers had one of the greatest college football nicknames of all time — “The Kansas Comet” was a two-time All-American and three-time All-Big Eight selection before going on to a legendary NFL career. He’s a member of both the College Football Hall of Fame and the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Kansas State, Darren Sproles (2001-2004): The smallest player on this list packed one of the biggest punches — Sproles was only 5-foot-6 and 190 pounds but was a three-time All-Big 12 pick and led the Wildcats to one of the greatest upsets in college football history when Kansas State defeated No. 1 Oklahoma in the 2003 Big 12 Championship Game.
Oklahoma State, Barry Sanders (1986-1988): Arguably the greatest player in Big Eight/Big 12 history and one of two Wichita City League high school products to make this list, Sanders won the Heisman Trophy in 1988 after he rushed for 2,628 yards and 37 touchdowns in just 11 games. Like Gale Sayers, Sanders is a member of both the College Football Hall of Fame and the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
TCU, LaDainian Tomlinson (1997-2000): Tomlinson did all of his damage before TCU joined the Big 12 but still won the Doak Walker Award in 2000 while the Horned Frogs were still playing in the WAC. Like Sanders and Sayers … you can find Tomlinson in both the College Football Hall of Fame and the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Texas Tech, Donny Anderson (1963-1965): Lots of great nicknames on this list, including Anderson, known as “The Golden Palomino” during his college career. The three-time All-SWC pick and two-time All-American had 2,280 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns along with 107 receptions for 1,392 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns over just 30 college games.
UCF, Kevin Smith (2005-2007): Smith was the first consensus All-American in UCF history and had one of the greatest individual seasons for a running back in college football history when he rushed for 2,567 yards and 29 touchdowns in 2007.
Utah, Zack Moss (2016-2019): Just 5-foot-9 and 205 pounds, Moss was a two-time All-Pac-12 pick and Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year in 2019. Set the school record with 4,067 career rushing yards to go with 688 career receiving yards and 41 total touchdowns.
West Virginia, Steve Slaton (2005-2007): Slaton and quarterback Pat White were one of the great offensive duos in the mid-2000s in all of college football, with Slaton leaving college as a three-time All-American and earning Sugar Bowl MVP honors as a freshman in 2005.
Barry Sanders In His Final Season At Oklahoma State (1988):
— Russell Clay (@RussellJClay) March 26, 2020
In 11 games:
2734 Yards From Scrimmage
3249 All Purpose Yards (Rush+REC+Return)
37 Touchdowns
That's.....
248.5 Yards From Scrimmage PER GAME
295.4 All Purpose Yards PER GAME
3.4 Touchdowns PER GAME
Domination pic.twitter.com/eVdxgW7vft
