List of NCAA major college football yearly rushing leaders
The list of college football yearly rushing leaders identifies the major college rushing leaders for each season from 1937 to the present. It includes yearly leaders in three statistical categories: (1) rushing yardage; (2) yards per carry; and (3) rushing touchdowns.
Overview
Seven players since 1937 have led the country in rushing yardage in multiple seasons. They are Ricky Williams of Texas (1997–1998), Troy Davis of Iowa State (1995–1996), Charles White of USC (1978–1979), O. J. Simpson of USC (1967–1968), Preacher Pilot of New Mexico State (1961–1962), Art Luppino of Arizona (1954–1955), and Rudy Mobley of Hardin-Simmons (1942, 1946).
Three programs have had different players lead the country in rushing yardage in consecutive seasons. The first was Hardin–Simmons, with Wilton Davis following Mobley as the rushing leader in 1947. The second, New Mexico State, is the only one to have had the nation's rushing leader in more than two consecutive seasons. Pervis Atkins led the country in 1959, followed by Bob Gaiters in 1960 and then Pilot in the next two seasons. The most recent program to have back-to-back rushing leaders is San Diego State, with Donnel Pumphrey in 2016 and Rashaad Penny in 2017.
Since 1937, the single-season rushing record has been broken eight times, by Rudy Mobley in 1942 (1,281 yards), Fred Wendt in 1948 (1,570 yards), O. J. Simpson in 1968 (1,880 yards), Ed Marinaro in 1971 (1,881 yards), Ricky Bell in 1975 (1,957 yards), Tony Dorsett in 1976 (2,150 yards), Marcus Allen in 1981 (2,427 yards), and Barry Sanders in 1988 (2,628 yards).
The record for highest rushing yards per carry in a season was set in 1939 by Jackie Robinson of UCLA with an average of 12.2 yards per carry across 42 attempts, a record that stands to this day.
The record of 37 rushing touchdowns in a season was set by Barry Sanders of Oklahoma State in 1988. Mike Rozier of Nebraska held the record previously with 29 rushing touchdowns in 1983.
Leading programs
Programs with multiple rushing leaders (at least three individual players, in any of the three categories) include:
- Oklahoma – 8 (Patrick Collins, Marcus Dupree, Buster Rhymes, Billy Sims, Kenny King, Greg Pruitt, Clendon Thomas, and Buck McPhail)
- USC – 8 (Reggie Bush, LenDale White, Marcus Allen, Charles White, Ricky Bell, O. J. Simpson, Mike Garrett, and Mort Kaer)
- Texas – 7 (Bijan Robinson, Vince Young, Cedric Benson, Ricky Williams, Earl Campbell, Gralyn Wyatt, and Jimmy Saxton)
- Alabama – 6 (Najee Harris, Derrick Henry, Mark Ingram II, Santonio Beard, Wilbur Jackson, and Bobby Marlow)
- Georgia Tech – 5 (David Sims, Red Barron, Buck Flowers, Everett Strupper, and Albert Hill)
- Nebraska – 5 (Ahman Green, Calvin Jones, Tom Rathman, Mike Rozier, and Glenn Presnell)
- Northern Illinois – 5 (Mark Kellar, LeShon Johnson, Garrett Wolfe, Stacey Robinson and Chad Spann)
- Ohio State – 5 (Eddie George, Keith Byars, Pete Johnson, Archie Griffin, and Champ Henson)
- Oklahoma State – 5 (Barry Sanders, Ernest Anderson, Terry Miller, Bob Fenimore, and Chuba Hubbard)
- Michigan – 4 (Bill Daley, Tom Harmon, Willie Heston, and Al Herrnstein)
- Michigan State – 4 (Javon Ringer, DeAndra' Cobb, Lorenzo White, and Neno DaPrato)
- New Mexico State – 4 (Kenton Keith, Preacher Pilot, Bob Gaiters, and Pervis Atkins)
- Pittsburgh – 4 (Craig Heyward, Tony Dorsett, Dick Cassiano, and Marshall Goldberg)
- San Diego State – 4 (Marshall Faulk, Paul Hewitt, Rashaad Penny, and Donnel Pumphrey)
- Wisconsin – 4 (Jonathan Taylor, Melvin Gordon, Montee Ball, and Ron Dayne)
- Arizona – 3 (Ka'Deem Carey, Art Luppino, and Khalil Tate)
- Arizona State – 3 (Tony Lorick, Leon Burton, and Wilford White)
- Army – 3 (Glenn Davis, Doc Blanchard, and Bob Anderson)
- Colorado – 3 (Rashaan Salaam, Byron White, and Kayo Lam)
- Detroit – 3 (Jack Kurkowski, Al Ghesquiere, and Lloyd Brazil)
- Georgia – 3 (Frank Sinkwich, Garrison Hearst, and Nick Chubb)
- Indiana – 3 (Vaughn Dunbar, Anthony Thompson, and Levron Williams)
- Memphis – 3 (Darrell Henderson, DeAngelo Williams, and Dave Casinelli)
- New Mexico – 3 (Jhurell Pressley, Fred Henry, Billy Brown)
- Notre Dame – 3 (Robert Farmer, Reggie Brooks, and Creighton Miller)
- Penn State – 3 (Larry Johnson, Ki-Jana Carter, and Don Kunit)
- Tennessee – 3 (Charlie Garner, Beattie Feathers, and Gene McEver)
Rushing leaders since 1937
The NCAA did not compile and distribute official, national rushing statistics until the 1937 season. This chart reflects the official rushing statistics compiled and distributed by the NCAA. Rushing yard totals in bold follow the NCAA record progression.
| Year | Name | Yards | Name | Yds/Carry | Name | Rushing TDs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1937 |
Byron White (Colorado) |
1121 |
Dick Cassiano (Pittsburgh) |
9.0 | ||
| 1938 |
Len Eshmont (Fordham) |
831 |
Parker Hall (Ole Miss) |
6.5 | ||
| 1939 |
John Polanski (Wake Forest) |
882 |
Jackie Robinson (UCLA) |
12.2 | ||
| 1940 |
Al Ghesquiere (Detroit) |
957 |
James Farrell (Lafayette) |
7.2 |
Tom Harmon (Michigan) |
15 |
| 1941 |
Frank Sinkwich (Georgia) |
1103 |
Bob Steuber (Missouri) |
7.6 | ||
| 1942 |
Rudy Mobley (Hardin-Simmons) |
1281 |
Bob Steuber (Missouri) |
7.4 | Frank Sinkwich (Georgia) |
17 |
| 1943 |
Creighton Miller (Notre Dame) |
911 |
Bill Daley (Michigan) |
6.8 | ||
| 1944 |
Wayne Williams (Minnesota) |
911 |
Glenn Davis (Army) |
11.5 | Glenn Davis (Army) |
14 |
| 1945 |
Bob Fenimore (Oklahoma St.) |
1048 |
Glenn Davis (Army) |
11.5 |
Doc Blanchard (Army) |
16 |
| 1946 |
Rudy Mobley (Hardin-Simmons) |
1262 |
Roger Stephens (Cincinnati) |
7.7 | ||
| 1947 |
Wilton Davis (Hardin-Simmons) |
1173 |
Jack Kurkowski (Detroit) |
10.1 | ||
| 1948 |
Fred Wendt (UTEP) |
1570 | Fred Wendt (UTEP) |
8.53 | Fred Wendt (UTEP) |
20 |
| 1949 |
John Dottley (Ole Miss) |
1312 |
John Pont (Miami-OH) |
7.6 | ||
| 1950 |
Wilford White (Arizona St.) |
1502 | Wilford White (Arizona St.) Bobby Marlow (Alabama) |
7.5 7.5 |
||
| 1951 |
Ollie Matson (San Francisco) |
1566 |
Buck McPhail (Oklahoma) |
8.56 | ||
| 1952 |
Howard Waugh (Tulsa) |
1372 | Howard Waugh (Tulsa) |
8.53 | ||
| 1953 |
J. C. Caroline (Illinois) |
1256 | ||||
| 1954 |
Art Luppino (Arizona) |
1359 | Art Luppino (Arizona) |
21 | ||
| 1955 |
Art Luppino (Arizona) |
1313 | Art Luppino (Arizona) |
6.28 | ||
| 1956 |
Jim Crawford (Wyoming) |
1104 | Tommy Lorino (Auburn) |
8.4 |
Jim Brown (Syracuse) Clendon Thomas (Oklahoma) |
13 |
| 1957 |
Leon Burton (Arizona St.) |
1126 |
Leon Burton (Arizona St.) |
9.6 |
Bob Anderson (Army) |
13 |
| 1958 |
Dick Bass (Pacific) |
1361 |
Bob Jeter (Iowa) |
7.2 | Dick Bass (Pacific) Billy Austin (Rutgers) |
15 |
| 1959 |
Pervis Atkins (New Mexico St.) |
971 | Billy Brown (New Mexico) |
7.8 | Pervis Atkins (New Mexico St.) |
13 |
| 1960 |
Bob Gaiters (New Mexico St.) |
1338 |
Tom Larscheid (Utah St.) |
8.4 | Bob Gaiters (New Mexico St.) |
23 |
| 1961 |
Preacher Pilot (New Mexico St.) |
1278 |
Jimmy Saxton (Texas) |
7.9 | Pete Pedro (West Texas A&M) |
21 |
| 1962 |
Preacher Pilot (New Mexico St.) |
1247 |
Gale Sayers (Kansas) |
7.1 | Preacher Pilot (New Mexico St.) |
15 |
| 1963 |
Dave Casinelli (Memphis) |
1016 |
Tony Lorick (Arizona St.) |
7.7 | Dave Casinelli (Memphis) Cosmo Iacavazzi (Princeton) |
14 |
| 1964 |
Brian Piccolo (Wake Forest) |
1044 | Don Kunit (Penn St.) Tom Brown (Villanova) |
6.4 | Brian Piccolo (Wake Forest) |
15 |
| 1965 |
Mike Garrett (USC) |
1440 |
Harry Jones (Arkansas) |
7.7 | Dave Alexander (East Carolina) |
17 |
| 1966 |
Ray McDonald (Idaho) |
1329 |
MacArthur Lane (Utah St.) |
7.6 | Lee Jones (Buffalo) |
16 |
| 1967 |
O. J. Simpson (USC) |
1543 1415 |
Duane Thomas (West Texas A&M) |
7.2 | Butch Colson (East Carolina) |
15 |
| 1968 |
O. J. Simpson (USC) |
1880 1709 |
Fred Willis (Boston College) |
7.3 | O. J. Simpson (USC) |
23 |
| 1969 |
Leon Burns (Long Beach St.) Steve Owens (Oklahoma) |
1659 1523 |
Billy Walik (Villanova) |
8.9 | Leon Burns (Long Beach St.) |
26 |
| 1970 |
Don McCauley (North Carolina) |
1863 | Fred Henry (New Mexico) |
7.3 | Don McCauley (North Carolina) |
22 |
| 1971 |
Ed Marinaro (Cornell) |
1881 |
Greg Pruitt (Oklahoma) |
9.0 |
Terry Metcalf (Long Beach St.) |
28 |
| 1972 |
Pete Van Valkenburg (BYU) |
1386 |
Wilbur Jackson (Alabama) |
7.1 |
Champ Henson (Ohio St.) |
20 |
| 1973 |
Mark Kellar (N. Illinois) |
1719 |
Wilbur Jackson (Alabama) |
7.9 | J. J. Jennings (Rutgers) |
21 |
| 1974 |
Archie Griffin (Ohio St.) |
1695 | Gralyn Wyatt (Texas) |
7.8 | Keith Barnette (Boston College) |
22 |
| 1975 |
Ricky Bell (USC) |
1957 |
David Sims (Georgia Tech) |
8.2 |
Pete Johnson (Ohio St.) |
25 |
| 1976 |
Tony Dorsett (Pittsburgh) |
2150 | Scott McConnell (Appalachian St.) |
6.9 |
Terry Miller (Okla. St.) |
23 |
| 1977 |
Earl Campbell (Texas) |
1744 | Henry White (Colgate) |
7.9 | Earl Campbell (Texas) |
18 |
| 1978 |
Charles White (USC) |
1859 |
Kenny King (Oklahoma) |
7.9 |
Billy Sims (Oklahoma) |
20 |
| 1979 |
Charles White (USC) |
2050 | Gwain Durden (Chattanooga) |
7.8 |
Billy Sims (Oklahoma) |
22 |
| 1980 |
George Rogers (South Carolina) |
1781 |
Buster Rhymes (Oklahoma) |
7.7 |
Sammy Winder (S. Mississippi) |
20 |
| 1981 |
Marcus Allen (USC) |
2427 | Tim Martin (Appalachian St.) |
6.8 | Marcus Allen (USC) |
22 |
| 1982 |
Ernest Anderson (Okla. St.) |
1877 |
Marcus Dupree (Oklahoma) |
7.8 |
Greg Allen (Florida St.) |
20 |
| 1983 |
Mike Rozier (Nebraska) |
2148 | Mike Brown (Air Force) |
8.5 | Mike Rozier (Nebraska) |
29 |
| 1984 |
Keith Byars (Ohio St.) |
1764 | Kevin Lowe (Wyoming) |
8.0 | Keith Byars (Ohio St.) |
22 |
| 1985 |
Lorenzo White (Michigan St.) |
2066 |
Tom Rathman (Nebraska) |
7.5 | Bernard White (Bowling Green) |
18 |
| 1986 |
Paul Palmer (Temple) |
1866 |
Brent Fullwood (Auburn) |
8.3 |
Steve Bartalo (Colorado St.) |
19 |
| 1987 |
Craig Heyward (Pittsburgh) |
1791 |
Patrick Collins (Oklahoma) |
7.6 | Paul Hewitt (San Diego St.) |
18 |
| 1988 |
Barry Sanders (Okla. St.) |
2850 |
Chuck Weatherspoon (Houston) |
8.5 | Barry Sanders (Okla. St.) |
37 |
| 1989 |
Anthony Thompson (Indiana) |
1793 |
Chuck Weatherspoon (Houston) |
9.6 | Anthony Thompson (Indiana) |
24 |
| 1990 |
Darren Lewis (Texas A&M) |
1691 | Nikki Fisher (Virginia) |
7.0 | Stacey Robinson (N. Illinois) |
19 |
| 1991 |
Vaughn Dunbar (Indiana) |
1805 |
Calvin Jones (Nebraska) |
8.3 |
Tommy Vardell (Stanford) |
22 |
| 1992 |
Marshall Faulk (San Diego St) |
1630 |
Reggie Brooks (Notre Dame) |
8.0 |
Garrison Hearst (Georgia) |
19 |
| 1993 |
LeShon Johnson (N. Illinois) |
1976 |
Charlie Garner (Tennessee) |
7.3 |
Bam Morris (Texas Tech) |
22 |
| 1994 |
Rashaan Salaam (Colorado) |
2055 |
Ki-Jana Carter (Penn State) |
7.8 | Rashaan Salaam (Colorado) |
24 |
| 1995 |
Troy Davis (Iowa State) |
2010 |
Ahman Green (Nebraska) |
7.7 |
Eddie George (Ohio State) |
24 |
| 1996 |
Troy Davis (Iowa State) |
2185 | Robert Farmer (Notre Dame) |
8.5 |
Corey Dillon (Washington) |
22 |
| 1997 |
Ricky Williams (Texas) |
1893 |
Kevin McDougal (Colorado St.) |
7.4 | Ricky Williams (Texas) Travis Prentice (Miami-OH) |
25 |
| 1998 |
Ricky Williams (Texas) |
2124 |
Reuben Droughns (Oregon) |
7.4 | Ricky Williams (Texas) |
27 |
| 1999 |
Ron Dayne (Wisconsin) |
2034 |
Levron Williams (Indiana) |
6.9 | Ron Dayne (Wisconsin) LaDainian Tomlinson (TCU) |
20 |
| 2000 |
LaDainian Tomlinson (TCU) |
2158 |
Kenton Keith (N. Mexico St.) |
7.8 |
Lee Suggs (Va. Tech) |
27 |
| 2001 |
Jacob Werner (Nevada) |
1732 |
Santonio Beard (Alabama) |
8.2 |
Luke Staley (BYU) |
24 |
| 2002 |
Larry Johnson (Penn St.) |
2087 | Larry Johnson (Penn St.) Joshua Cribbs (Kent St.) |
7.7 |
Willis McGahee (Miami-FL) |
28 |
| 2003 |
Darren Sproles (Kansas St.) |
1986 |
Vince Young (Texas) Matt Jones (Arkansas) |
7.4 |
Kevin Jones (Virginia Tech) Cedric Benson (Texas) |
21 |
| 2004 |
J. J. Arrington (California) |
2018 |
DeAndra' Cobb (Michigan St.) |
7.6 |
DeAngelo Williams (Memphis) |
22 |
| 2005 |
DeAngelo Williams (Memphis) |
1964 |
Reggie Bush (USC) |
8.7 |
LenDale White (USC) |
24 |
| 2006 |
Garrett Wolfe (N. Illinois) |
1928 |
Anthony Alridge (Houston) |
10.1 |
Ian Johnson (Boise St.) |
25 |
| 2007 |
Kevin Smith (UCF) |
2567 |
Percy Harvin (Florida) |
9.2 | Kevin Smith (UCF) |
29 |
| 2008 |
Donald Brown (Connecticut) |
2083 |
Shun White (Navy) |
8.3 |
MiQuale Lewis (Ball St.) Javon Ringer (Michigan St) |
22 |
| 2009 |
Toby Gerhart (Stanford) |
1871 |
Vai Taua (Nevada) |
7.8 | Toby Gerhart (Stanford) |
28 |
| 2010 |
LaMichael James (Oregon) |
1731 |
Onterio McCalebb (Auburn) |
8.5 |
Chad Spann (N. Illinois) |
22 |
| 2011 |
Montee Ball (Wisconsin) |
1923 |
Henry Josey (Missouri) |
8.1 | Montee Ball (Wisconsin) |
33 |
| 2012 |
Ka'Deem Carey (Arizona) |
1929 |
Dri Archer (Kent State) |
9.0 |
Kenneth Dixon (La. Tech) |
27 |
| 2013 |
Andre Williams (Boston College) |
2177 |
Elijah McGuire (La.-Lafayette) |
8.4 |
Kapri Bibbs (Colorado St.) Keenan Reynolds (Navy) |
31 |
| 2014 | Melvin Gordon (Wisconsin) | 2587 |
Jhurell Pressley (New Mexico) |
9.5 | Melvin Gordon (Wisconsin) |
29 |
| 2015 |
Derrick Henry (Alabama) |
2219 |
Nick Chubb (Georgia) |
8.1 | Derrick Henry (Alabama) |
28 |
| 2016 |
Donnel Pumphrey (San Diego State) |
2133 | Ty Johnson (Maryland) |
9.1 | Anthony Wales (Western Kentucky) |
27 |
| 2017 |
Rashaad Penny (San Diego State) |
2248 |
Khalil Tate (Arizona) |
9.2 |
Devin Singletary (Florida Atlantic) |
32 |
| 2018 |
Jonathan Taylor (Wisconsin) |
2194 |
Darrell Henderson (Memphis) |
8.9 |
Travis Etienne (Clemson) |
24 |
| 2019 |
Chuba Hubbard (Oklahoma State) |
2094 |
Lynn Bowden (Kentucky) |
7.9 |
LeVante Bellamy (Western Michigan) Xavier Jones (SMU) |
23 |
| 2020 |
Breece Hall (Iowa State) |
1572 |
Bijan Robinson (Texas) |
8.2 |
Najee Harris (Alabama) |
26 |
| 2021 |
Lew Nichols III (Central Michigan) |
1848 |
De’Von Achane (Texas A&M) |
7.0 |
Rasheen Ali (Marshall) & Tyler Allgeier (BYU) |
23 |
| 2022 |
Brad Roberts (Air Force) |
1728 |
John Lee Eldridge III (Air Force) |
7.7 |
Israel Abanikanda (Pittsburgh) & Mohamed Ibrahim (Minnesota) |
20 |
Pre-1937 unofficial data
This chart reflects unofficial rushing statistics before the NCAA started keeping official rushing statistics in 1937, compiled by historians largely from contemporary newspaper accounts.
| Year | Name | Yards | Name | Yds/Carry | Name | Rushing TDs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1936 |
Marshall Goldberg (Pittsburgh) |
860 | ||||
| 1935 |
Kayo Lam (Colorado) |
1043 | ||||
| 1934 |
Kayo Lam (Colorado) |
906 |
Bill Shepherd (Western Maryland) |
18 | ||
| 1933 |
Beattie Feathers (Tennessee) |
663 | Beattie Feathers (Tennessee) |
13 | ||
| 1932 | ||||||
| 1931 |
Shipwreck Kelly (Kentucky) |
1074 | Shipwreck Kelly (Kentucky) |
6.3 | ||
| 1930 |
Frank Christensen (Utah) |
1131 | ||||
| 1929 |
Lloyd Brazil (Detroit) |
1117 |
Gene McEver (Tennessee) |
18 | ||
| 1928 |
Ken Strong (NYU) |
2032 | Ken Strong (NYU) |
22 | ||
| 1927 |
Glenn Presnell (Nebraska) |
1448 |
Joel Hunt (Texas A&M) |
19 | ||
| 1926 |
Mayes McLain (Haskell) |
38 | ||||
| 1925 |
Peggy Flournoy (Tulane) and Mort Kaer (USC) |
19 | ||||
| 1924 |
Red Strader (St. Mary's) |
1421 | ||||
| 1923 | ||||||
| 1922 | ||||||
| 1921 |
Red Barron (Georgia Tech) |
1459 | ||||
| 1920 |
Jimmy Leech (VMI) |
1723 |
Buck Flowers (Georgia Tech) |
10.2 | Jimmy Leech (VMI) |
26 |
| 1919 |
Ira Rodgers (West Virginia) |
19 | ||||
| 1918 | ||||||
| 1917 |
Everett Strupper (Georgia Tech) |
1150 | Everett Strupper (Georgia Tech) |
10.1 |
Albert Hill (Georgia Tech) |
23 |
| 1916 | ||||||
| 1915 |
Jerry DaPrato (Michigan Aggies) |
34 | ||||
| 1914 |
Buck Mayer (Virginia) |
21 | ||||
| 1913 | ||||||
| 1912 |
Jim Thorpe (Carlisle) |
1869+ | Jim Thorpe (Carlisle) |
9.8 | Jim Thorpe (Carlisle) |
29 |
| 1911 |
Jim Thorpe (Carlisle) |
899 | Jim Thorpe (Carlisle) |
8.0 | ||
| 1910 | ||||||
| 1909 |
Jim Thorpe (Carlisle) |
781 | ||||
| 1908 | ||||||
| 1907 | ||||||
| 1906 | ||||||
| 1905 | ||||||
| 1904 |
Willie Heston (Michigan) |
686 | Willie Heston (Michigan) |
12.7 | Willie Heston (Michigan) |
21 |
| 1903 | ||||||
| 1902 |
Willie Heston (Michigan) |
487 | Willie Heston (Michigan) |
8.7 |
Al Herrnstein (Michigan) |
26 |
| 1901 |
Willie Heston (Michigan) |
684 | Willie Heston (Michigan) |
10.2 | Willie Heston (Michigan) |
20 |
| 1900 | ||||||
| 1899 | ||||||
| 1898 | ||||||
| 1897 | ||||||
| 1896 | ||||||
| 1895 | ||||||
| 1894 | ||||||
| 1893 | ||||||
| 1892 | ||||||
| 1891 |
Everett J. Lake (Harvard) |
39 | ||||
| 1890 |
Philip King (Princeton) |
29 | ||||
| 1889 | ||||||
| 1888 | ||||||
| 1887 |
Snake Ames (Princeton) |
20 | ||||
| 1886 |
Harry Beecher (Yale) |
33 |