Even with the transition to a bigger focus on vertical passing games around the country the reality is that the running back position is still extremely important. The best teams in the country have capable running backs that can help carry the load on offense and deliver in big moments whether it’s a third-and-one with the game on the line or running out the clock by moving the chains on the ground. We took the time to break down the best groups of running backs in the nation with the core stables for four teams standing above the rest. Here is a look at the best running back groups in the country heading in to the 2016 college football season.
Stanford Cardinal
Christian McCaffrey is coming off a year in which he had the second-most rushing yards in the nation with 2,019 with another 45 catches for 645 yards and five scores. Matching those totals will not be easy but McCaffrey is one of the most dangerous running backs in the entire country and there isn’t much reason to doubt his ability to put up big numbers. The Cardinal also love what they have in their backup Bryce Love, who averaged 7.8 yards per carry in a reserve role this season.
Fullback Daniel Marx is an unsung hero in the Stanford offense and he managed to secure a Pac-12 honorable mention a year ago. The Cardinal have some intriguing weapons on offense and their running back core is one of the best in all of college football.
Georgia Bulldogs
Nick Chubb is healthy and Sony Michel is coming off a season in which he ran for 1,161 yards and eight touchdowns with another 26 catches for 270 yards and three scores. That should mean a big season from the Bulldogs’ backfield tandem with Chubb a potential dark horse sleeper candidate to contend for a Heisman trophy if he can get enough touches. That might not be easy with Michel looking to maintain his share of the snaps but the bottom line is that Chubb’s recovery is right on time and the coaches have said he looks just as good as he did before he suffered a season-ending knee injury last season. Factor in the presence of four-star prospect Elijay Holyfield and this group is set. A relatively light schedule should help Georgia’s running backs put up big numbers this season as one of the best running back tandems in college football next season.
Oregon Ducks
Royce Freeman is back at Oregon after gashing opposing defenses for 1,838 yards and 17 touchdowns last season and he won’t be alone in the Ducks’ backfield. Taj Griffin recorded 570 rushing yards and three scores as a true freshman and is poised for an even better year while Kani Benoit should figure in to the mix as well after adding 364 yards and three touchdowns on the ground. Factor in the presence of Tony Brooks-James as the fourth-best player at his position on the depth chart and it’s clear the Ducks have one of the deepest running back cores in the entire country. They’re going to need these guys to step up early in the season as the Ducks program is slipping right now. They need to show that they are still that explosive unit that will continue to vie for college football championships.
Georgia Southern Eagles
Matt Breida is one of the more underrated running backs in the country simply because he isn’t talked about as much as some of the other big names at his position playing at Georgia Southern. Breida averaged a ridiculous 7.9 yards per carry while running for 1,608 yards and 17 touchdowns in 2015 and he is poised to lead the way once again for the Eagles offense this season. L.A. Ramsby contributed 816 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns in 2015 while Wesley Fields had 682 rushing yards and seven touchdowns and both will be back to complete one of the best running back stables in the country. When you consider the running ability of quarterback Kevin Ellison and how it can help Georgia Southern stretch the field it makes the Eagles running back core look that much more dangerous as clearly one of the top tables in college football heading in to the 2016 season.
