ESPN Ranks The Top-10 Running Backs For The 2026 Season

By Staff Reporter••

Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

ESPN writers Eli Lederman and Max Olson recently ranked the Top-10 running backs for the upcoming college football season, which featured five players from the SEC:

1. Kewan Lacy, Ole Miss
2. Jadan Baugh, Florida
3. Ahmad Hardy, Missouri
4. Mark Fletcher Jr., Miami
5. Isaac Brown, Louisville
6. Hollywood Smothers, Texas
7. Raleek Brown, Texas
8. Justice Haynes, Georgia Tech
9. LJ Martin, BYU
10 (tie). Caleb Hawkins, Oklahoma State
10 (tie). Nate Sheppard, Duke

Also receiving votes: Nate Frazier, Georgia; Antwan Raymond, Rutgers; Jordan Marshall, Michigan; Bo Jackson, Ohio State; Jeremiah Cobb, Auburn; DeSean Bishop, Tennessee; Waymond Jordan, USC; J'Koby Williams, Texas Tech; Turbo Richard, Indiana; Adam Mohammed, Cal; Caden Durham, LSU; Wayshawn Parker, Utah; Cam Cook, West Virginia; Dylan Riley, Boise State

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BK785•28 days

With Kiffin at LSU, I see Durham/Berry finishing in the top 10 at season's end.

Rodo•29 days

Oh look, ESPN is swallowing the horns again

TRUERockyTop•28 days

- Rodo

HailFreezusOver•30 days

Ahmad Hardy is elite.. but how can he rank him that high for a season he may or may not play in. didn't he get shot in the leg?

chRxis•30 days

really wish we had gone after Sheppard

Chip82•30 days

Jadan Baugh shouldn't even be on the top 10 list.

And Smothers and Brown are not better than Frazier and Bowens.

ESPN staff writers sitting behind their desks in Connecticut.

ESPN is a scourge on the SEC.

UFMatt•30 days

Baugh should be number one, best back in the SEC

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