Week 4 of the Big Ten football season saw continued dominance from some of the conference’s top running backs.
Backs were the best players on the field for both Michigan and Iowa in their statement victories. For Michigan, RB Kalel Mullings took 17 carries for 159 yards and two touchdowns to lead the team to a 27-24 victory over USC. For Iowa, Kaleb Johnson recorded 206 yards and three touchdowns on 21 carries as the Hawkeyes dominated Minnesota 31-17.
Related: Big Ten Power Rankings after Week 4: Michigan is alive
Significantly, Michigan QB Alex Orji and Iowa QB Cade McNamara combined for only 94 passing yards in the two wins. Each team’s offense was driven entirely by the dominance of the running backs.
Old-school Big Ten football still wins in the current age of high-powered passing offense. That is seen by the production of running backs across the conference. With the conference schedule heating up, here are the top 20 Big Ten RBs ranked by rushing production, listed with each of their national rankings:
Rushing Yards: 200 (No. 122 nationally)
Week 4 Stats: N/A (BYE)
Season Stats: 46 carries, 200 rushing yards, 4.3 yards per carry, 3 touchdowns
Rushing Yards: 201 (No. 119 nationally)
Week 4 Stats: 14 carries, 67 rushing yards, 4.8 yards per carry, 1 touchdown
Season Stats: 50 carries, 201 rushing yards, 4.0 yards per carry, 2 touchdowns
Rushing Yards: 207 (No. 111 nationally)
Week 4 Stats: 9 carries, 9 rushing yards, 1.0 yards per carry
Season Stats: 47 carries, 207 rushing yards, 4.4 yards per carry, 1 touchdown
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Rushing Yards: 207 (No. 111 nationally)
Week 4 Stats: 6 carries, 76 rushing yards, 12.7 yards per carry, 2 touchdowns
Season Stats: 24 carries, 207 rushing yards, 8.6 yards per carry, 4 touchdowns
Note: Henderson and Carter are tied in total yards. Henderson is ranked higher due to a higher yards-per-carry average.
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Rushing Yards: 222 (No. 92 nationally)
Week 4 Stats: 10 carries, 34 rushing yards, 3.4 yards per carry
Season Stats: 35 carries, 222 rushing yards, 6.3 yards per carry, 3 touchdowns
Rushing Yards: 224 (No. 90 nationally)
Week 4 Stats: 14 carries, 74 rushing yards, 5.3 yards per carry, 1 touchdown
Season Stats: 50 carries, 224 rushing yards, 4.5 yards per carry, 2 touchdowns
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Rushing Yards: 234 (No. 84 nationally)
Week 4 Stats: 15 carries, 77 rushing yards, 5.1 yards per carry, 1 touchdown
Season Stats: 44 carries, 234 rushing yards, 5.3 yards per carry, 3 touchdowns
Rushing Yards: 242 (No. 80 nationally)
Week 4 Stats: 12 carries, 69 rushing yards, 5.8 yards per carry
Season Stats: 54 carries, 242 rushing yards, 4.5 yards per carry, 3 touchdowns
Rushing Yards: 256 (No. 70 nationally)
Week 4 Stats: 20 carries, 72 rushing yards, 3.6 yards per carry
Season Stats: 51 carries, 256 rushing yards, 5.0 yards per carry, 3 touchdowns
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Rushing Yards: 271 (No. 57 nationally)
Week 4 Stats: 15 carries, 61 rushing yards, 4.1 yards per carry
Season Stats: 49 carries, 271 rushing yards, 5.5 yards per carry, 1 touchdown
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Rushing Yards: 271 (No. 57 nationally)
Week 4 Stats: 13 carries, 100 rushing yards, 7.7 yards per carry
Season Stats: 42 carries, 271 rushing yards, 6.5 yards per carry, 3 touchdowns
Note: Marks and Lynch-Adams are tied in total yards. Marks is ranked higher due to a higher yards-per-carry average.
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Rushing Yards: 276 (No. 54 nationally)
Week 4 Stats: 16 carries, 168 rushing yards, 10.5 yards per carry, 1 touchdown
Season Stats: 36 carries, 276 rushing yards, 7.7 yards per carry, 1 touchdown
Rushing Yards: 283 (No. 51 nationally)
Week 4 Stats: N/A (BYE)
Season Stats: 44 carries, 283 rushing yards, 6.4 yards per carry, 3 touchdowns
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Rushing Yards: 290 (No. 44 nationally)
Week 4 Stats: 9 carries, 58 rushing yards, 6.4 yards per carry, 1 touchdown
Season Stats: 38 carries, 290 rushing yards, 7.6 yards per carry, 4 touchdowns
Rushing Yards: 314 (No. 40 nationally)
Week 4 Stats: 11 carries, 81 rushing yards, 7.4 yards per carry
Season Stats: 37 carries, 314 rushing yards, 8.5 yards per carry, 2 touchdowns
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Rushing Yards: 336 (No. 35 nationally)
Week 4 Stats: 14 carries, 173 rushing yards, 12.4 yards per carry, 2 touchdowns
Season Stats: 36 carries, 336 rushing yards, 9.3 yards per carry, 5 touchdowns
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Rushing Yards: 373 (No. 25 nationally)
Week 4 Stats: 15 carries, 67 rushing yards, 4.5 yards per carry, 1 touchdown
Season Stats: 56 carries, 373 rushing yards, 6.7 yards per carry, 4 touchdowns
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Rushing Yards: 429 (No. 12 nationally)
Week 4 Stats: 17 carries, 159 rushing yards, 9.4 yards per carry, 2 touchdowns
Season Stats: 53 carries, 429 rushing yards, 8.1 yards per carry, 4 touchdowns
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Rushing Yards: 457 (No. 5 nationally)
Week 4 Stats: 26 carries, 84 rushing yards, 3.2 yards per carry, 1 touchdown
Season Stats: 72 carries, 457 rushing yards, 6.3 yards per carry, 5 touchdowns
Rushing Yards: 685 (No. 1 nationally)
Week 4 Stats: 21 carries, 206 rushing yards, 9.8 yards per carry, 3 touchdowns
Season Stats: 82 carries, 685 rushing yards, 8.4 yards per carry, 9 touchdowns
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