The greatest operating again combos in school soccer since 2000

There are loads of intriguing storylines heading into Saturday’s top-five matchup between No. 3 Penn State and No. 4 Ohio State (midday ET on FOX and the FOX Sports app). Among these storylines are the dominant backfields of each of those groups, as arguably the nation’s two greatest operating again duos put together to go head-to-head.

The Buckeyes are led by gifted operating backs Quinshon Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson. Judkins has run for 520 yards on 6.4 yards per carry and 6 touchdowns, whereas Henderson has run for 449 yards on 7.2 yards per carry and 4 touchdowns this season.

The Nittany Lions, in the meantime, have their very own pair of gifted operating backs. Nicholas Singleton rushed for 483 yards on 6.4 yards per carry and three touchdowns to associate with 4 receiving touchdowns, whereas Kaytron Allen rushed for 509 yards on 5 yards per carry, scoring 5 whole touchdowns.

As one among school soccer’s premier rivalries will get a makeover this weekend with a whole lot of deal with operating backs, let’s check out the perfect operating again combos in school soccer because the flip of the century.

Scroll to the underside of this web page and submit your vote for the perfect operating again combos in school soccer since 2000!

Miami (Florida) – Clinton Portis, Frank Gore, Willis McGahee (2001)

The final Hurricanes staff that gained the title had a three-headed monster within the backfield. Portis was the chief of the group, speeding for 1,200 yards and 10 touchdowns. Gore rushed for 562 yards at a staggering 9.1 yards per carry, whereas McGahee had three speeding touchdowns in eight video games. All three gamers grew to become future Pro Bowlers.

Auburn – Cadillac Williams and Ronnie Brown (2004)

Think about that for a minute: Auburn had two future top-five NFL Draft picks on this roster… and so they have been enjoying in the identical backfield! Williams and Brown fashioned probably the most memorable operating again duos in school soccer historical past in 2004. Williams, who was chosen fifth total within the 2005 draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, rushed for 1,165 yards and 12 touchdowns in the course of the 2004 season. Brown rushed for 913 yards on 6 yards per carry and eight touchdowns, including 313 receiving yards and a receiving landing. Auburn gained the Sugar Bowl that season and was controversially disregarded of the nationwide championship sport.

Ronnie Brown (left) and Cadillac Williams (proper) grew to become top-five picks within the 2005 NFL Draft after main Auburn to an undefeated season in 2004. (Photo by Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire by way of Getty Images)

Minnesota – Marion Barber and Laurence Maroney (2003 and 2004)

The Golden Gophers had a pair of future NFL operating backs of their backfield in 2003 and 2004. Barber ran for 1,196 and 17 touchdowns his junior yr, whereas Maroney was proper behind him with 1,121 yards on the bottom and 10 touchdowns quick. The pair have been even higher the next yr, when Barber totaled 1,269 yards and 11 touchdowns, whereas Maroney led the staff in speeding, regardless of having 14 fewer carries. He had 1,358 speeding yards and 11 speeding touchdowns for a Minnesota staff that went 7-5.

Marion Barber and Laurence Maroney every ran for 100 yards in Minnesota’s win over Alabama within the Music City Bowl in 2004. (Photo by MARLIN LEVISON/Star Tribune by way of Getty Images)

USC – Reggie Bush and LenDale White (2004 and 2005)

Bush is perhaps seen because the face of this duo, however White was really the staff’s main rusher in 2004. That yr he ran for 1,103 yards and 15 touchdowns, whereas Bush had 908 speeding yards and 6 touchdowns, whereas additionally having 509 speeding yards receiving yards and 7 receiving touchdowns. The duo had almost the identical variety of carries in 2005 (Bush 200, White 197), when Bush ran for 1,740 yards with 8.7 yards per carry and 16 touchdowns to complete with 478 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns. White really scored extra touchdowns that yr, reaching the tip zone 26 occasions and speeding for 1,302 yards.

Reggie Bush and LenDale White helped USC win a nationwide championship in 2004 and almost led the Trojans to back-to-back titles in 2005. (Photo by Nick de la Torre/Houston Chronicle by way of Getty Images)

Arkansas – Darren McFadden, Felix Jones and Peyton Hillis (2006 and 2007)

McFadden and Jones every ran for 1,000 yards within the 2006 and 2007 seasons. In truth, in 2007 they almost ran for 3,000 yards mixed (McFadden ran for 1,830, Jones ran for 1,162) and scored 28 whole touchdowns that yr. THE RazorbacksThird-string operating again Hillis ran for 347 yards and two touchdowns in 2007. McFadden’s effort that yr helped him end second for the Heisman Trophy.

Felix Jones (left), Darren McFadden (heart) and Peyton Hillis (proper) fashioned probably the most memorable RB trios in school soccer historical past, serving to Arkansas beat No. 1 LSU in 2007. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)

Wisconsin – John Clay, Montee Ball and James White (2010)

The Badgers almost had three operating backs rush for 1,000 yards in 2010. White led the staff in speeding with 1,052 yards, whereas Clay wasn’t far behind with 1,012 yards. The ball fell 4 yards in need of the 1,000-yard mark, however he led the staff with 18 speeding touchdowns. Clay and White had 14 touchdowns every as Wisconsin went 11-2, dropping within the Rose Bowl.

Alabama – Mark Ingram, Trent Richardson and Eddie Lacy (2009 and 2010)

Most school soccer followers keep in mind Ingram’s dominant season in 2009 on his method to profitable the Heisman, however he additionally had an excellent backup. Richardson ran for 751 yards and eight touchdowns together with Ingram, who had 1,992 yards from scrimmage and 20 whole touchdowns that season to assist Alabama win the nationwide title. A yr later, Lacy entered the combo, operating for six touchdowns, whereas Ingram ran for 875 yards and had 14 whole touchdowns, and Richardson ran for 700 yards and scored 10 whole touchdowns.

Trent Richardson (left) and Mark Ingram (proper) rushed for a mixed 225 yards and 4 touchdowns in Alabama’s nationwide championship win over Texas. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)

Oregon – LaMichael James, Kenjon Barner and DeAnthony Thomas (2011)

James was one of many nation’s high operating backs in every of the three seasons he performed at Oregon. In 2011, he was the face of arguably the nation’s greatest operating again, speeding for 1,805 yards and scoring 19 whole touchdowns that yr, then profitable the Doak Walker Award. Barner added 939 speeding yards and 14 whole touchdowns that season, whereas Thomas had 595 yards and 16 whole touchdowns. It’s no shock that Oregon averaged 45.6 factors per sport in 2011.

Wisconsin – James White, Melvin Gordon and Corey Clement (2013)

After forming a powerful duo with Ball for 2 seasons, White fashioned one other sturdy partnership in his remaining yr in Madison, becoming a member of forces with Melvin Gordon. White totaled 1,744 yards from scrimmage and 15 whole touchdowns in 2013, whereas Gordon rushed for 1,609 yards and 12 touchdowns that yr. The duo was additionally supported by Corey Clement, who ran for 547 yards and 7 touchdowns in eight video games that season. Strong floor play helped Wisconsin win 9 video games in 2013.

James White (left) and Melvin Gordon (proper) have helped Wisconsin develop into one of many high faculties for operating backs over the previous 25 seasons. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

Alabama – TJ Yeldon, Derrick Henry, Kenyan Drake and Alvin Kamara (2013 and 2014)

In the 2 seasons previous to Henry’s dominance on the way in which to profitable the Heisman Trophy, he was only one a part of a powerful backfield for the Crimson Tide. Yeldon was the main rusher on the 2013 staff, speeding for 1,235 yards and 14 touchdowns. Drake was the secondary that yr, speeding for 694 yards and scoring 9 whole touchdowns, whereas Henry had 382 speeding yards and 4 whole touchdowns. Kamara was additionally a part of Alabama’s operating again room in 2013, however didn’t report a carry whereas enjoying behind three future NFL operating backs. He moved on the finish of the season.

Henry’s position elevated in 2014 after Drake broke his leg and performed simply 5 video games that season. Yeldon led the staff in speeding makes an attempt, speeding for 979 yards and scoring 12 whole touchdowns. But Henry was the extra environment friendly runner, speeding for 990 yards and scoring 13 whole touchdowns. The duo helped Alabama attain their first College Football Playoff, the place they misplaced to Ohio State within the Sugar Bowl.

Oklahoma – Joe Mixon and Samaje Perine (2016)

Lincoln Riley’s offenses could also be extra recognized for his or her aerial assault, however he had a powerful operating duo in his second season as Oklahoma’s offensive coordinator. Perine (1,060) and Mixon (1,274) every rushed for over 1,000 yards in 2016, with the previous scoring 13 whole touchdowns and the latter including 15 whole touchdowns. The duo led the Sooners to 11 wins and a Sugar Bowl victory.

Joe Mixon (left) and Samaje Perine (proper) have been each named to an All-Big 12 staff in the course of the 2016 season. (Photo by Jackson Laizure/Getty Images)

Stanford – Christian McCaffrey and Bryce Love (2016)

A yr after McCaffrey almost gained the Heisman, he had a operating mate off the sphere for the 2016 season. McCaffrey had 1,913 yards from scrimmage and 16 whole touchdowns in his remaining yr of faculty soccer, whereas Love added 783 speeding yards and 4 whole touchdowns, serving to Stanford to a 10-win season.

Bryce Love (left) and Christian McCaffrey earned All-American honors throughout their time at Stanford. (Photo by Michael Macor/The San Francisco Chronicle by way of Getty Images)

Georgia – Nick Chubb, Sony Michel and D’André Swift (2017)

Three years after forming a powerful partnership with Todd Gurley, Chubb and Michel have been the veteran leaders of a youthful Swift. Chubb rushed for 1,345 yards and 15 touchdowns in 2017, whereas Michel rushed for 1,227 yards and scored 17 whole touchdowns, together with the game-winning rating in Georgia’s Rose Bowl victory over Oklahoma. Swift chimed in with 618 speeding yards and 4 whole touchdowns. The trio did not win the nationwide title that season.

Sony Michel (heart) and Nick Chubb (proper) rushed for a mixed 326 yards and 5 touchdowns in Georgia’s win over Oklahoma within the 2018 Rose Bowl. (Photo by John Cordes/Icon Sportswire by way of Getty Images)

Alabama – Damien Harris, Josh Jacobs, Najee Harris, Brian Robinson Jr. and Jerome Ford (2018)

Tua Tagovailoa threw to 4 future first-round huge receivers in his first season as Alabama’s beginning quarterback. But Alabama additionally had an unimaginable backfield that yr. Damien Harris, Najee Harris, Jacobs and Robinson unfold the wealth amongst them in 2018. Damien Harris was the chief of the group, placing up 876 speeding yards and 9 touchdowns. Jacobs had 640 speeding yards and 14 speeding touchdowns. Najee Harris had 783 speeding yards and 4 speeding touchdowns that yr, whereas Robinson had 272 yards and two touchdowns. The staff additionally had Jerome Ford buried on its depth chart as he solely had 5 carries that season.

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