College Football 26allows you to compare players in specific positions, see each of their individual stat scores, and see their special abilities. All these resources are perfect for evaluating which players are the best in a certain position, and is more enlightening than just looking at players' overall scores. Now that I’ve been able to look through the players in the game, I was able to see which running backs EA Sports chose as the top players.
Not all players agree with EA Sports' picks for some ofCollege Football 26’s rankings. For instance, some players think Lane Stadium should be one of thetoughest stadiums to play at. For the purposes of this ranking, I’m going to be doing it based on EA’s rankings and the players' in-game stats and abilities. Even if you disagree with EA’s rankings, they are what count when it comes to playing the game. Of course,you are free to adjust player ratings if you choose to correct any perceived mistakes.
10Darius Taylor Of The Minnesota Golden Gophers
Darius Taylor Has A 91 Overall Rating
Darius Taylor has dealt with a few injuries, both in his freshman year, and right at the start of his sophomore year. However,he still showed a lot of potential, averaging over 100 rushing yards in the 17 games he’s played so far. The Gophers are likely hoping Taylor stays healthy this season and continues to perform well.
Taylor has an overall score of 91 inCollege Football 26and is pretty good at trucking, which is important for a North/South Receiver. His improved cuts in the backfield from Safety Valve can help prevent the loss of yards.His Downhill ability will also make Taylor capable of breaking tacklesmore easily once he reaches top speed.
9Demond Claiborne Of The Wake Forest Demon Deacons
Demond Claiborne Has A 91 Overall Rating
Demond Claiborne is returning to Wake Forest after a solid season where he rushed for 1,049 yards and 11 touchdowns.One of Claiborne’s best qualities is his ability to read openings, and he has the mobility necessary to take advantage of these opportunities. That said, a high awareness stat inCollege Football 26doesn’t necessarily mean players will be able to make as good of reads as the real Claiborne, so you’ll have to pay attention to use him at his best.
Claibrone has a 91 overall rating, andhis platinum Shifty ability will make him hard to pin down. This ability allows him to maintain more speed while performing cuts and turns. This pairs well with his Side Step ability which improves his juking skills.
8Quintrevion Wisner Of The Texas Longhorns
Quintrevion Wisner Has A 91 Overall Rating
Quintrevion Wisner led the Texas Longhorns in rushing yards last year, and also had a fair number of receptions. It works out that he can catch well, since he’s paired up with one ofCollege Football 26’s top QBs, Arch Manning.Wisner’s agility and ability to break tackles make him a serious threat with ball in hand.
Wisner has a 91 overall ranking, andhis gold Side Step ability paired with a high agility score make him difficult to stop. His platinum Recoup ensures that he maintains his energy throughout the game, making him a reliable player until the end. This, paired with his 98 stamina score, means you rarely have to worry about Wisner running out of steam.
7Kaytron Allen Of The Penn State Nittany Lions
Kaytron Allen Has A 92 Overall Rating
Kaytron Allen is one half of Penn State’s powerful running back duo alongside Nicholas Singleton. Allen skipped the NFL Draft this year to return to Penn State for his senior year, where he is projected to have another productive season.Allen is adept at running through defenders, though this can put him at risk of injury.
Allen has a 92 overall rating inCollege Football 26, andhis platinum Headfirst ability helps him with his penchant for trucking. He also has a platinum Arm Bar ability which improves his use of stiff arms. This gives Allen several strong tools for breaking tackles.
6Makhi Hughes Of The Oregon Ducks
Makhi Hughes Has A 92 Overall Rating
After some explosive runs for Tulane, Makhi Hughes will be bringing his talents to Oregon this year. The college football season hasn’t even started, but there are alreadyrumors that Hughes might be a serious prospect in the 2026 NFL Draft. Watching some of his long carries from last year, it’s easy to see why.
Hughes has a 92 overall, and a few important abilities for a running back.His platinum Recoup ability will ensure he has the gas for some big plays, even late in the game. This is complemented by his Adrenaline ability, which will ensure he recovers well from the wear and tear of getting hit.
Ahmad Hardy has some big ambitions following his transfer to Mizzou. Hardy acknowledged Cody Schrader’s 1,627 rushing yard record and the effort Schrader put in to earn it,before saying that he was going to try and beat it. Hardy has also turned some heads by also being a prolific horseback rider, and he even brought his horse, CoCo, with him to Mizzou.
Hardy’s 92 overall rating is largely thanks to his agility, stamina, and mobility skills like jukes and spin moves. With platinum abilities that help with both cuts and spin moves,Hardy is the perfect RB for players that like to use fancy footwork to avoid getting tackled. A gold Recoup also helps keep Hardy a consistent part of your offense.
4Jonah Coleman Of The Washington Huskies
Jonah Coleman Has A 93 Overall Rating
Jonah Coleman’s ability to generate explosive runs has caught a lot of attention. There are already rumblings thatWashington’s senior RB could be a top prospect in the 2026 NFL Draft. It isn’t too surprising given his ability to push through defenders and hang onto the ball.
Coleman has a 93 overall rating, andhis 95 trucking score means you’ll want to make sure you’re using the stick to challenge defenderswhen running with him. He also has a platinum Headfirst ability, which will only improve his ability to break tackles when trucking. Add his gold Downhill ability, and Coleman is basically unstoppable once he gets going.
3Nicholas Singleton Of The Penn State Nittany Lions
Nicholas Singleton Has A 93 Overall Rating
Nicholas Singleton is the other half of Penn State’s dynamic RB duo who rushed for 1,099 yards and helped Penn State go on a 10-0 streak last year.Between Singleton, Allen, and returning QB Drew Allar, Penn State will likely be a team to watch this year. Singleton’s strong season also earned him a very high rating inCFB 26.
Singleton boasts a 93 overall,with an impressive 94 speed score. Arm Bar and Safety Valve can help Singleton get out of the backfield, and once he hits top speed, Downhill will make him harder to tackle. His gold Headstrong perk will also ensure his hot routes don’t get messed up by stadium pulse.
2Isaac Brown Of The Louisville Cardinals
Isaac Brown Has A 93 Overall Rating
Isaac Brown is a very agile runner, able to make quick cuts and put on bursts of speed to avoid getting tackled. Brown rushed for 1,173 yards during his freshman year, and also caught 30 passes,becoming the first true freshman to ever break 1,000 yards at Louisville. Brown likely has a promising career ahead of him and he will be a player to watch going forward.
Brown has a 93 overall score, witha whopping 96 in both agility and change of direction. His superior agility is also represented by his platinum Shifty ability, gold 360, and silver Side Step. While you won’t be trucking anyone with Brown, you may not have to worry about even getting close to any defenders.
1Jeremiyah Love Of The Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Jeremiyah Love Has A 95 Overall Rating
Notre Dame’s Jeremiyah Love had a great season last year, rushing for at least one touchdown in every regular-season game. This includedan astounding 98-yard rushing touchdown against the Hoosiers. There are already talks that Love could be a first-round pick in next year’s NFL Draft.
Love has a 95 overall score, the only RB inCollege Football 26to earn such a high score. His platinum Shifty ability and silver Side Step give him some mobility for avoiding tackles and finding holes. Three gold mental abilities are also nothing to sneeze at, making Love one of the RBs with the most abilities in the game.
