Big Ten standings ordered by running back yardage: Iowa has a star in the RB room

The running back position is one of the most pivotal positions on an offense, as when the run game is hot, it is almost impossible for other teams to stop the ball. The Big Ten has its fair share of great running backs on every single team.

Teams that may not have the best offense are carrying the load like Iowa has Kaleb Johnson, who scored both touchdowns in their loss to Iowa State.

So instead of checking in on the Big Ten as a whole, let's see which Big Ten teams are leading the way in the run game.

18. UCLA Bruins

• 2024 rushing yards: 71
• Week 2 Power Ranking: 18

It should be taken into consideration that UCLA has only played one game this season with a bye in Week 2. So their small amount of rushing yards is to be expected, but Purdue has also only played one game this season, and they are not completely at the bottom of this list. The UCLA offense has some work to do as they struggled against Hawaii, maybe the run game could be something that could help improve it.

17. Minnesota Golden Gophers

• 2024 rushing yards: 195
• Week 2 Power Ranking: 14

Minnesota is a team in the Big Ten that a lot of people aren't really looking at as a contender, but could maybe still put together a solid season. Their run game is not their strong suit as in two games they have only put up 195 rushing yards.

16. Oregon Ducks

• 2024 rushing yards: 216
• Week 2 Power Ranking: 4

For such a high-powered offense, the Oregon Ducks rushing game is not their strong suit. Their strongest attack on offense is by far the passing game with quarterback Dillon Gabriel under center. Running back Jordan James takes the majority of the carries in the Oregon offense with 197 yards and one rushing touchdown so far in two weeks.

15. Michigan Wolverines

• 2024 rushing yards: 228
• Week 2 Power Ranking: 8

The Michigan offense is clearly struggling, especially after the game against No. 3 Texas when the Wolverines were unable to find the end zone at home. With so many questions around the quarterback play, it would make sense that the run game would be the best part of the offense. Donovan Edwards stepped into Blake Corum's position this season, but in two games has only run for 68 yards and has one receiving touchdown.

14. Purdue Boilermakers

• 2024 rushing yards: 248
• Week 2 Power Ranking: 15

Clearly, the run game is better than anyone thought at Purdue because, in one game, the Boilermakers ran for 248 yards and three touchdowns. The best thing about this rushing attack is that it is not just one back producing everything, while Devin Mockobee is the lead back with 89 rushing yards, there are so many players getting touches and producing.

13. Northwestern Wildcats

• 2024 rushing yards: 282
• Week 2 Power Ranking: 17

Running back Cam Porter is the best part of this rushing attack for Northwestern. the run game is probably the stronger part of the offense for the Wildcats with some poor quarterback play. Porter just might be the answer to trying to get this offense going.

12. Michigan State Spartans

• 2024 rushing yards: 309
• Week 2 Power Ranking: 11

A lot of people thought Nate Carter would be the star of this Michigan State running back room, however, in two games, Kay-Ron Lynch-Adams leads the team with 147 rushing yards, 40 more than Carter. This Michigan State team is one thought to finish middle of the road in the Big Ten, which would make sense, especially with a new coach.

11. USC Trojans

• 2024 rushing yards: 318
• Week 2 Power Ranking: 3

Like the Oregon Ducks, the run game is not the strong suit of this USC offense, and it is not normally the strong suit of a lot of Lincoln Riley's offenses. This offense has double the amount of passing yards as it does rushing yards, but that is not as bad as it may seem. Their run game is good enough to keep defenses guessing with Woody Marks leading the Trojans running back room with 171 yards.

10. Illinois Fighting Illini

• 2024 rushing yards: 323
• Week 2 Power Ranking: 7

Illinois just might be a team to watch in the Big Ten this season and it is with good reason. The best thing about this team, this offense to be exact, is that it is well-rounded, not just a passing offense or a rushing offense, but they can do it all. Kaden Feagin is the one running the backfield for Illinois and if they can keep running their offense efficiently, they could be a sleeper in the Big Ten.

9. Maryland Terrapins

• 2024 rushing yards: 334
• Week 2 Power Ranking: 16

Maryland's rushing attack is middle of the road as they have the ninth most rushing yards in the Big Ten. The Terrapins do have a balanced rushing attack with their highest rusher Roman Hemby with just 101 rushing yards.

8. Wisconsin Badgers

• 2024 rushing yards: 367
• Week 2 Power Ranking: 10

With uncertainty around the Wisconsin offense with a new quarterback in Tyler Van Dyke and a new running back taking over the starter position, the Badgers have impressed more than expected. As expected, Chez Mellusi is leading the backfield with 134 rushing yards and three touchdowns. Van Dyke has just over 400 passing yards so this is looking like a balanced offense.

7. Nebraska Cornhuskers

• 2024 rushing yards: 372
• Week 2 Power Ranking: 6

This Nebraska team is one that is surprising people after quite a few years of just struggling to find wins. A lot of it is thanks to quarterback play by freshman Dylan Raiola, but let's not forget the rushing game. Dante Dowdell is leading the way for Nebraska running backs with 129 rushing yards and three touchdowns.

6. Washington Huskies

• 2024 rushing yards: 389
• Week 2 Power Ranking: 5

There were a lot of questions revolving around Washington this season, they joined a new conference, they have a new head coach, and they lost a lot of weapons that got them to the National Championship last season. This season, Jonah Coleman has come out and made a name for himself in the run game with 231 yards and three touchdowns, and is averaging 8.6 yards per carry.

5. Ohio State Buckeyes

• 2024 rushing yards: 443
• Week 2 Power Ranking: 1

Every figured Ohio State would have a great rushing attack this season, the question was who was going to be the lead back. It is tight between Quinshon Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson with Judkins leading the two with 163 rushing yards and Henderson with 131 rushing yards. Both backs have a combined five touchdowns, and this just added to their already high-flying offense.

4. Iowa Hawkeyes

• 2024 rushing yards: 445
• Week 2 Power Ranking: 9

The run game is the best thing the Iowa offense has going for them at the moment. Running back Kaleb Johnson has truly made a name for himself in Iowa with 306 of the Hawkeyes 445 rushing yards. Johnson is also the only running back with a touchdown for the Hawkeyes with four on the season.

3. Penn State Nittany Lions

• 2024 rushing yards: 456
• Week 2 Power Ranking: 2

Like Ohio State, Penn State was expected to have a prolific run game with the backfield duo of Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen. Singleton is leading the group with 233 rushing yards and two touchdowns averaging 9.0 yards per carry. Having Allen though as a backup is still amazing as he has also produced 121 yards and 5.0 yards per carry.

2. Indiana Hoosiers

• 2024 rushing yards: 557
• Week 2 Power Ranking: 12

Indiana may not have the best passing game, but they definitely make up for it in the run game. The Hoosiers have three running backs with over 100 rushing yards and a combined seven touchdowns. Indiana has just one less rushing yard than they do passing yards and if that is any indication of how their offense is running, they are scary on the ground.

1. Rutgers Scarlet Knights

• 2024 rushing yards: 614
• Week 2 Power Ranking: 13

Rutgers is a sneaky team in the Big Ten and their run game is why. They have the most rushing yards in the Big Ten led by Kyle Monangai who has 373 rushing yards and four touchdowns on the season so far. Monangai also has the second most rushing yards in college football, which makes him one of the best in the country and to be feared by any defense.