Ohio State is basically a factory for elite ball carriers. If you’ve ever sat in the Horseshoe on a crisp Saturday in October, you’ve felt it. That specific, rhythmic roar when a tailback hits the B-gap and just... disappears into the secondary. It’s a tradition. People love to talk about "Wide Receiver U" lately because of guys like Marvin Harrison Jr. or Jeremiah Smith, but honestly? The soul of Columbus is built on the ground.
Think about it.
Running backs from Ohio State don't just play; they define eras. We’re talking about a lineage that stretches from the leather-helmet days of Chic Harley to the modern, explosive era of TreVeyon Henderson and the new crop of 2025 stars like Bo Jackson. But there is a lot of noise out there. People argue constantly about who the "GOAT" is, usually gravitating toward the names they grew up with. Is it the two-time Heisman winner? The guy who ran through Alabama in 2014? Or the guy who actually holds the single-season record?
The Archie Griffin Standard: More Than Just Two Trophies
Archie Griffin is the name. He’s the only player to ever win the Heisman Trophy twice, in 1974 and 1975. That’s a stat everyone knows, but it’s almost become a cliché. What people forget is the sheer consistency. Archie didn't just have a few "Heisman moments." He put up 31 consecutive games with at least 100 yards rushing.
That is absurd.
Today, if a back gets 100 yards three weeks in a row, he’s on every Heisman watch list in the country. Archie did it for nearly three straight years. He finished his career with 5,589 rushing yards, a number that still sits at the top of the Ohio State record books by a massive margin. Nobody has even come within 1,000 yards of him. J.K. Dobbins got the closest, and he was still 1,130 yards short.
Wait. Why is that?
Part of it is the modern game. Guys leave for the NFL after three years now. Archie stayed for four. If Ezekiel Elliott or Dobbins had stayed for a senior season, maybe they’d be breathing down Archie’s neck. But they didn't. So, the 5,589 remains the "untouchable" mountain.
Eddie George and the 1995 Masterclass
Then there’s Eddie. 1995 Eddie George was something different. He was 6'3", 230 pounds, and ran like he was trying to break the earth. He won the Heisman that year, and if you go back and watch the Notre Dame game from that season, you’ll see why.
He didn't just run; he punished people.
Eddie finished that 1995 season with 1,927 yards. At the time, it was a school record. He was the workhorse of all workhorses, carrying the ball 328 times that year. You just don't see that kind of volume anymore. It’s too much wear and tear. But for Eddie, it was just another Saturday. He eventually went on to a massive NFL career with the Titans, proving that the "Buckeye back" wasn't just a product of a college system.
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The 2014 Postseason: When Zeke Became Legend
If you want to talk about a specific "run," we have to talk about Ezekiel Elliott. Specifically, the three-game stretch that won the 2014 National Championship.
- Big Ten Championship (vs. Wisconsin): 220 yards, 2 TDs.
- Sugar Bowl (vs. Alabama): 230 yards, 2 TDs (including the 85-yarder through the heart of the South).
- National Title (vs. Oregon): 246 yards, 4 TDs.
That is 696 yards and 8 touchdowns in three games. Against the three best teams the Buckeyes faced all year.
Zeke was a "total" back. He was the best blocking running back most scouts had ever seen. He could catch. He could pass protect. He finished his three-year career with 3,961 yards, which currently puts him third on the all-time list. If he’d stayed one more year? He’d be second. Easily.
The Hidden Stats: Career Rushing Leaders
To keep it simple, here is how the top of the list actually looks right now:
- Archie Griffin: 5,589 yards (1972-1975)
- J.K. Dobbins: 4,459 yards (2017-2019)
- Ezekiel Elliott: 3,961 yards (2013-2015)
- Eddie George: 3,768 yards (1992-1995)
- Tim Spencer: 3,553 yards (1979-1982)
Most people forget about Tim Spencer. They shouldn't. He was a beast in the early 80s and is a huge part of why the lineage stayed strong between the Archie and Keith Byars eras.
The Maurice Clarett "What If"
You can’t talk about running backs from Ohio State without mentioning the one-year wonder. Maurice Clarett in 2002 was the most impactful freshman I’ve ever seen. He was the engine for a 14-0 national championship team.
He only played 11 games. He had a messed-up shoulder. He still put up 1,237 yards and 18 total touchdowns.
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The play everyone remembers isn't even a run. It’s the Fiesta Bowl against Miami, where he chased down Sean Taylor after an interception and literally ripped the ball out of his hands. It saved the game. It saved the season. Clarett’s career ended in a mess of lawsuits and NCAA drama, but on the field? He was a generational talent.
The New Guard: 2024 and Beyond
Fast forward to the present day. The 2024 season was a massive one for the Buckeyes, capped off by the dominance of TreVeyon Henderson. He stayed for his senior year, which is rare these days, and it paid off. Henderson finished his career with 4,614 total yards (rushing and receiving) and never fumbled. Not once.
Think about that. Over 600 touches and the ball never hit the turf.
Now, in 2025, we’re seeing the next wave. Bo Jackson—yes, that’s his real name—is already making noise as a freshman. Through early 2026 stats, he’s already notched a 1,000-yard season as a true freshman, averaging over 6 yards a carry. He’s joined by James Peoples and Isaiah West, making this one of the deepest rooms in the country.
Why the NFL Draft Loves Buckeyes
Scouts love these guys because they are usually "pro-ready." Since 2000, Ohio State has produced more NFL draft picks than almost anyone. Just look at the first-rounders:
- Ezekiel Elliott: 4th overall (Cowboys)
- Beanie Wells: 31st overall (Cardinals)
- Eddie George: 14th overall (Oilers/Titans)
- Archie Griffin: 24th overall (Bengals)
Even the guys who aren't first-rounders, like Carlos Hyde or J.K. Dobbins, tend to start immediately. Why? Because at Ohio State, you have to block. If you can't block, you don't play. NFL coaches love that. They don't have to teach a Buckeye how to pick up a blitzing linebacker. They already know how to do it.
The Verdict: Who is the Best?
It’s Archie. It’s always Archie.
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You can make an argument for Zeke because of the 2014 run, or Eddie because of his physical dominance, but two Heismans is two Heismans. It will likely never happen again. The transfer portal and the NFL draft lure players away too quickly for anyone to stay long enough to replicate what Archie did.
However, if you’re looking for the most talented pure runner, J.K. Dobbins has a real claim. He’s the only player in school history to hit 2,000 yards in a single season (2,003 in 2019). He did it in an era where the spread offense meant he didn't always have a lead fullback clearing the way.
Actionable Takeaways for Fans
If you're following the current crop of Buckeyes or looking to win an argument at a tailgate, keep these points in mind:
- Watch the 2025 Roster: Bo Jackson is the real deal. He’s already mirroring the freshman impact of guys like Clarett and Dobbins. Keep an eye on his "yards after contact" stats—that's the true measure of a Buckeye back.
- Context Matters: When comparing eras, remember that Archie Griffin played in a 10 or 11-game regular season. Zeke and Dobbins played in 14 or 15. Total yardage isn't always apples-to-apples.
- The "All-Purpose" Factor: Guys like Keith Byars and TreVeyon Henderson were elite receivers. If a back has 400+ receiving yards in a season at OSU, he’s a different level of threat than the old-school "three yards and a cloud of dust" runners.
The tradition isn't slowing down. Whether it’s 1975 or 2025, the path to a Big Ten title still goes through the backfield in Columbus.