What Is the NCAA Single-Season Record For Rushing Yards?

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Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty (2) hurdles Washington State defensive back Ethan O'Connor (24) on a run in the second quarter of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in Boise, Idaho.
(AP Photo/Steve Conner)
Chase Kiddy @chaseakiddy Oct 08, 2024, 3:37 PM

Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty is lighting the 2024 college football season on fire. The junior workhorse is putting up numbers that have rarely, if ever, been seen in the history of modern college football.ย 

For his obvious talent and achievement, Jeanty has drawn national attention and acclaim. At the time of this writing, heโ€™s even become one of the main names in the Heisman Trophy odds conversation.ย 

But as the season wears on, college football fans are wondering about an even bigger target. Could Jeanty actually break the NCAA single-season rushing record?

NCAA Single-Season Rushing Yards Record

In 1988, Barry Sanders set the single-season NCAA rushing record with 2,628 yards.ย 

Ashton Jeanty Rushing Record

Ashton Jeanty needs to average about 178 rushing yards per game for the remainder of the season to break Sandersโ€™ single-season rushing record.

That stat assumes a couple of things. The first is that Jeanty never gets hurt and continues to play.ย 

The second is that Boise State plays in the Mountain West championship game and exactly one postseason game โ€“ regardless of whether itโ€™s the CFP or a regular bowl game.

Most Rushing Yards In A College Football Season

RankName (School)YardsSeason
1Barry Sanders (Oklahoma State)2,6281988
2Melvin Gordon (Wisconsin)2,5872014
3Kevin Smith (UCF)2,5672007
4Marcus Allen (USC)2,3421981
5Rashaad Penny (San Diego State)2,2482017
6Derrick Henry (Alabama)2,2192015
7Jonathan Taylor (Wisconsin)2,1942018
8Troy Davis (Iowa State)2,1851996
9Andre Williams (Boston College)2,1772013
10LaDainian Tomlinson (TCU)2,1582000
11Mike Rozier (Nebraska)2,1481983
12Donnel Pumphrey (San Diego State)2,1332016
13Matt Forte (Tulane)2,1272007
14Ricky Williams (Texas)2,1241998
15Bryce Love (Stanford)2,1182017
16Chuba Hubbard (Oklahoma State)2,0942019
17Larry Johnson (Penn State)2,0872002
18Donald Brown (UConn)2,0832008
19Rashaan Salaam (Colorado)2,0551994
20Tevin Coleman (Indiana)2,0362014
21D'Onta Foreman (Texas)2,0282016
22Christian McCaffrey2,0192015
23JJ Arrington (Cal)2,0182004
24Malcolm Perry (Navy)2,0172019
25Ray Rice (Rutgers)2,0122007

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About the Author

Chase Kiddy

Read More @chaseakiddy

Chase Kiddy is a writer for BetMGM and co-host of The Lion's Edge, an NFL and college football podcast available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and everywhere else. He has also written for a number of print and online outlets, including the Richmond Times-Dispatch, Washington Post, Daily News-Record, and HERO Sports. His first novel, Cave Paintings, is in development.

Chase Kiddy is a writer for BetMGM and co-host of The Lion's Edge, an NFL and college football podcast available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and everywhere else. He has also written for a number of print and online outlets, including the Richmond Times-Dispatch, Washington Post, Daily News-Record, and HERO Sports. His first novel, Cave Paintings, is in development.