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College

This list of the best college football coaches of all time is full of big names and legendary coaching empires. Ever wondered who was is the greatest college football coach of all time? Now is your opportunity to have a say in the matter. Granted, picking who this should be won't be easy, as you have to consider different eras of NCAA football along with a number of other factors, like bowl game wins, national titles, who was on their team, and who got the most bang for their buck out of their players. But it's on you to pick whatever criteria you want in determining who is the best college football coach ever. As long as they coached college play at some point, they can be listed here, but be sure to vote based on each coach's storied college career only.There are some pretty big names on this list, titans of the coaching world. If you're an Alabama fan, you'll have a tough time picking between Bear Bryant and Nick Saban. The same goes for any Notre Dame fan and for USC supporters, who do you think is a better coach: John McKay or Pete Carroll? Who's the best of these famous college football coaches?It shouldn't be easy for you to decide who the greatest college football coaches are. There are simply too many all time greats. Just remember though, where would each coaches' team be without them steering the ship and keeping the players in line? Not an easy question to answer.So who is the best college football coach of all time? It's up to you to decide. If you notice someone isn't on this list and should be, feel free to add him. This is the crowdranked list of what coach deserves to called the greatest ever, so choose wisely!

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Ohio Stadium

The best college football stadiums are those football fields on college campuses that are the most loved by fans of the home team and most feared by rival fans. Hosting in excess of 100,000 fans per game each Saturday in the fall, these are the biggest, most popular and absolute best stadiums college football has to offer.It's hard not to name the <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/largest-college-football-stadiums-in-the-united-states/world-stadiums?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">biggest stadium in America</a>, and the third-largest in the world, as among the elite. Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Michigan, home to the winningest team in college football history, the Michigan Wolverines, remains the gold standard for college football stadiums. Following in terms of biggest capacity, Beaver Stadium, where the Penn State Nittany Lions call home, and Neyland Stadium, home field of the Tennessee Volunteers follow with each hosting over 102,000-plus when at full capacity. But there are plenty of other absolutely fabulous stadiums across the country for college football fans. Bryant-Denny Stadium, home of the Alabama Crimson Tide, Tiger Stadium, where the LSU Tigers compete, Kyle Field, home to the Texas A&amp;M Aggies and Notre Dame Stadium, the mothership of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish are all favorites for fans of the home team and numerous others around the country and world.So, whether you prefer the world record crowds packing The Big House or the history and charm of the Rose Bowl, if you're a true college football fan, you owe it to yourself to experience a game in these best college football stadiums. Vote for your favorites below then go vote for the <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/best-nfl-stadiums/sportsyeah" target="_blank">best NFL stadiums</a> and <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/best-college-basketball-arenas/sportsyeah" target="_blank">best college basketball arenas</a> too!

Quarterbacks

Andrew Luck

Who is the best college quarterback ever? Who are the greatest college quarterbacks of all time?There have been many great college quarterbacks in the past and surely there are many more great QBs to come, so answering those questions is sure to prove difficult. But list is all about trying to decide just who is the greatest college quarterback of all time? These are the greatest college QBs, ranked by user votes.Take a look at this list of the all time greatest college football quarterbacks in history and see if you agree with who made the cut. Featuring some young guns like Tim Tebow and old staples like Peyton Manning, this list truly meant to represent all time. Not just recent memory. If you see someone missing, feel free to add them! This is one impressive group of college qbs. Make sure to vote up who you think is the top college football quarterback of all time!

Les Miles

The best college football coaches are not just the best <a href="http://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/best-college-football-coaches-of-all-time?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">NCAA Football coaches</a> going into the 2017-2018&nbsp;college football season, but also some of the <a href="/list/best-college-football-coaches-of-all-time-/johnwarner" target="_blank">best college football coaches of all time</a>. These talented football coaches are all looking to lead their team to greatness in the upcoming season and the chances that one will hoist the championship trophy is highly likely.With three national championships with the Alabama Crimson Tide since 2009, it's hard to make a case that anyone other than Nick Saban is the best current college football coach. Thought he could also be considered one of the <a href="/list/worst-nfl-coaches-of-all-time/arthur-roderick" target="_blank">worst NFL coaches of all time</a>, his success coaching in the college ranks simply cannot be rivaled.That said, there are dozens of other coaches looking to unthrone Saban as the top current NCAA Football coach. Bill Snyder of Kansas State, Brian Kelly of Notre Dame, Steve Spurrier of South Carolina and even Urban Meyer of Ohio State are all in the hunt and the chances that one of their teams will meet the Crimson Tide in the BCS National Championship Game are pretty good.How you select the best college football coaches of today can come from a variety of factors be it win-loss record, a big victory over your most-hated rival or just being the main man leading your favorite team down the field. However you rank them, do so below by voting, re-ranking this list or adding any not already listed to determine the absolute best current college football coaches.

College Sports

Jerry Rice

American College football, like all football originated as rugby in England and Canada, eventually rugby came stateside, then eventually became the game we know and love today. Years later the NCAA was formed to regulate college teams. The wide receivers on this list were the best of the best in NCAA football during their college careers.The NCAA allows students from American universities, colleges, Canadian universities, or military academies to play. American college football has seen a surge in popularity in recent years, but it was actually through college football that the American football rules gained popularity in the first place.The wide receivers are key players in almost all passing plays. Their prime directive is to catch passes from the quarterback and as such they are usually the fastest, most agile players in the game.Below, we commemorate the greatest college wide receivers of ALL TIME! If you see a name missing feel free to add it and vote up your favorite wide receivers who had truly incredible college careers.

Coaches

John L. Smith

The worst college football coaches of all time are those select few men who were given the chance to coach a major NCAA Football team and failed miserably. These bad college football coaches may have seen some success at one point in their coaching careers but also gave the world some of the worst college football coaching performances in history. Though it was not for anything he did on the field, an argument could be made that Jerry Sandusky, a former assistant coach for the Penn State Nittany Lions, is perhaps the worst person to ever join the college football coaching ranks following his child sex abuse scandal that rocked the world of college football in 2012. As far as on the field reasons, there are plenty of college football coaches who earned spots on this list for their poor performance. No one will forget how Rich Rodriguez brought college football's winningest program, the Michigan Wolverines, to its knees during his brief period as head coach from 2008 to 2010 or the disappointment that Charlie Weis brought to the acclaimed Notre Dame Fighting Irish during his five-year coaching experiment from 2005 to 2009. Going even deeper into the record books, we can also include those who tallied the worst win-loss records as <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/best-college-football-coaches-of-all-time?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">NCAA Football coaches</a> ever. Rick Venturi is a great example of that when he won only one game over three seasons when he coached the Northwestern Wildcats in the late 1970s. So for however you choose to select the worst college football coaches ever, be it the disappointment they brought to your program or the complete shame they brought to the sport by their off-field actions, there is no shortage of names that can be added to this list of worst college football coaches. Want more coaching fails? Check out the <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/worst-nfl-coaches-of-all-time/arthur-roderick" target="_blank">worst NFL coaches of all time</a> too!

College Football

O. J. Simpson

A list of the best Heisman Trophy winners of all time. Since 1935, the Heisman Trophy has been handed out to the outstanding college football player whose performance best exhibits the pursuit of excellence with integrity. Some of the greatest players in college football history have won this award. The Heisman Trophy is one of the most coveted awards in all of American sports. Of the tens of thousands of players who compete on Saturdays, many of them want to win this award. Notre Dame and Ohio State are currently the schools with the most Heisman winners with 7 each. USC is second with 6, though they had 7 prior to Reggie Bush vacating the 2005 Heisman Trophy due to a controversial ruling by the NCAA. Schools, students and alumni take a lot of pride when one of their players winning the Heisman.The list of collegiate superstars who have won the Heisman is impressive. Pro Football Hall of Fame running backs like Oklahoma State's Barry Sanders, USC's Marcus Allen and Texas's Earl Campbell were all recipients of the Heisman Trophy. Ohio State's Archie Griffin is the only two-time Heisman winner. More recently, quarterbacks like Auburn's Cam Newton, Baylor's Robert Griffin III and Texas A&amp;M's Johnny Manziel have won the award.&nbsp;&nbsp;College football is one of the <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/most-popular-american-sports?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">most popular sports in America</a>. Second to winning a national championship, nothing riles up a school's fan base like having a player in contention to win the Heisman Trophy. This is the list of all of the Heisman Trophy winners of all time. Vote or rerank this list based on who you think is the greatest Heisman Trophy winner ever.&nbsp;

A list of the largest college football stadiums in the United States, with photos! College Football is one of the <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/most-popular-american-sports?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">most popular sports</a> in the US, and the sports venues are often as famous as the teams themselves. Also, bowl games are huge annual spectacles in America. TV ratings soar as the US watches their favorite football teams take to the gridiron of their athletic fields. Since Americans like things big, this list ranks the largest capacity college football stadiums we have in the USA. Enjoy!What are the largest football stadiums in the United States? Most of them are in the South, where football schools like Alabama, Auburn, LSU, Tennesee and Florida are located. But th University of Michigan, Penn State, USC and UCLA's stadiums aren't slouches either. All of these stadiums at, around or above 100,00 people on gameday. No matter how you cut it, that's an impressive achievement.&nbsp;

The biggest college bowl game upsets include dozens of college football games that defied all expert predictions and shocked the country. One fine NCAA Football team went in with every expectation of bringing home a victory but they either failed or were simply overpowered by their opponent and went home upset. These games might not have played out how everyone expected, but more often than not it made these games even more exciting. Even before NCAA Division I football started using the Bowl Championship Series, at the end of each season teams play in bowl games rather than participate in a standard playoff system. To become eligible, teams must win at least half of their games but even after that requirement is met, the bowl game match-ups are still up to the sponsors. Normally, this creates games with well-matched opponents but sometimes, especially in these cases, one team enters as a clear favorite. In case you haven't already guessed, sometimes that favorite crashes and burns.That was the case for all of these bowl game upsets but just like some bowl games are more meaningful than others, some of these upsets are more memorable as well. Take the 2007 BCS <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/college-football-playoff-predictions/pedro-cerrano?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">National Championship Game</a> for example. The top-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes entered with a win streak of 19 games and were the clear-cut favorite against the Florida Gators. Head coach Urban Meyer and Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Tim Tebow never got that memo as they ran right over the Buckeyes 41-14 to win the National Championship.Other games have not come with national championship consequences but that didn't make the upset any easier to deal with for the losing players. Close games, such as those who go into overtime, are especially tough for the upset players, such as the 2000 Sugar Bowl between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Michigan Wolverines. Then-Michigan quarterback Tom Brady led the Wolverines back from two 14-point deficits to force overtime but it was a missed field goal from the Alabama kicker in the extra session that cost the Crimson Tide the game.Whether teams are heavily favored to win a college bowl game and lose or dominate the entire contest only to fall from one bad play, these college bowl game upsets will be remembered as the best of the best.

Mohamed Sanu

The most underrated college football players are the unsung heroes that help their NCAA Football teams achieve great things but do so without the mainstream attention paid to other players. <a href="http://bleacherreport.com/articles/906731-the-30-hottest-college-athletes" rel="nofollow">(click here for the hottest college female athletes.)</a> You won't see these guys on the short lists for the Heisman Trophy or among the names on the lists of the <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/best-college-football-players-2011/sportsyeah" target="_blank">best college football players</a> but it's certainly not because they are not deserving. These college football players are some of the brightest and most talented in the sport but for one reason or another don't get the same glitz and glamor of others. Some play for lesser known teams, such as Northern Illinois Huskies quarterback Chandler Harnish, who threw for 8,670 yards for 66 touchdowns in his first three years, or Stedman Bailey, a senior wide receiver for the West Virginia Mountaineers who leads the team with an average of 17.9 yards per catch.Others are simply a great among greats and are overshadowed by stronger players on their team or division. <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-washington-huskies-quarterbacks/ranker-college-football?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">Washington Huskies quarterback</a> Keith Price falls into that category. As of October, Price ranked second in the country with 21 touchdown passes but with other amazing players such as 2011 Heisman Trophy winner Robert Griffin III, Kellen Moore and Andrew Luck, Price's name is rarely mentioned.Each of these players are talented and help their respective college football team even without the media praise that other players receive. They don't play their hearts out for the attention, they play it because they love the game and want to succeed. That makes them not only the most underrated college football players in the game today but it also makes them local heroes that give the fans of their teams something to cheer about. That self sacrifice with little reward is pretty darn respectable.

Football

Sam Bradford

These the very best 2000s college quarterbacks ranked by user votes. Of course, many of these college qb's from the 2000s are very well known and went on to great pro careers in the NFL, but some other 2000's collegiate quarterbacks on this list might have slipped from your memory as their heyday was at the college level. So, who is the <a href="http://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-top-dream-colleges?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">best college</a> quarterback of the 2000s? Vote up your favorite!From Tim Tebow to Vince Young. Matt Leinart to Colt McCoy, there are a bunch of outstanding college quarterbacks on this list to choose from. So, vote wisely! Pretty much anyone on this list could be considered the greatest 2000s college quarterback.Take a look at this list of the <a href="http://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-best-quarterbacks-of-all-time?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">best quarterbacks</a> from the 2000s and see if your favorite player landed on top. NCAA Football is a sport frequently ruled by the quarterback position. You can vote up the players you love, or vote down the players you dislike and hopefully we can finally agree on which one is the greatest 2000s college quarterback.

Mark Ingram, Jr.

The worst <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/heisman-trophy-winners/reference?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">Heisman Trophy winners</a>&nbsp;certainly excelled in the college game but failed at the next level. The biggest Heisman disappointments hail from some of the most storied programs in <a href="http://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/top-college-football-quarterbacks-2012?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">college football</a>, and while many Heisman Trophy winners had great NFL careers (players like Barry Sanders, Marcus Allen and Tony Dorsett), others&nbsp;peaked in college and were just never the same. The biggest Heisman busts were of course high draft picks but quite obviously failed to live up to expectations. Heisman busts like Matt Leinart and Andre Ware could fall into the category of enormously disappointing QBs. Other Heisman Trophy failures in the NFL were <a href="http://www.ranker.com/tags/Running-Backs?ref=internalCrossLinking_tag">running backs</a> (like Rashaan Salaam and Archie Griffin) that never matched their college success at the pro level. There have been many Heisman Trophy busts over the year but which one do you think is the biggest? Vote now for the&nbsp;most disappointing&nbsp;Heisman Trophy winner!

Mike Ditka

American college football, like all football originated as rugby in England and Canada. Eventually rugby came stateside, and then became the game we know and love today. Years later the NCAA was formed to regulate college teams. The tight ends on this list were the best of the best during their college careers.The NCAA allows students from American universities, colleges, Canadian universities, or military academies to play. American college football has seen a surge in popularity in recent years, but it was actually through college football that the American football rules gained popularity in the first place.The tight end is an offensive position somewhere between an offensive lineman and a wide receiver. They are responsible for receiving, blocking and sometimes rushing. Below we commemorate the greatest college tight ends of ALL TIME! If you see a name missing feel free to add it and vote up your favorite tight ends, based on their incredible college careers.

Fajita

List of the best tailgate foods. In the <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/tags/united-states?ref=internalCrossLinking_tag">United States</a>, there is a tradition celebrated all over the country at football games and other sporting events. Fans cook food and drink beer out of the back of their vehicle in the parking lot of the sporting event stadium, while celebrating their love for their team before or after the game. Sometimes tailgate parties are even held during concerts. Food is a pivotal part of these events. Since many of these tailgate parties have grills, favorites like hamburgers, hot dogs, and ribs are often featured. Usually the food is simple to make with very little ingredients. After all, the purpose is to have fun not to spend all afternoon cooking.Mostly tailgate parties include classic American cuisine from chicken wings with barbeque sauce to baked potatoes. Sometimes other worldly favorites are also introduced such as empanadas and guacamole. Appetizers like stuffed mushrooms, seven layered dip, and potato salad are also included, as well as simple desserts like brownies and cookies.What is the best tailgate food? As long as the food is American cuisine, simple to make, easy to transport, and no-hassle to get rid of, you may likely find it at a tailgate party. If you know of any essential tailgate snacks that aren't on the list of must have tailgating foods, make sure to add them.

Chad Pennington

These are the best 90s College quarterbacks, ranked by user votes. This list of the top 90s college football quarterbacks probably won't surprise very many of you, especially the hardcore college football fans among you, but there was so much talent at the quarterback position in the 90s voting for a favorite might prove difficult. But, who is the greatest college QB of the 90s on this list stacked top to bottom phenomenal QB's?&nbsp;Vote up your favorites!College football in the 90s had some of the greatest passers to ever play the game. From Peyton Manning to Charlie Ward and beyond. The best 1990s quarterbacks certainly faced some stiff competition on their way to the record books.Take a look at this list of the greatest college football QBs from the 1990s and vote up your favorites! Who do you think is the best 90s college quarterback?

Ricky Williams

These are the best 90s college running backs according to user votes. There truly were some great college RBs in the 90s, but these are the best of the best. The top college running backs of the 1990s. Some of these guys are household names. Others saw their careers blossom in the 90s and burnout quickly... but they were great all the same. Who are the greatest college running backs of the 90s? Vote up your favorites now!From Eddie George to Ricky Williams, this list isn't wanting for talent. The 90s were a great era for the running game in college football.So, who do you think was the absolute best running back of the decade out of this list of the top 90s college RBs? Vote up your favorite now and add any that you think are missing.&nbsp;

Marc Wilson

It goes without saying that the greatest 70s college QBs won national championships, Heisman Trophies and went on to tremendous success in the NFL. The top college quarterbacks of the 1970s also transcended the college game. Players like Joe Montana started to become&nbsp;legends in college.&nbsp;Some of the greatest 70s <a href="http://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/top-college-football-quarterbacks-2012?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">college football</a> quarterbacks played at the beginning of the decade. Guys like Jim Plunkett, Joe Theismann and Archie Manning fall into this category. Many of the best college QBs of the 70s played for traditional powerhouses like Notre Dame and USC. Others played at schools like Stanford and Ole Miss but were still considered to be among the greatest college football quarterbacks of the 1970s. The best 70s college football quarterbacks are an impressive group. Vote for your favorites now!

George Rogers

It is arguable that the top 70s&nbsp;college running backs are some of the&nbsp;most legendary players in the history of the game. The greatest college running backs of the 1970s were a truly historic group when you think about it.&nbsp;Ohio State's Archie Griffin is still the only player to win two Heisman Trophies, making him one of the <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-boston-college-eagles-running-backs/ranker-college-football?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">best college running backs</a> of the&nbsp;70s. Other <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-best-nfl-running-backs-of-all-time?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">top running backs</a> of the 70s include guys like Billy Sims and Charles White.&nbsp;A pair of other top college running backs from the 1970s include fellow Heisman Trophy winners Tony Dorsett and Earl Campbell, who are both enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. But the list of top college running backs of the 70s includes players that didn't win the Heisman. Tailbacks like Ed Marinaro and Greg Pruitt fall into this category. Some of the top college&nbsp;running backs of the 70s went on to star in the NFL. This group includes Freeman McNeil and Joe Cribbs.&nbsp;The best college running backs of the 1970s played for a variety of schools too. Some of the greatest college RBs of the 70s came from traditional powers like Ohio State and USC while others came from Ivy League programs like Cornell. The best 70s college football running backs are an impressive group. Vote for your favorites now!

Clinton Portis

Collegiate running backs are a dime a dozen but some have truly proven themselves as truly great. Many teams put a lot of trust into their RBs to deliver strong ground games that can take the pressure off the rest of the team. When it comes to the best in college football can you name the top players of the 2000s?From Larry Johnson to Steve Slaton. Ronnie Brown to Marion Barber. There are plenty of great college running backs to pick from.Let's specifically look at one of the greatest decades in college football. Examine this list of the best 2000s college football running backs and see who you think is the very best, and don't forget to vote up your favorite! Who are the <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-boston-college-eagles-running-backs/ranker-college-football?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">top college running backs</a> of the 2000s? You certainly have your work cut out for you to pick the best with all of these great options.

Greg McElroy

These are the best 2010s college quarterbacks, ranked by user votes. This list of the top 2010s college football quarterbacks probably won't surprise very many of you, especially the hardcore college football fans among you, but there was so much talent at the quarterback position in the 2010s voting for a favorite might prove difficult. But, who is the greatest college QB of the 2010s? This list is stacked top to bottom phenomenal QB's! Be sure to vote up your favorites!College football in the 2010s had a lot of great young talent that went on to be formidable pros. From Andrew Luck to Colin Kaepernick and beyond. The best 2010s quarterbacks certainly faced some stiff competition on their way to the record books. Take a look at this list of the greatest college football QBs from the 2010s and vote up your favorites! Who do you think is the best 2010s college quarterback?

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Earl Campbell

Earl Christian Campbell (born March 29, 1955) is a former American football running back who played professionally in the National Football League (NFL) for the Houston Oilers and New Orleans Saints. Known for his aggressive, punishing running style and ability to break tackles, Campbell gained recognition as one of the best power running backs in NFL history.
He played college football for the University of Texas, where he won the Heisman Trophy and earned unanimous All-America honors in his senior season, as well as numerous other accolades. He was drafted first overall by the Oilers in 1978 and had an immediate impact in the league, earning NFL Rookie of the Year honors. Earl Campbell was named the NFL's Offensive Player of the Year in each of his first three seasons, during which he averaged nearly 1,700 rushing yards per season. He won the AP NFL Most Valuable Player Award in 1979 after leading the league in rushing yards and touchdowns.
With head coach Bum Phillips, Campbell's emergence in Houston coincided with the Luv Ya Blue era, a period of sustained success in which the Oilers made three straight playoff appearances. Campbell became the centerpiece of Houston's offense during the late 1970s and early 1980s. He was traded to the Saints six games into the 1984 season, where he spent his final season and a half before retiring. Campbell was inducted into both the College Football Hall of Fame (1990) and Pro Football Hall of Fame (1991).  His jersey number is retired by the University of Texas and the Tennessee Titans.

Tony Dorsett

Anthony Drew "Tony" Dorsett (born April 7, 1954) is a former American football running back who played professionally in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys and Denver Broncos.
From Western Pennsylvania, Dorsett attended the nearby University of Pittsburgh, where he led the Panthers to the national title as a senior in 1976 and won the Heisman Trophy. He was the first-round draft choice of the Cowboys in 1977, the second overall selection (from Seattle). Dorsett was the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year and played for the team for eleven seasons, through 1987. He played for Denver the following year, then retired because of injuries. He is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame (1994) and the College Football Hall of Fame (1994).

Billy Sims

Billy Ray Sims (born September 18, 1955) is a former American college and professional football player who was a running back in the National Football League (NFL) for five seasons during the 1980s.  Sims played college football for the University of Oklahoma, where he was a two-time consensus All-American, and won the Heisman Trophy in 1978.  He was the first overall pick in the 1980 NFL Draft, and played professionally for the NFL's Detroit Lions. Sims was the last Oklahoma player taken Number 1 overall in the NFL Draft until quarterback Sam Bradford was taken first in the 2010 NFL Draft. He was given the nickname "Kung Fu Billy Sims" by ESPN's Chris Berman, after a game where the Detroit Lions played the Houston Oilers. In the NFL Films highlight, rather than be tackled during a rushing attempt, Sims ran at, jumped, and, while fully airborne, kicked Oilers Cornerback Steve Brown in the head.

Archie Griffin

Archie Mason Griffin (born August 21, 1954) is a former American football running back. Griffin played seven seasons in the NFL with the Cincinnati Bengals. He is college football's only two-time Heisman Trophy winner. Griffin won four Big Ten Conference titles with the Ohio State Buckeyes and was the first player ever to start in four Rose Bowls.

Herschel Walker

Herschel Walker (born March 3, 1962) is an American former professional football player, bobsledder, sprinter, and mixed martial artist. He played college football for the University of Georgia, earned consensus All-American honors three times and won the 1982 Heisman Trophy. Walker began his professional football career with the New Jersey Generals of the United States Football League (USFL), before joining the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL). In the NFL, he also played for the Minnesota Vikings, Philadelphia Eagles, and New York Giants. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1999.

Edward Miller

Joe Washington

Joe Dan Washington, Jr (born September 24, 1953) is a former American football running back in the National Football League (NFL) for the San Diego Chargers, Baltimore Colts, Washington Redskins, and Atlanta Falcons.

slaft

George Washington Rogers (born December 8, 1958) is a former American college and professional football player who was a running back in the National Football League (NFL) for seven seasons during the 1980s.  Rogers played college football for the University of South Carolina, earned All-America honors, and won the 1980 Heisman Trophy.  He was the first overall pick in the 1981 NFL Draft, and he played professionally for the New Orleans Saints and Washington Redskins of the NFL.  As a professional, Rogers rushed for over 7,000 yards.

Chuck Muncie

Harry Vance "Chuck" Muncie (March 17, 1953 − May 13, 2013) was an American football running back who played for the New Orleans Saints and San Diego Chargers in the National Football League (NFL) from 1976 to 1984. He was selected to the Pro Bowl three times, and tied the then-NFL season record for rushing touchdowns in 1981.
Muncie played college football for the California Golden Bears, setting numerous school records.  In his senior year, he was the runner-up for the Heisman Trophy, given annually to the most outstanding college football player. Muncie was drafted by New Orleans in the first round in the 1976 NFL Draft with the third overall pick. He became the first member of the Saints to be named to a Pro Bowl, and he was their first player to rush for 1,000 yards. He was traded to San Diego in 1980, starring in their high-scoring offense known as Air Coryell while being named to two additional Pro Bowls.
Muncie was considered one of the best running backs of his era until cocaine problems forced him into retirement. His drug problems eventually landed him in prison.  Afterwards, he turned his life around by helping others through mentoring programs. He founded the Chuck Muncie Youth Foundation.

John Cappelletti

John Cappelletti (born August 9, 1952) is a former American football running back.  He played professionally in the National Football League (NFL) with the Los Angeles Rams and the San Diego Chargers.
Prior to his professional career, he attended Penn State, where he won the Heisman Trophy in 1973. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1993. Penn State football coach Joe Paterno said that Cappelletti was "the best football player I ever coached." Cappelletti's relationship with his younger brother Joey, who was stricken with leukemia, was chronicled into a book and made-for-TV movie.

Ed Marinaro

Ed Marinaro (born March 31, 1950) is a former American football player and actor. In 1971, he finished as a runner-up to Pat Sullivan for the Heisman Trophy, and from 2010–2011 starred in the football comedy series, Blue Mountain State. He is also known as a regular cast member on Hill Street Blues, playing Officer Joe Coffey for five seasons (1981–1986).

Charles White

Charles Raymond White (born January 22, 1958) is a former professional American football player who was a running back in the National Football League (NFL) for nine seasons during the 1980s.
He played college football for the University of Southern California, where he was an All-American and the winner of the Heisman Trophy. A first-round pick (27th overall) in the 1980 NFL Draft, he played professionally for the Cleveland Browns and the Los Angeles Rams of the NFL.

Johnny Rodgers

Johnny Steven Rodgers (born July 5, 1951) is an American former gridiron football player.  He played college football at the  University of Nebraska–Lincoln, where he won the Heisman Trophy in 1972.  Rodgers played professionally in the Canadian Football League (CFL) with the Montreal Alouettes and in the National Football League (NFL) with the San Diego Chargers.  He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2000.

Ricky Bell

Ricky Lynn Bell (April 8, 1955 – November 28, 1984) was an American professional football player who was a running back for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and San Diego Chargers of the National Football League. Bell was a star in college for the University of Southern California, gaining 1,875 yards rushing in his junior season. The #1 Overall Selection in the 1977 NFL Draft, Bell was inducted posthumously into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2004.

Greg Pruitt

Gregory Donald "Greg" Pruitt (born August 18, 1951) is a former American football running back in the NFL from 1973 through 1984. He was selected to five Pro Bowls, four as a member of the Cleveland Browns and one as a member of the Los Angeles Raiders, the last one as a kick returner. He was also part of the Raiders' Super Bowl XVIII winning team, beating the Washington Redskins.
University of Oklahoma American football line coach Bill Michael liked to recruit players from B.C. Elmore High School, where he recruited Pruitt. Pruitt was an All-American at the University of Oklahoma in 1971 and 1972, Greg was All-Big 8 as well in '71 and '72. He ranks third among Sooners in career all-purpose yards. Pruitt gained 3,122 rushing yards, 491 receiving yards, 139 yards on punt returns and 679 yards returning kickoffs. Pruitt scored 41 career touchdowns as a Sooner. He came in second in Heisman Trophy voting in 1972, and third in 1971.In 1999, he was inducted to the College Football Hall of Fame.
The Greg Pruitt rule established tear-away jerseys as illegal. Pruitt purposely wore flimsy jerseys that ripped apart in the hands of would-be tacklers.
In 1979, Pruitt won ABC's Superstars, an all-around sports competition that pits elite athletes from different sports against one another in a series of athletic events resembling a decathlon.

Dave Preston

Dave or David Preston may refer to:

Dave Preston (American football) (born 1955), American football player
Dave Preston (motorcycling) (born 1947), author
Dave Preston (producer), record producer with Phil K
David L. Preston, American historian

Joe Cribbs

Joe Stanier Cribbs (born January 5, 1958) is a retired National Football League and United States Football League football running back.  He played collegiately at Auburn University along with future NFL backs William Andrews and James Brooks. He began his professional career in 1980 with the Buffalo Bills.
After being drafted in the second round of the 1980 NFL Draft, Cribbs went on to start all 16 games of his rookie year with Buffalo, finishing with 1185 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns.  His performance earned him consensus UPI AFC Rookie of the Year honors and a spot in the Pro Bowl, the only rookie chosen as a starter that year. In five seasons with the team, split around a detour with the USFL, Cribbs had 13 100-yard games and ran for 1,000 yards in a season three times.
In the spring of 1984, Cribbs left the Bills in a contract dispute and signed on as a member of the Birmingham Stallions of the United States Football League (USFL).
Cribbs was to serve as the president of Team Alabama of the AAFL, which suspended operations shortly before it was slated to play its first games. Almost immediately, Cribbs was named commissioner of the United National Gridiron League, which likewise failed ever to play a game).

Freeman McNeil

Freeman McNeil (born April 22, 1959) is a former professional American football player who was selected by the New York Jets in the first round as the third overall pick of the 1981 NFL Draft.
After leading Banning High School to the Los Angeles City football title, the 5'11", 214 lbs. running back attended the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where he was a two-time all-Pacific-10 Conference selection. In his final game, he caught a deflected pass from quarterback Jay Schroeder that was tipped by USC defensive back Jeff Fisher and went 57 yards for the winning touchdown with two minutes left in the Bruins' 20–17 win.
McNeil played in 12 NFL seasons for the Jets from 1981 to 1992. During the mid to late 1980s he was a member of the Jets' "Two Headed Monster" backfield along with teammate Johnny Hector, a tandem that ranked among the league's elite.  When he retired he was the Jets all-time leading rusher with 8,074 yards; he was surpassed by Curtis Martin and currently ranks second in Jets team history. In 1982, McNeil led the NFL in rushing with 786 yards. He was the first Jet to the lead the league in rushing.  He is one of a few running backs in NFL history to average 4.0 yards per carry in every season he played.
From 1990 to 1992 McNeil was the lead plaintiff in a case won by jury verdict that struck down the NFL's Plan B free agency system, under which teams could protect 37 players. McNeil and the seven other plaintiffs were among the protected players listed by their teams. The system was deemed too restrictive and a violation of antitrust laws. However, Freeman was not one of the four plaintiffs awarded damages. The suit is considered a major step in the achievement of free agency rights by the NFL Players Association.In 2005, he was inducted into the Nassau County Sports Hall of Fame.

Charles Alexander

Charles Fred Alexander Jr. (born July 28, 1957) is a former professional American football player who was a running back in the National Football League (NFL) for seven seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals. He played college football for Louisiana State University (LSU) and twice received consensus All-America honors, and he was later inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. He was a first-round pick in the 1979 NFL draft by the Bengals.

Jerome Bettis

Jerome Abram Bettis Sr. (born February 16, 1972), nicknamed The Bus, is a former American football halfback who played for the Los Angeles Rams/St. Louis Rams and Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). Bettis is seventh on the list of NFL rushing yards leaders. He retired in 2006 after the Steelers won Super Bowl XL in his native Detroit, Michigan, beating the Seattle Seahawks. Bettis was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2015.

Wendell Tyler

Wendell Avery Tyler (born May 20, 1955) is a former professional American football player who was selected by the Los Angeles Rams in the 3rd round of the 1977 NFL Draft. A 5'10", 198 lbs. running back from UCLA, Tyler played in 10 NFL seasons from 1977 to 1986 for the Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers.In 1979, he helped lead the Rams to Super Bowl XIV, where they were defeated 31-19 by the Pittsburgh Steelers. In 1984, he rushed for a 49er team record 1,262 yards during the regular season, and also caught 28 passes for 230 yards,  was selected to the Pro Bowl, and played in Super Bowl XIX in which the 49ers defeated the Miami Dolphins 38-16. Tyler was the first player ever to lead two teams in rushing in two Super Bowls.

Keith Byars

Keith Alan Byars (born October 14, 1963) is an American sports broadcaster and former American football fullback in the National Football League for the Philadelphia Eagles, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots and New York Jets.

Orenthal James Simpson (born July 9, 1947), nicknamed "the Juice", is an American former football running back, broadcaster, actor, advertising spokesman, and defendant in what has been described as the "trial of the century".
Simpson attended the University of Southern California (USC), where he played football for the USC Trojans and won the Heisman Trophy in 1968. He played professionally as a running back in the NFL for 11 seasons, primarily with the Buffalo Bills from 1969 to 1977. He also played for the San Francisco 49ers from 1978 to 1979. In 1973, he became the first NFL player to rush for more than 2,000 yards in a season. He holds the record for the single season yards-per-game average, which stands at 143.1. He was the only player to ever rush for over 2,000 yards in the 14-game regular season NFL format.
Simpson was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1983 and the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1985. After retiring from football, he began new careers in acting and football broadcasting.
In 1994, Simpson was arrested and charged with the murders of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her boyfriend, Ron Goldman. He was acquitted by a jury after a lengthy and internationally publicized trial. The families of the victims subsequently filed a civil suit against him, and in 1997 a civil court awarded a $33.5 million judgment against him for the victims' wrongful deaths. In 2000, he moved to Florida to avoid paying any more of the liability judgment, settling in Miami.
In 2007, Simpson was arrested in Las Vegas, Nevada, and charged with the felonies of armed robbery and kidnapping. In 2008, he was convicted and sentenced to 33 years imprisonment, with a minimum of nine years without parole. He served his sentence at the Lovelock Correctional Center near Lovelock, Nevada. Simpson was granted parole on July 20, 2017. He was eligible for release from prison on October 1, 2017, and was released on that date.

Mike Adamle

Michael David Adamle (born October 4, 1949) is a former American football player and sports broadcaster.
Adamle was a sports anchor at other Chicago television stations, including WLS-TV from 1983–1989 before hosting American Gladiators, a first stint at WMAQ-TV from 1998–2001, and then at WBBM-TV from 2001–2004 before returning to Channel 5 until 2017, when he was diagnosed with CTE-induced dementia which eventually forced his retirement. For much of 2008, Adamle worked for World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) in a variety of roles, including interviewer, play-by-play commentator, and General Manager of Raw.

Willie McClendon

Willie Edward McClendon (born September 13, 1957) is a former American football running back in the National Football League. Selected in the 1979 NFL Draft, he played for the Chicago Bears from 1979 to 1982.  He is the father of former Bears wide receiver, and current University of South Carolina wide receivers coach and passing game coordinator Bryan McClendon.  Both father and son attended the University of Georgia.
McClendon was elected to the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame and was inducted in February 2015.

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Don McCauley

Don McCauley (born May 12, 1949) is a former American football player.  He was a running back for the University of North Carolina from 1968 to 1970 and he attended Garden City High School in Garden City, New York.
McCauley was a two-time First Team All-Conference selection and two-time Conference Player of the Year. He garnered the 1971 ACC Athlete of the Year award. He broke many rushing records. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2001.
The versatile McCauley contributed to the team as a receiver, rusher, kick returner, and punter, leading the team in most categories. In 1970, he led the nation in rushing with 1,720 yards and all-purpose running with 2,021 yards. His 1,720 yards rushing broke the NCAA record and continues to withstand the test of time ranking as the second highest total in ACC history and the highest at North Carolina. A consensus All-America selection and team captain his senior year, McCauley led the conference in scoring with 21 touchdowns for 126 points and continues to hold numerous school records. His career statistics include 5,014 all-purpose yards, 3,172 rushing yards, 786 yards receiving, and 1,056 yards on kick returns. He also led the team in punting with 48 punts for 1,845 yards—a 38.4 yard average.
With the acquisition of the Miami Dolphins' first round draft pick, awarded to them as compensation for tampering in the hiring of then head coach of the Colts, Don Shula, Baltimore selected McCauley in the first round (22nd overall) in the 1971 NFL draft.
McCauley played 11 seasons in the National Football League (NFL) with the Baltimore Colts.

It is arguable that the top 70s&nbsp;college running backs are some of the&nbsp;most legendary players in the history of the game. The greatest college ...