Unlike our other lists of Notre Dame greats, our ranking of the top five running backs in Fighting Irish history features a more contemporary feel.
Sort of.
Four of the five players on the list played in the 20th century and, sure enough, that was more than a quarter-century ago. But that’s a testament to how long Notre Dame has been iconic. Here you’ll find a good blend of old-school football and modern-day flair.
You may not agree with all the picks, granted, so let us know who you’d throw in or how you’d re-rank. For now, these are our five.
Honorable Mentions
- Ricky Watters (1987-1990)
- Reggie Brooks (1989-1992)
- Jerome Bettis (1990-1992)
- Julius Jones (1999-2003)
5. Vagas Ferguson (1976-1979)
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Ferguson was a good player his first two seasons at Notre Dame, serving as the team’s No. 2 running back behind Jerome Havens when the Fighting Irish won the national championship in 1977.
When Ferguson got his opportunity to be No. 1, though, he shined. Ferguson ran for almost 1,200 yards on just 211 carries in 1978. The next year was even better as he ran for 1,477 yards and 17 touchdowns en route to All-American honors and a fifth-place finish in Heisman Trophy voting.
That yardage total ranks first in a single season in Fighting Irish history, while Ferguson’s 3,472 yards rushing rank third.
4. Johnny Lattner (1951-1953)
A two-time All-American in 1952 and 1953, few players in Notre Dame have as thick a collegiate resume as Laettner.
In that second season, he captured the Heisman Trophy after running for 651 yards and nine touchdowns. He also won the Maxwell Award both that season and the one before. Laettner, who made the College Football Hall of Fame in 1979, ultimately ran for 1,754 yards in his three-year career with the Fighting Irish.
3. Jeremiyah Love (2023-2025)
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The man on this list who played the most recently, Love finished third in Heisman Trophy voting in 2025 after running for 1,372 yards and 18 touchdowns. Those totals ranked him eighth and in a tie for third nationally, respectively.
And that came after a year in which Love proved himself one of the best backs in the country. He inexplicably didn’t earn All-American honors in 2024 despite going for 1,125 with 17 scores as a sophomore on just 163 carries. For his career, which was only three seasons, Love ranks third in touchdowns and sixth in yards rushing.
2. Autry Denson (1995-1998)
Notre Dame’s all-time leading rusher, Denson somehow never earned All-American honors. Maybe it’s because he came just after the Fighting Irish’s run as perhaps the best team in college football in the early 1990s.
Denson helped keep things strong from 1995 to 1998. He ran for 1,000 yards three times, ultimately picking up 4,318. His 43 career rushing touchdowns trail just the No. 1 player on this list, as well.
Denson wasn’t a superstar, which is why you’ll probably find Love and Laettner above him on other such lists. But longevity and consistency matter, so we’re putting him at No. 2.
1. Allen Pinkett (1982-1986)
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Pinkett is a bit of a combination of Denson and Love: a man who produced three 1,000-yard seasons and maxed out his senior year by earning Heisman Trophy votes.
In fact, Pinkett was the first Notre Dame running back to go for 1,000 yards on the ground in three straight seasons, doing so from 1983 to 1985. In that final year, he ran for more than 1,100 yards with 11 touchdowns while finishing eighth in Heisman voting.
His 49 rushing touchdowns rank first in school history, while his 4,131 yards rushing trail only Denson on the all-time list.
More Notre Dame Football Rankings
- 10 Greatest Notre Dame Football Players Ever
- 5 Greatest Quarterbacks in Notre Dame History
- 5 Greatest Defensive Players in Notre Dame History
