1. Joseph Randle, Jeremy Smith - Oklahoma State

Yeah, Oklahoma State was on BYE last weekend but Joseph Randle is going to have enough yards this Saturday to make up for it. Jeremy Smith will continue his TD streak - and then some. Sorry in advance Kansas.

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Well that was fun wasn't it?

The league's two top running back tandems went head to head Saturday and A&M's leading rusher was their quarterback. The full ranking after the jump...

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1. Joseph Randle, 25 carries for 128 yards, 3 TD's
Once again, Randle holds it down.  Yes, it was a strange game but he blew it out with 5 yards per carry and 3 touchdowns. Jeremy Smith also had a good night with 13 carries for 52 yards and a touchdown. The Randle/Smith duo is a great example of how a committee should work. I expect big things from both of them in College Station against a team that made a white running back from SMU look good. 

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Last year was a big year for Big 12 running backs.  But this year, Kendall Hunter, Demarco Murray and Daniel Thomas are gone to the NFL leaving just one of the leagues top 11 rushers returning. For the most part, everyone is starting from scratch. Only a handful of schools come in to this season with the luxury of an established back.

Let's take a look at the Big 12's 2011 Running Back situation.

Texas

Texas coach Mack Brown with look to true freshman Malcolm Brown to improve on the awfulness that has become the Texas running game. The Longhorn's last decent running back was Jamaal Charles, who in 2007 rushed for 1600 yards. Since then, the Horns have been led by Colt McCoy!!!!, Tre Newton and Cody Johnson. Not exactly Earl Campbell or Ricky Williams quality. Brown is rated the #2 running back by ESPN Scouts Inc and will likely be the kind of back the Longhorns need to carry the rock 20-25 times a game, and save them from another piss poor year at RB.

Jump Jump

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The final results for the inaugural CRFF Running Back Ranking are in, and we're ready to crown the winner.

*Hint*

It's not either of the preseason All Big 12 selections...

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1. Kendall Hunter, Oklahoma State - 66 yards, 2 TD on 14 carries

A slow week for Hunter but he still leads the Big 12 in yards and touchdowns so he still leads the way here. The thing that is most impressive is that he didn't have to have a huge game against the Bears for OSU to dominate the running game with 290 yards. Joseph Randle has arrived folks and he's getting better every week. I expect huge things from both of them this weekend in Austin. Doesn't look like the Longhorns can stop the run - at all.

More after the jump...

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(AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Here's my take on the status of Big XII Running backs after 4 weeks of play.

1. Daniel Thomas, Kansas State - 76 yards on 22 carries

Not a great game for Thomas but hey, you can't have 200 yards and 2 touchdowns every week...He still leads all running backs. He'll have a week off before he has to run against the black shirts of Nebraska. Do they even call them that anymore?

2. Roy Helu Jr., Rex Burkhead, Taylor Martinez,  Nebraska - 205 yards, 1 TD on 48 carries

A very strange game against South Dakota State. None of them really did anything special, yet Helu was getting carries with 30 seconds left in the game. I'll give them a pass this week  soley on the premise of overlooking inferior competition.

3. Kendall Hunter, Oklahoma State- OFF

Off last week preparing for a big game against Texas A&M...I fully expect him to be the nation's leading RB on Friday morning. Hear that Aggie?

4. Demarco Murray, Oklahoma - 67 yards,  1 TD on 28 carries

Another week and another piss poor YPC average for Murray. Cincinnati did a good job limiting him and guess what? They only lost by 2 points... The first decent team to stop Murray will beat OU. Hear that Longhorn?

5. Christine Michael, Texas A&M - OFF

He'll face an OSU defense Thursday night that has been pretty stingy against the run. He's been the only bright spot for an Aggie offense that has struggled. It will be a good test for him - and Cowboy Defense.

6. Alexander Robinson, Iowa State- 74 yards. 1 TD on 15 carries

A decent day for Robinson.  He's not really living up to the preseason hype but come to think of it - most of that was from his own coach. He's got a tough road ahead with games against Texas Tech, Utah, Oklahoma and Texas.

7. James Sims, Kansas- 115 yards, 2 TD's on 16 carries

A solid day by the freshman. Put this kid on the radar. He'll be sporadic this year but could develop into a serious back in years to come...

8. Fozzy Whittaker, Texas - 14 yards on 7 carries.

UCLA absolutely shut down the Texas running game in Austin. The Longhorns finished with just 85 yards TOTAL. Daniel Thomas had 234 yards against the same team in Manhattan.There's trouble brewing in Austin and it starts with the lack of a solid running game.

9. Rodney Stewart, Colorado - OFF

We'll know more about Stewart when he faces Georgia this weekend...He's at #8 by default really.

10. Jay Finley, Baylor - 56 yards on 15 carries

Another average day for Finely. The real running back is under center.

11. K Lawrence, H Josey, M Murphy D Moore and B Gabbert, Missouri - 236 yards and 5 TD's on 38 carries

They don't deserve to be called by anything than a first initial. Missouri is 1 week away from being removed from the rankings. I'm sick of this shit. Not one player had more than 9 carries yet 5 players had a touchdown. A running back by committee of the HIGHEST order.

12. Baron Batch/Eric Stephens, Texas Tech- OFF

The Red Raiders will look to get their rushing game back on track this week in Ames. Don't hold your breath...

Here's my take on the status of Big XII Running backs after week 3...

1. Daniel Thomas, Kansas State - 181 yards, 2TD's on 34 carries

After 3 weeks, Thomas leads the nation with 552 yards and 6 TD's on the year. He put the team on his back and brought home a win Saturday. He has at least 137 yards and 2 TD's in every start this year. Impressive to say the least.

2. Roy Helu Jr., Rex Burkhead, Taylor Martinez,  Nebraska- 383 yards, 6 TD's on 54 carries

This 3 headed attack is scary. It's one thing to do this against Idaho but it's another to do it on the road at Washington. All finished with 100 + yards and at least a touchdown. They appear to be the real deal.

3. Kendall Hunter, Oklahoma State -  59 yards yards on 10 carries

Kendall loses a little ground with a sub-par perfomance but he didn't really have a chance with only 10 carries. He's still #2 behind Thomas nationally with 447 yards and 6 TD's. Tulsa made a point to stack the box and he still finished with a YPC average of 6. I think we'll lean on him a lot more against A&M.

4. Demarco Murray, Oklahoma - 110 yards,  2 TD's on 26 carries

Another solid performance by Murray. He is definitely a key component to the success of this team.Is he the only component? The Sooners seem a little top heavy with him and Broyles. The YPC average of 4 keeps him out of the elite group.

5. Christine Michael, Texas A&M - 119 yards, TD on 21 carries

Michael was about the only bright spot in a game the Aggies should have lost. He's got three 100 yard performances in 3 games. No question he belongs in the top half...

6. Fozzy Whittaker, Texas - 55 yards, TD on 15 carries

The RBBC was in affect again, but it didn't do much. However, Fozzy might be the first to keep the starting job after 1 week, and 55 yards. Yep, the running game in Austin ain't what it used to be...

7. Alexander Robinson, Iowa State - 85 yards on 19 carries

It's becoming apparent isn't good enough to get the running game going. This is fairly disappointing considering K-State's defensive numbers going in to this game. Hard to see A-Rob having a solid year if he can't do much against a middle of the road Big 12 Defense.

8. Rodney Stewart, Colorado - 106 yards, 2 TD's on 22 carries

A solid  game against a terrible Hawaii defense. We'll know more about Stewart when he faces Georgia next week.

9. James Sims, Kansas - 74 yards, on 20 carries

The Jayhawks come back down to earth and lost on the road to Southern Miss. Not a horrible night for the freshman, but not great either.

10. Jay Finley, Baylor - 56 yards on 9 carries

Another tough week for Baylor. Finley has a great YPC average - they just can't play well enough to feed him the ball. Always playing from behind...

11. De'Vion Moore, Missouri - 34 yards, TD on 6 carries

If Missouri cannot get the rushing game going against San Diego State how will they fare against a solid defense?

12. Baron Batch/Eric Stephens, Texas Tech - (-14)  yards on 18 carries

A negative average. Horrendous. All the talk of a solid rushing game in Lubbock appears to be fluff. Negative. Fourteen.