All that chatter about the NFL not valuing running backs as much as other offensive weapons? Well, the 2025 NFL Draft flipped the script and showed major love for RBs, with 25 selected—including Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty and UNC’s Omarion Hampton going as first-rounders. Now, with so many household names off to the pros, the college football stage is wide open. It’s the perfect time for a new star to rise. And 2025 is shaping up to be the year a fresh face becomes the next big name in the backfield.

Looks like Greg McElroy has got his eyes on the top RBs in college football this time, and when this former Bama QB and ESPN analyst talks CFB, you know it’s worth listening to. In the May 5th episode of Always College Football, McElroy didn’t hesitate to name his top running back for the 2025 season. “The best running back in college football should come really as no surprise. Anyone that’s watched any of the games I’ve called—and a handful of those games happened to involve this young man’s team—you could tell that I love this kid. It’s Jeremiyah Love at Notre Dame,” McElroy said. So, his choice? Clear as day: Jeremiyah Love.

Although the Notre Dame star has already captured plenty of attention, McElroy highlighted what truly sets him apart. Even down the stretch, when Love wasn’t at full strength, he powered through. “He was a guy that was battling a knee injury, that was wearing a knee brace and would take it off because the knee brace was uncomfortable, but he just refused to come out of the game,” McElroy added. So, grit, toughness, and a no-quit attitude—Love proved he’s built different.

McElroy praised the Notre Dame back for his grit, especially when battling injury late in the season. But the real standout moment? That legendary touchdown against a tough Penn State defense—45 yards rushing and a score— that one play is pure stuff of Notre Dame lore.

Down 10-10 in the fourth, facing 1st-and-goal at the 2, they gave it to Love. On a power run to the left, even with multiple Penn State defenders piling on, Love just kept his legs churning and went ahead for a TD. McElroy broke it down, explaining why that play alone puts Love at No. 1: “There were so many times this year in which he (Love) kind of defied my expectations and I think there’s no better example of what Jeremiyah Love is capable of than that one-yard touchdown run in which he would not be denied under any circumstances against Penn State (in the College Football Playoff) where it looked like he was going to be stopped three or four times behind the line of scrimmage, and he kept churning, he kept churning, and eventually put his arms out over the goal line to score the touchdown against about four Nittany Lion defenders.” Honestly, it wasn’t just a score—it was a statement.

After barreling through four Nittany Lions at the goal line, McElroy pointed to another jaw-dropping moment: a 98-yard TD sprint against Indiana. “That is an example of what Jeremiyah Love is capable of—not only the tough yardage that he showcased there but the outstanding speed that we saw against Indiana,” he noted. He went on to say that if not for Ashton Jeanty’s unreal numbers last year, Love would already be the frontrunner. Now, with a clear runway in 2025, McElroy believes Jeremiyah Love is primed for a serious Heisman push.

And why not? Greg McElroy laid it out plain and simple—Jeremiyah Love is the total package. From a 98-yard lightning strike against Indiana to stacking 100-yard games vs. Purdue, Navy, Virginia, and Army, he delivered from start to finish. Love wasn’t just finding the endzone; he was exploding for big plays, racking up nine touchdowns of 20+ yards, including massive runs of 98, 76, 68, and 64 yards. Beyond the highlight reel, he was consistently productive, averaging almost 7 yards per carry while also being a force in pass protection. Last season, Love put up impressive numbers with 1125 total yards and 17 touchdowns.

“So Jeremiyah Love he can beat you through the air, he can beat you on the ground, he’s going to get after you in pass protection, he can hit the big play, and he can also turn out the tough yardage. He is a five tool player in every possible way.” And heading into 2025, he says there’s no better back in the country. While Love was earning high praise, the SEC also faced a sobering reality check.

SEC snub? Greg McElroy’s top RB & QB lists

Greg McElroy’s top 10 running backs list had no shortage of star power—but here’s the kicker: not a single SEC back cracked the top five.

• No.1 Notre Dame’s Jeremiyah Love
• No.2 Oregon’s Makhi Hughes
• No. 3 Penn State’s Kaytron Allen
• No. 4 Penn State’s Nick Singleton
• No.5 Pittsburgh’s Desmond Reid

Yeah, the top ranks were all outside the SEC spotlight. Rounding out the list were Jamal Haynes (Georgia Tech), Quintrevion Wisner (Texas), Ahmad Hardy (Missouri), Isaac Brown (Louisville), and Jaydn Ott (Oklahoma). Just as McElroy notably left SEC running backs off his top five, his quarterback ranking offered a similar, though perhaps less stark, reality check for the conference.

ACC’s Cade Klubnik (Clemson) topped his list, followed by Oklahoma’s intriguing dual-threat John Mateer at No. 2, Big 12 champ Sam Leavitt at No. 3, and Big Ten’s Drew Allar at No. 4. While two SEC quarterbacks, John Mateer (formerly of Washington State, now Oklahoma) and LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier, did make his top five, the absence of a highly anticipated name like Arch Manning came as a shocker. His quarterback rankings signal a landscape where talent is spread across conferences, challenging the SEC’s perceived dominance at this crucial position. For the SEC, it’s just a mixed bag—missing the elite tier at running back but still boasting significant talent under center.