After eight weeks, Indiana still owns the Big Ten rushing race through the same familiar one-two punch. Turbo Richard remains the conference leader even after a quieter outing, while Lee Beebe Jr. is close behind and giving Curt Cignetti the kind of backfield depth most teams would love to have.
Richard held onto the top spot despite picking up just 68 yards in Indiana’s win over Michigan. Beebe also had a subdued game, but their combined presence keeps the Hoosiers in control of the conversation on the ground.
The rest of the league’s leaderboard has a few names making noise as well. Rutgers’ Antwan Raymond sits in second with 648 rushing yards and six touchdowns.
Beebe follows in third with 631 yards and four scores. UCLA’s Wayne Knight is fourth, while USC’s King Miller rounds out the top five.
Purdue’s Fame Ijeboi is next at No. 6 with 568 yards and nine touchdowns, the most among any Big Ten runner not named Knight. Northwestern’s Caleb Komolafe checks in at No. 7 with 551 yards and five touchdowns. Iowa’s Kamari Moulton is eighth, Ohio State’s Bo Jackson is ninth with 516 yards and four touchdowns, and Illinois’ Aidan Laughery sits 10th with 514 yards and two scores.
UCLA had its own notable ground performance in Week 8. Knight found the end zone, but Anthony Woods was the more productive runner, piling up 112 yards and a touchdown to move within one spot of the top 10. Knight remains the only Big Ten player to reach double-digit rushing touchdowns.
Penn State’s situation looks very different after its bye week. Carson Hansen remains the team’s leading rusher with 278 yards, and James Peoples is right behind him at 246.
The run game has been one of Penn State’s biggest issues all season, and Matt Campbell will want that corrected as the stretch run continues. That could end up deciding whether the team reaches a bowl or misses out altogether.
In Other News...
Penn State May Have Finally Fixed One Defensive Problem
Penn State has spent much of the season shuffling pieces on defense, and the latest adjustment points to how much the staff is still trying to settle the middle of the unit. Head coach Matt Campbell said Marcus Neal Jr. has been moved from safety to off-ball linebacker, a move intended to add depth after injuries and some uneven play have thinned that group. It is the kind of in-season switch that can say as much about necessity as it does about development.
Zion Tracy is going the other direction, sliding to safety in an effort to steady that spot and give the defense a more workable rotation. The changes underscore how fluid Penn States personnel plan has been as the season has unfolded, with the staff continuing to tweak both roles and scheme to find a combination that holds up better week to week. [Read more 🡒]
Penn State Gets An Early Heavyweight Test Cael Sanderson Needed
The early-season calendar is giving Cael Sanderson exactly the kind of measuring stick he wants, with the National Wrestling Coaches Association All-Star Classic set for Nov. 24 at Rec Hall. Penn State will put several of its biggest names on the mat in the showcase, including NCAA champion Josh Barr, national runners-up Shayne Van Ness and Rocco Welsh, and heavyweight Connor Mirasola.
For Sanderson, the appeal goes beyond the marquee matchups. The exhibition offers a useful first look at how Penn State stacks up in a live setting, especially at heavyweight, where Mirasola is slated to meet Wisconsins Braxton Amos. It is the sort of early test that can help clarify lineup decisions before the grind of the season really begins. [Read more 🡒]
Penn State's Quarterback Search Just Got More Pressing For Matt Campbell
Penn States quarterback pursuit in the 2027 class just got a little more complicated during the Week 8 bye, when Matt Campbell and his staff tried to make a late push for Braylen Warren. The four-star quarterback has been on Missouris board for a while, and the Tigers have been his commitment since December 2025, leaving Penn State to keep searching for a long-term answer under center.
The urgency is easy to see from Penn States side. The Nittany Lions still do not have a committed quarterback in the 2027 class after Will Wood decommitted, and Warren would have represented a major addition with the kind of production that made him such a sought-after prospect. Instead, Penn State is back in the market, and the next move in that search will matter plenty for a program still trying to lock down its future at the most important position on the field. [Read more 🡒]