College football duos: Ranking the 32 best dynamic duos in modern history
By Nick Villano
![BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA - DECEMBER 05: Mac Jones #10 of the Alabama Crimson Tide reacts after a touchdown by DeVonta Smith #6 of the Alabama Crimson Tide against the LSU Tigers at Tiger Stadium on December 05, 2020 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA - DECEMBER 05: Mac Jones #10 of the Alabama Crimson Tide reacts after a touchdown by DeVonta Smith #6 of the Alabama Crimson Tide against the LSU Tigers at Tiger Stadium on December 05, 2020 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/89ef06e8444d43f851651f3a4e8d48a685d1cb9e5c2b5807b02e29609994734a.jpg)
14. Felix Jones and Darren McFadden, Arkansas
Darren McFadden and Felix Jones were two of the most talented running backs to play on the same team. They played the same three seasons for the Razorbacks (2005-07) and for two of those seasons, they both broke the 1,000-yard mark. McFadden broke 1,000 yards in all three seasons in school. McFadden was able to gain 4,500 yards in his college career despite Jones getting just under 3,000 himself.
McFadden put up more career rushing yards than stars like Marshall Faulk, Dalvin Cook and J.K. Dobbins did despite sharing the backfield. It’s incredibly impressive.
Where they really stole from each other is in touchdowns. McFadden hit paydirt 41 times and Jones scored himself 20 times. This wasn’t an Alabama or USC offense. This is Arkansas, who was playing in the SEC. Still, McFadden was able to put up more rushing touchdowns than Leonard Fournette and Eric Dickerson.
Their best season together was 2007. They combined for just under 3,000 yards on the ground alone. They put up 27 touchdowns while carrying the Razorbacks to its biggest win for the university since the 1976 Cotton Bowl. They beat then-No. 1 and eventual National Champion LSU on the last game of the season. It almost ruined LSU’s season right at the last second. McFadden ran for over 200 yards and three touchdowns. Jones added another 85 yards on just five carries. The running game accounted for seven touchdowns in the 50-48 victory.
There were other marquee wins along the way. They beat No. 2 Auburn in 2006 on the backs of two 100-yard performances by Jones and McFadden. These two were great. If they played for different schools, they would have dominated by themselves. The fact they were together was something Arkansas fans will hold dear.