We continue our deep dive into the Texas Tech football team's 2024 schedule with a look at the top running backs the Red Raiders are slated to see this season.

The Big 12 has a number of top-tier running backs, but which ones will Joey McGuire's team have to wrangle? Here are the top five.

Ollie Gordon II, Oklahoma State

Game info: Nov. 23 at Stillwater

A unanimous all-American and Big 12 player of the year, Ollie Gordon II is perhaps the most notable running back in the country. His 1,732 yards led the nation and he found the end zone 21 times, averaging 6.1 yards per carry. Gordon's return is one of the reasons many expect the Cowboys to return to the conference championship game.

CJ Donaldson & Jahiem White, West Virginia

Game info: Nov. 30 in Lubbock

It's hard to differentiate the two-headed attack of CJ Donaldson and Jahiem White. The two split carries for the Mountaineers last season with Donaldson getting a slight majority, finding the end zone 11 times, compared to White's four scores. However, White averaged 7.7 yards per carry and led the team with 842 yards on the ground while Donaldson finished with 798.

Abu Sama III, Iowa State

Game info: Nov. 2 at Ames

Much like quarterback Rocco Becht, Amu Sama III got the opportunity to be an offensive leader for Iowa State as a freshman and produced a solid season. Sama led the Cyclones with 614 yards and six TDs and the two backs he split carries with last year (Eli Sanders and Cartevious Norton) are both gone, making Sama the unquestioned No. 1.

Corey Kiner, Cincinnati

Game info: Sept. 28 in Lubbock

One of the few bright spots in Cincinnati's disastrous debut season in the Big 12, Kiner was a consistent presence for the Bearcats. The 5-foot-9, 212 pounder ran for 1,047 yards and five scores, averaging 5.5 yards per carry last season.

This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: 5 best running backs Texas Tech football will face in 2024