There was a time when most considered the USC Trojans to be Running Back U. After all, Mike Garrett (1965), O.J. Simpson (1968), Charles White (1979), Marcus Allen (1981) and Reggie Bush (2005) have all won the Heisman Trophy playing the position for the Trojans. Still, from 1990-2001 the Trojans only won nine games or more one time. Further, their once-great tradition of tailbacks took a big hit during that period.

On the other hand, the Auburn Tigers kept on rolling one great running back after another throughout that time (as well as before and after it). Though the Tigers have only one Heisman Trophy winner at the position (Bo Jackson in 1985), the majority of their running backs have performed remarkably well in the pros.

How about Jackson, William Andrews (next to Earl Campbell, as powerful as they come), Rudi Johnson, Joe Cribbs, James Brooks and Stephen Davis for starters. And there are many more where that came from. Add in the fact that Auburn RBs are so well thought of that in 2005, both Cadillac Williams and Ronnie Brown were taken in the first five picks of the NFL draft, and one can certainly see the reason why most out there believe that the Tigers deserve the title right now.

After all, over the last 15 or 20 years they've been more consistent (Kenny Irons will be another solid NFL player if he can stay healthy).

But make no mistake: The Trojans are beginning to gain in a big way. First, there's the fact that they are clearly on top of the world when it comes to overall team performance over the course of the last five years. Then there's the recent Heisman Trophy pickup by Reggie Bush (a man, by the way, who is going to be a great pro player). And last but certainly not least, there's the recruiting that USC has been coming up with at the running back position.

For example, USC picked up three of the best high school backs coming out of high school in 2007. Along with that, guys like Broderick Green (the 14th-best RB in the nation according to Rivals), Joe McKnight (the best RB in the nation), and Marc Tyler (the second-ranked RB in the nation) chose to attend school at Southern Cal.

Impressive, huh? The thing is, that's not even the half of it.

You see, Emmanuel Moody (a productive player for the Trojans last season, he was considered the ninth-best RB prospect in the nation in 2006), C.J. Gable (another productive player last season, he was considered the third-best athlete coming out in 2006), and Stafon Johnson (considered the second-best RB prospect in the nation in 2006) were all a part of the team already.

Even more impressive is that they've already got some major talent at the position coming to them in 2008. The Trojans and head coach Pete Carroll have already picked up possible star RBs like D.J. Shoemate (second-best athlete in the nation) and Curtis McNeal (13th-best all-purpose back in the nation) from the '08 class.

That said, Auburn isn't exactly standing pat. First, there's Mario Fannin, a man who was considered the 23rd-best athlete in the nation when he decided on Auburn back in 2006. In sum, they were wrong about him.

He's going to be better than that, and it's going to be obvious to everyone who watches Fannin this season and beyond.

Then, of course, there's Enrique Davis, Auburn's 2007 recruit. Davis was considered the third-best RB prospect in the nation this year. Further, Brad Lester (this season's probable starter), Ben Tate and Tristan Davis aren't exactly chopped liver, either.

There's also the fact that running backs simply do well at Auburn -- it's indisputable. The Tigers are like a farm club for NFL teams at RB.

The main question is, Which team will be considered Running Back U 10 years from now?

That's the fun part.

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