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Player comparison, running backs

Makhi Hughes vs. Nate Sheppard: 2026 stats compared

Houston vs. Duke

Nate Sheppard is ahead on 7 of 8 stats, including rushing yards, carries and yards per carry. Makhi Hughes has the edge on rushing success rate. Both are running backs: Makhi Hughes for Houston and Nate Sheppard for Duke, 2026 season through Oct 24, 2026.

Makhi Hughes vs. Nate Sheppard, stat by stat

StatMakhi HughesNate Sheppard
Rushing yards517 44th834 9th
Carries117 23rd148 5th
Yards per carry4.4 249th5.6 96th
Rushing TDs4 87th9 7th
Rushing success rate54.7% 28th41.2% 219th
Explosive runs (12+ yards)7 98th20 1st
Catches9 114th30 1st
Receiving yards78 113th282 4th

The better number on each row is marked. National ranks are among every FBS running back with the stat; rates need a minimum sample (50 dropbacks, 20 carries, 8 catches). From the play-by-play, games through Oct 24, 2026.

Where do Makhi Hughes and Nate Sheppard rank nationally?

Makhi HughesNate SheppardRushing yards44th9thCarries23rd5thYards per carry249th96thRushing TDs87th7thRushing success rate28th219thExplosive runs (12+ yards)98th1stCatches114th1stReceiving yards113th4th1st (best)428th

Each row is one stat. The dots show where Makhi Hughes and Nate Sheppard rank among FBS running backs with enough snaps to qualify, with each player's rank printed by his dot: further left is better. Hover or tap a dot for the number behind it.

Makhi Hughes and Nate Sheppard: career stats

Makhi Hughes

SeasonTeamCarriesRush ydsYds/carryRush TDCatchesRec ydsRec TD
2023Tulane2581,3785.3711670
2024Tulane2651,4015.315191762
2025Oregon17704.102240
2026Houston1175174.449780
Career6573,3665.126413452

Nate Sheppard

SeasonTeamCarriesRush ydsYds/carryRush TDCatchesRec ydsRec TD
2025Duke2001,1325.711372861
2026Duke1488345.69302824
Career3481,9665.620675685

Seasons since 2022 from CollegeFootballData.com (FBS games), plus this season from the play-by-play.

Their seasons, game by game

Makhi Hughes

RB, Houston (6–2). Senior. 6-0, 210 pounds. Birmingham, AL

WeekOpponentRushing yardsCarriesRushing TDsReceiving yards
1Oregon State981718
2Southern44810
3Texas Tech7115028
4Georgia Southern7016014
5UCF2710019
6Kansas State781410
7Oklahoma State771803
8Utah521916

Nate Sheppard

RB, Duke (5–2). Sophomore. 5-10, 205 pounds. Mandeville, LA

WeekOpponentRushing yardsCarriesRushing TDsReceiving yards
1Tulane22735219
2Illinois11823141
3Stanford1542322
4William & Mary108818
6Georgia Tech8725299
7North Carolina8519098
8Virginia5515115

Questions about Makhi Hughes vs. Nate Sheppard

Who's better, Makhi Hughes or Nate Sheppard?

Nate Sheppard is ahead on 7 of 8 stats, including rushing yards, carries and yards per carry. Makhi Hughes has the edge on rushing success rate. Both are running backs: Makhi Hughes for Houston and Nate Sheppard for Duke, 2026 season through Oct 24, 2026.

Who has more rushing yards, Makhi Hughes or Nate Sheppard?

Nate Sheppard: 834 rushing yards to Makhi Hughes's 517, 9th among FBS running backs.

Who has more rushing touchdowns, Makhi Hughes or Nate Sheppard?

Nate Sheppard: 9 rushing TDs to Makhi Hughes's 4, 7th among FBS running backs.

Who's more efficient, Makhi Hughes or Nate Sheppard?

Makhi Hughes: 54.7% rushing success rate to Nate Sheppard's 41.2%, 28th among FBS running backs.

Who has more explosive runs, Makhi Hughes or Nate Sheppard?

Nate Sheppard: 20 explosive runs (12+ yards) to Makhi Hughes's 7, 1st among FBS running backs.

Who has more career rushing yards, Makhi Hughes or Nate Sheppard?

Makhi Hughes: 3,366 to Nate Sheppard's 1,966, counting FBS seasons since 2022.

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