Other teams in the country have made it work.

And if Penn State football coach Joe Paterno still believes, like he says, that Austin Scott hasn't separated himself from the pack than Paterno will have to figure how to rotate running backs into the game effectively.

Last season, Virginia Tech split the carries between Lee Suggs and Kevin Jones. Tennessee has three talented backs, Cedric Houston, Jabari Davis and Corey Larkins, all of whom have seen playing time. A running back by committee will work if the players are willing to share the ball.

Minnesota proved this week that the running back by committee works as long as one concept has more meaning than the rest -- the game is about playing as a team.

"Our salvation, maybe any team's salvation is being a team," Minnesota football coach Glen Mason said. "If you're worried about who's carrying the ball, throwing the ball and catching the ball, we don't have a chance. It's not what it's about."

Maybe Penn State's biggest problem is that everyone is focused on putting up numbers and making the flashy plays, instead of making the sound football plays.

Minnesota's Terry Jackson II last year as a sophomore rushed for over 1,300 yards, but this past weekend against Penn State he didn't see the field. Mason said that Jackson not being on the field wasn't due to any injury.

"He's a team member and the other guys were going pretty well," Mason said.

Even when Penn State's running attack appears to find a groove the Lions' coaches make changes. This is something that Mason doesn't do. Marion Barber III and Laurence Maroney were successfully moving the chains throughout the first half so Jackson remained on this sideline.

"If it's going pretty good, why make a switch," Mason asked. "And it was going pretty good."

On the final possession of the first half, after Scott played virtually the entire half and rushed for 35 yards and touchdown, Upton lined up at tailback on second and goal. After standing on the sideline, Upton carried the ball and could only pick up two yards.

Upton was in a similar situation in Nebraska when he came in for a play, scored a touchdown, but then wasn't used the remainder of the game.

Minnesota's running backs are all unselfish. Maroney said that it doesn't matter who carries the ball.

Barber, who gained 134 yards, said that this game hadn't established him as the go-to-guy next week. Mason could call one of the other backs' numbers.

Barber said that the main reason why the running back by committee has been thriving is the offensive line.

"It's all up front," Barber said. "That's all I have to say."

So it might not be Scott, Upton or Tony Hunt's fault when they are unsuccessful running the ball.

Even though they rushed for 244 yards against Minnesota, the Lions still haven't shown that they have figured out a rotation for the running backs.