Posts Tagged ‘stats’

The wins aren't always pretty, but Will Muschamp and his staff have Florida sitting at 10-1 and have found ways to win all season long, despite what the stat sheet says.

"I've seen a lot of coaches that weren't good coaches that were stat guys," Muschamp explained to the Orlando Sentinel. "They worried about stats and they wanted to grab the stat sheet when the game was over. At the end of the day, the most important thing is winning the game and doing what it takes to win games."

"That's what we're judged on at the end of the day -- not style point, not stats. None of those things matter to me."

A win on Saturday against Florida State, however ugly or pretty it may be, will give Florida four wins against teams currently ranked amongst the top 12 in the country. That fact alone is far more impressive than any resume that any other top 5 team could currently put together.

"Our record speaks for itself. Being at the University of Florida, playing in the Southeastern Conference and playing the teams we've played, I don't feel like you need to politick much, other than to put your shirt on and show where you are and who you are."

Good point. When you win games in the SEC, you deserve a shot at the title. That is hard to argue.

As we inch closer to the end of the season, a number of NCAA records become more and more in danger of falling.

If you see any other stats out there worth mentioning, please send them our way.

- Oregon continues on its record-shattering pace. The Ducks scored 59 points in their win over California, upping their season average to 54.8 points per game, just 1.2 points per game behind the 56.0 ppg averaged by Army in 1944.

- Oregon remains well on pace to break the NCAA total scoring records, set by Texas in 2005 with 652 points in a 13-game season and by Oklahoma in 2008 with 714 points in a 14-game season. 

- The Ducks need to score 24 more touchdowns to break the NCAA single-season touchdown record of 99 set by Oklahoma in 2008. 

- Oregon has already broken one NCAA record as Saturday night marked their 13th straight game scoring 40 points or more. 

- The biggest disparity between opponents' scoring offense and scoring defense averages this season will take place on Saturday when Utah State visits Louisiana Tech. Utah State ranks sixth nationally with a defensive scoring average of 13.5 points per game, facing off with Louisiana Tech's second-ranked scoring offense average of 53.4 points per game. That's a difference of 39.9 points per game. 

- Per ESPN Stats & Information, Tennessee is the first team in SEC history to allow 38 points or more in six consecutive games. 

- Courtesy of the Dallas Morning News' Chuck Carlton: From the 10 quarters from the Oklahoma game through the first half against Kansas, the Texas defense allowed 127 points and 1,482 yards. In the 10 quarters since, Texas has surrendered 32 points and 793 yards. 

- Fresno State is the only FBS team to have players ranked among the top 10 nationally in passing yards (Derek Carr, 3,290 yards), rushing yards (Robbie Rouse, 1,362 yards) and receiving yards (Davante Adams, 1,027 yards). 

- The top 11 FBS teams in turnover margin (all with an average margin of 1.2 or greater) have a combined record of 93-17 this season.

- Auburn has only intercepted one pass this season. 

- Louisiana Tech quarterback Colby Cameron set an FBS record on Saturday by throwing 419 consecutive passes (and counting) without an interception. 

- Abilene Christian became just the third program in college football history (following Hawaii and Houston) to produce three consecutive 12,000-yard passers. 

- Wisconsin ran for 564 yards on Saturday in its 62-14 win over Indiana, more yards than Tulane and Washington State have run for all season.

- Tulane and Washington State have averaged less than two yards per carry this season. No FBS team has rushed for less than 2 ypc since Temple averaged 1.87 yards per rush in 2006. 

- Rutgers is threatening to accomplish something no FBS team has done in more than a decade. The Scarlet Knights average 30.4 yards per kickoff return, which would make them the first FBS team since Hawaii in 2001 to hit the 30-yard barrier. Rutgers is currently ahead of Florida State's NCAA record average of 30.33 yards per return, but the Scarlet Knights' 10 returns falls well short of the minimum 25. 

 - The Denver Broncos lead the NFL in sacks (31) and are tied at the top of the league for sacks allowed with just 11 on the year.

As the year goes on, the stakes get bigger, and the games just keep getting better and better. This past weekend was a perfect example of that. Here's a look at some of the statistics that caught our eye through week 10. There's some real good ones in here this week.

Let us know if there is anything out there that caught your eye that you think should have made the cut.

- Of the top scoring offenses nationally, just one is in the Pac 12 (#1 Oregon), one is from the WAC (#2 LA Tech), one is from the SEC (#4 Texas A&M), one is from the MAC (#10 Northern Illinois), two are from the ACC (#3 Florida State and #7 Clemson), and the remaining four are from the Big 12 (#5 Kansas State, #6 Baylor, #8 Oklahoma State, and #9 West Virginia).

- Texas A&M is averaging 45 points per game, which is a touchdown more per game that it averaged in the Big 12 last season.

- On Saturday, Kenjon Barner rushed for more yards in a single game (321) than Washington State has rushed for all season.

- Also, Barner ran for more, or as many touchdowns, against USC on Saturday than 12 FBS had during the entire month of October. LSU, Iowa, Miami (OH), Virginia, Wake Forest, and New Mexico State all accounted for 5 touchdowns last month, while Washington State, Colorado, Miami (FL), Illinois, UConn and UMass each had 4 or less on the month.

- Oregon became the first team ever to put up 60+ on USC. The Trojans have been playing football for 124 years.

- Though nine games, Mississippi State has not allowed a single punt return yard in just eight return attempts. Three other teams (Auburn, Ball State, Kansas State) are allowing single digit return yardage.

- Three of the top five scorers in the country are running backs (Kenneth Dixon - LA Tech, Kenjon Barner - Oregon, Giovani Bernard - UNC), and just two specialists (Quinn Sharp - OK State, and Dustin Hopkins - Florida State) are in the top ten.

- Nine games in the books, and Air Force has yet to allow a sack (67 attempts on the year). Perhaps more impressively, Oklahoma State has 317 passing attempts, and has given up just four sacks on the season.

- Arizona is the team that has benefited the most from penalties this season, with over 900 free yards in nine games (939 yards on the season). Teams commit nearly 11 penalties per game against the Wildcats.

- Kansas State is the only team in the country to have converted 100% of their fourth down attempts (2 for 2). Florida State is dead last in offensive fourth down conversions, going 0 for 2 through their first nine games.

- The most aggressive staffs when it comes to going for it on fourth down are Army (34 attempts), Penn State (30 attempts), Air Force (27 attempts) and UMass (27 attempts).

- Nebraska, Florida and Florida State all have defenses that are holding their opponents to a less than 50% completion rating.

- Stanford has the nation's top run defense, and is the only defense in the country that is allowing less than 2 yards per carry (1.91).

- Louisiana Tech and Alabama are the only two teams in the country yet to throw an interception. On the flip side, Western Michigan, Washington State and Idaho have all thrown 16 picks each. Our research shows that there are no starting quarterbacks at the FCS, D-II or D-III level that can say that.

- Seven players in the FBS have reached the 100 tackle mark, only two of them are from the same conference (SEC). Toledo, UAB, Kentucky, Boston College, Iowa, Tennessee, and Army all have linebackers with 100 tackles or more and all of them but Kentucky linebacker Avery Williamson (10 games) have done it in 9 games.

- Houston has two linebackers in the top seven players nationally in tackles for loss.

- Tulane, San Jose State, and Alabama are the only teams with kickers who have converted 100% of their field goal attempts. All three kickers have at least 9 attempts.

- Texas State, UMass, Eastern Michigan, Army, New Mexico, Idaho and Colorado are all giving up an average of 7 yards per play on defense. Not surprisingly, none of those teams have more than 4 wins on the season (New Mexico is 4-6).

- Louisiana Tech punter Ryan Allen has booted the ball almost two yards more on average (48.79 yards per punt) than the top punters from the last two seasons (2011 - 47.04 yards per punt, 2010 - 46.37 yards per punt)., .

- Western Kentucky's Quanterus Smith and Bowling Green's Chris Jones have the exact same amount of sacks (11.5 which is tied for first nationally) for the exact same amount of yardage (79 yards). However, Smith has put up the numbers in one less game.

Another week of crazy finishes, both gutsy and questionable decisions, undefeated teams falling, and eye catching stats, is officially in the books. It's a shame that college football season is entering the final few weeks of the regular season.

Here's what we noticed over the weekend. Let us know if you saw anything worth mentioning.

- Oregon has been ranked in every BCS standing since Chip Kelly became the head coach. That streak includes 24 appearances in the top 10.

- Will Muschamp is 0-6 in the Cocktail Party match up. He is 0-4 as a player, and 0-2 as a head coach.

- Minnesota scored more points on Saturday (44) than they had in their first three Big Ten games combined (39).

- After going up on Colorado 28-0 after the first quarter, the Ducks have outscored their last three opponents 71-7 in the opening quarter.

- Only one player, Nevada's Stefphon Jefferson, is averaging over 30 carries per game.

- Texas' game against Kansas marked the first time in 20 quarters that the Longhorn defense had shut out an opponent for an entire quarter.

- Utah State is allowing teams to convert on only 85% of their extra point attempts.

- Alabama (8) and Notre Dame (7) are the only defenses in the country to have allowed single digit touchdowns. Colorado is dead last with 49 allowed touchdowns.

- Kent State is snagging an average of 2 picks per game (16 interceptions through 8 games).

- Air Force is STILL yet to allow a sack. The Falcons have four games remaining on their schedule. Washington State is giving up over 4 sacks per game.

- East Carolina and Temple have recovered 9 of out 10 fumbles this season. Temple has done it in two less games (seven compared to East Carolina's nine).

- Maryland is allowing 9 tackles for a loss per game (124th nationally). That doesn't figure to get much better with an inexperienced quarterback under center this weekend.

- Washington State has more first downs via penalties (28) than they have rushing (27).

- Rutgers is the only team in the country to have not allowed a fourth down conversion this season (teams are 0 for 7). On the flip side, South Florida is allowing teams to convert at an 86% clip (6 for 7).

- LSU and Kansas State are the only offensive units that are perfect on fourth down. LSU is 3 for 3 and K-State is 2 for 2.

- Navy has allowed just two first downs via penalties this season. Air Force ranks second with just four first downs allowed via penalty.

- Division III Mount Union has allowed just one rushing touchdown through 8 games. They've given up a total of three all season. Tuskegee (D-II) has also allowed just one rushing TD on the season.

- Of the offenses that lead the country in long scrimmage plays of 20+ yards, five of the top ten are working under first year offensive coordinators at the school. (#1 Texas A&M, #3 North Carolina, #T7 Arizona State, #T7 Fresno State, T#7 Houston).

- Cheyney (D-II) has lost 19 fumbles on the season (last nationally in D-II). Martin Luther (D-III) has lost 21 (also last nationally in D-III).

- Indiana remains the only team in the country to have not lost a fumble (three fumbles - zero lost). Clemson has lost just one out of ten. Both Coe and Wisconsin-Oshkosh (D-III) have yet to lose a fumble. Akron, on the other hand, has coughed up the ball seven times, and has not recovered it once.

 Last week was one of the most exciting weekends of college football to date. Two point conversions to decide games, and plenty of games going down to the wire. With only a handful of weeks left to go, we hope to see plenty more Saturdays like that.

Here's some stats that caught our eye over the weekend. Let us know if there's anything you've seen that is worthy of being included.

- In case you missed our note earlier, a Kansas high school quarterback rushed for 659 yards in a single game, which tops the rushing total for 10 FBS teams through at least six games.

- USC ran only 48 offensive plays, and scored 50 points on Saturday. On the flip side, Colorado ran 85 plays and scored just 6 points.

- As Zach Barnett points out (via Anthony Andro), the Big 12 featured more touchdowns (48) than punts (47) over the weekend.

- Over the past four games, Texas has given up 197 points and over 2,300 yards. In comparison, over the past 19 games, Alabama has given up 151 points and 3,474 yards.

- Florida is the first team since 2000 to put up 40 points while producing less than 200 yards of total offense.

- Alabama's AJ McCarron and Louisiana Tech's Colby Cameron are the only two starting quarterbacks to have not thrown an interception so far this season.

- Thomas More College defensive back Zach Autenrieb set the D-III career record for interceptions over the weekend, picking off his 30th pass.

- Texas A&M has scored first in 12 straight games.

- Louisiana Tech ranks in the top ten nationally in passing offense (#8) and rushing touchdowns (#2).

- Air Force has still not allowed a sack; however they have only attempted 74 passes.

- New Mexico (95), Air Force (74) and Army (72) are the only four teams in the nation yet to reach 100 pass attempts. 

- Florida State is allowing just over 23% on third down conversions (29 conversions on 125 attempts).

- Three teams are coming out of their red zone trips with touchdowns 80% of the time or more. Lousiana Tech (85%), Texas (83%) and Louisville (80%) are the three teams that are the most efficient at scoring touchdowns in the red zone

- For running a ton of plays and airing the ball out a ton, it's surprising that not one Big 12 team is in the top twelve in passes defended. Interestingly enough, two teams from the Big Ten (Ohio State, Michigan State), ACC (Florida State and North Carolina) and Pac 12 (Oregon, Stanford) are represented. Ohio State has defended the most passes in the country with 65, followed by Toledo, Utah State, Oregon, SMU, Louisiana Tech, Florida State, Michigan State, Stanford, Texas A&M, North Carolina and Nevada.

- Baylor has the highest fourth down conversion percentage of any team with 10 or more attempts. The Bears have converted on 10 of their 11 fourth down attempts (90.91%).

- Both SMU and Fresno State are taking one out of every three interceptions back to the house. Each team has 15 interceptions and 5 touchdowns, and SMU has done it with one less game.

- Only one team, Georgia Tech, has more than ten scrimmage plays of 50+ yards (11).

North Texas has struggled through the first part of the season, going 2-4 through their first six games , and 1-1 in Sun Belt play. Their match up tonight, in the first Tuesday night game of the year, against Louisiana-Lafayette (4-1, 2-0) will feature two teams on the opposite side of the win-loss spectrum, but with some interesting similarities.

For example, both defenses have shown that they are up to a challenge following a sudden change.

After committing a turnover, the North Texas defense has held opponents to just one score in seven opportunities. The one score that they allowed was after FAU had intercepted a pass on their 11 yard line, otherwise the Mean Green defense has not allowed an offense to get any points following their turnover. 

Louisiana's offense has has turned 13 turnovers into 53 points (five touchdowns and 6 field goals). They have only given the ball away four times this season, and their defense has responded following the sudden change, allowing just 10 points following a turnover.

The Ragin' Cajuns offense has done an excellent job of taking care of the ball, especially through the air, being one of only ten teams to have thrown just one interception.

Back on the defensive side of the ball, North Texas has yet to allow a fourth down conversion. Mean Green opponents have lined up to go for it five times, and have been denied each time. Only one other team (Rutgers) has not allowed a fourth down conversion this season.

The Ragin' Cagins have also been impressive on fourth down defensively. They have stopped opponents on six of their seven fourth down conversion attempts. Three of those stops have come inside of their 25, forcing teams to end the drive with no points.

With all the defensive strengths considered, it may be a race to 21 points. Under Dan McCarney, North Texas is 6-2 when scoring more than 21 points and 1-9 when being held to 21 points or less. Both of their losses when scoring more than 21 came last season (to Houston and Tulsa). 

One more interesting note. The Ragin' Cajuns are one of only 15 other teams (and the only team in the Sun Belt), to return all nine of their assistants. In addition, we also saw a note that they also bring back all four of the graduate assistants and administrative assistants, as well as all three of their strength and conditioning coaches.

Tune in tonight at 9pm ET on ESPN2 to catch the game.

Almost everyone is at least at the halfway point of the college football season. It's going by fast, so here's a look at some interesting stats so far through week 7.

Enjoy, and let us know if you see anything else worthy of making the cut.

- Following their game against Marshall at the end of last month, Purdue ranked 23rd nationally in rushing defense. Today, after back to back games against Michigan (where they allowed 304 yards rushing) and Wisconsin (where they allowed 497 yards rushing), they now rank 97th in run defense.

- Alabama has not trailed at the end of any quarter for 20 straight games.

- Texas A&M's Johnny Manziel is the nation's top freshman in points responsible for, total offense, scoring, pass efficiency, passing yardage, and rushing.

- Utah State had 14 sacks going into this weekend. Against San Jose State, the Aggies recorded a school record 13 sacks, bringing their yearly total to 27. Even that performance wasn't enough to top Tulsa, who lead the nation in sacks with 31 total.

- Toledo and Eastern Michigan combined for 55 points in the third quarter on Saturday.

- Despite having the ball for 13 less minutes than the Buckeyes, Indiana ran only one less offensive play. The Hoosiers churned out 78 plays on Saturday while Ohio State got off 79..

- New Mexico recorded their fourth straight game of 300+ rushing yards against Hawaii. Their game against Boise State is included in those four games (330 yards rushing).

- Rutgers linebacker Khaseem Greene had 14 tackles, 1.5 sacks, 3 forced fumbles and an interception in their win against Syracuse this weekend. 

- Eastern Michigan has yet to record a touchback on kickoffs this season. Washington has kicked off into the end zone just once all year.

- Air Force is now the only team in the country to have not allowed a sack. UTSA gave up their first sack of the year on Saturday for a loss of 5 yards.

- Only Louisiana Tech and Oregon are averaging over 50 points per game. Tech is putting up nearly 54 per game and the Ducks are averaging just over 52 ppg. On the flip side, UMass, Florida Atlantic and Tulane are all averaging less than 14 ppg.

- Indiana and UTSA are the only teams in the country yet to lose a fumble. Each team has fumbled twice this season. 

- Ball State has ran the most plays through 7 game than anyone else in the country with 594 total plays (85 per game). Marshall carries the highest average per game with 92 plays per contest. Temple ranks at the bottom in plays ran with 64 per game.

- Washington State has more first downs due to penalties than they've earned on the ground. Alabama, Central Florida and Clemson have had just three penalties help move the chains for them through six games.

- Tulane is the only team in the country without a run over 20 yards. Penn State, New Mexico State and Maryland have one each.

- The top 5 teams in fumble recoveries are a combined 31-12 (New Mexico, Missouri, Louisiana Tech, Ohio, Tulsa, and Boise State).

- Every kickoff specialist the country has had at least one kick go out of bounds.

- Washington State (10) and Cal (10) are the only two teams in the nation with losing records despite double digit interceptions.

- Baylor's defense is allowing teams to convert 64% of their third down conversions, which ranks 120th nationally.

- Three of the top four tacklers in the country are out of the MAC (Toledo, Ball State, Miami of Ohio).

- Only 56 kickers have hit 100% of their extra point attempts. Three kickers, all from teams with winning records (Wisconsin, UCLA, Louisville), have converted on less than 90% of their tries.

- Kent State kickoff returner Dri Archer has returned 3 kicks for more than 90 yards this season.

- Quinn Sharp (Oklahoma State) and Jeff Lock (UCLA) are both kicking touchbacks at a rate of about 84%. Sharp leads the nation at 83.78% with Lock not far behind at 83.72%