Oklahoma State’s 2017 Offense Barely Trailing 2011 in Efficiency

I didn’t want to look at the numbers after the Texas or West Virginia games given how woefully inefficient the Cowboys were in those two, but with an offense that seemingly found itself again against OU on Saturday, I thought we could hop back in.

Here are the numbers through nine games for both the 2011 and 2017 offenses.

It’s incredible how similar they are. From the yards per play to the overall passing yards to the points per drive to the first downs. Yes, the 2011 offense scored a little bit more, but it’s because it was given more opportunities. This year’s offense has nearly matched its production. And get this, if OSU doesn’t miss that extra point in Morgantown which led to going for two and not getting it, the numbers would be 3.20 to 3.19. Amazing.

It’s this but with college football offenses.

The difference this year, I think everyone would agree, is the variance. Yeah, you’re getting the same overall numbers, but you’re not getting the wild swings from 10 points against Texas to 52 against OU. That 2011 team, I believe, was more consistent offensively.

Regardless, it’s going to be interesting to see if the 2017 version can overtake 2011. That 2011 team ended the year scoring 141 against Texas Tech, Iowa State and OU. Can this year’s team match that over the final three games? With tilts at Ames and home against Kansas State, it will be tough.

(Of course they might also score 88 against KU over Thanksgiving).