Oklahoma State Was Better With Its Back Against the Wall in 2015

I know many of you think stats are for losers, but stats can actually tell us some interesting things when used properly. One of those interesting things is that Oklahoma State was far better on offense when it had its back against the wall.

On overall non-garbage time drives, OSU scored 2.84 points per drive. Nearly a field goal every time they touched it. That’s good. That’s good enough for No. 17 in the nation. Better than Clemson, Michigan State and USC.

But let’s look at long drives and … holy crap! Oklahoma State scored 3.44 points per long drive (defined as starting inside its own 20). The only team better was … Baylor at 3.72 points. OSU was also good at value drives (starting on your own side of the field and reaching at least the opponent’s 30).

So why was OSU so good when it was backed up inside its own 20. I have two words.

James. Washington.

Washington is averaging 20.7 yards per catch this season on 52 catches. That’s historically great. It’s only been done a few times since 2000 in NCAA football.

Even fewer in Power 5 conferences.

Since 2000, here are all the Power 5 WRs who have averaged 20+ yards a catch with 50+ catches. pic.twitter.com/xOLY5FgYZJ

— Pistols Firing (@pistolsguys) December 2, 2015

Washington has four TD catches of 70+ yards (which leads the nation). The President certainly has more room to roam when OSU is backed up to its own end zone. But the reality is that maybe OSU should just got to him more even when they aren’t.