In this down time of college football, and forced to telework half of the week, I wanted to waste some time and look at the most prolific offenses of the past decade. I looked at yards per play and points per game to come up with the following teams.
10: In 2017, Oklahoma averaged 8.29 yards per play and 579.6 yards per game while putting up 45.1 points per game. They went 12-2 with loses to Iowa St. and Georgia in a thrilling 48-54 shootout in double overtime. The team amassed over 8000 yards of total offense, with 3049 yards rushing and 5065 yards passing.
9: In 2014, Marshall averaged 7.59 yards per play and 559.2 yards per game while putting up 45.6 points per game. The Doc holiday leaf Thundering Herd went 13-1 with the only loss coming against Western Kentucky in a 66-67 overtime game.
8: In 2017, UCF averaged 7.46 yards per play and 530.5 yards per game while putting up 48.2 points per game. The Scott Frost lead Knights went 13-0 defeating Auburn 34-27 in the Peach bowl, self-proclaiming themselves the 2017 National Champions.
7: In 2018, Alabama averaged 7.76 yards per play and 522 yards per game while putting up 45.6 points per game. The Crimson Tide went 14-1 and were dominated 44-16 in the National Championship by Clemson.
6: In 2019, Alabama averaged 7.89 yards per play and 510.8 while putting up 47.2 points per game. An unusual down year for the tide resulted in an 11-2 record with losses to Auburn and LSU. Although they averaged 7.89 yards per play (5th highest this decade) they only had 842 offensive plays leading to mediocre 6600 yards for the season.
5: In 2013, Baylor averaged 7.48 yards per play and 618.2 yards per game while putting up 52.4 points per game, more than any other team this decade. The Bears went 11-2 with losses to Oklahoma St. and UCF in the Fiesta Bowl. With 3368 yards rushing and 4668 yards passing, they amassed 8036 yards of offense that season.
4: In 2011, Houston averaged 7.61 yards per play and 599.1 yards per game while putting up 49.3 points per game. The Sumlin/Kingsbury led Cougars went 13-1, there only loss coming to Southern Miss in the CUSA championship game. With over 8300 yards of total offense, Houston had a startling 6300 yards passing while adding 2000+ on the ground.
3: In 2019, LSU averaged 7.89 yards per play and 568.4 yards per game while putting up 48.4 points per game. The Orgeron Tigers went 15-0 demolishing Oklahoma 63-28 and then Clemson 42-25 capturing the National Championship. The 8526 yards of total offense is the most this decade. LSU went for 6024 yards through the air and 2502 yards on the ground.
2: In 2013, FSU averaged 7.67 yards per play and 519.1 yards per game while putting up 51.6 points per game. The Fisher led Seminoles went 14-0 defeating Auburn 34-31 in the national Championship game.
1: The most prolific offense of the last decade goes to the 2018 Oklahoma Sooners. Oklahoma averaged 8.6 yards per play, more than any other team this decade, and 570.3 yards per game while putting up 48.4 points per game. In Riley’s second season, and second time on this list, the Sooners went 12-2 with a 45-48 loss to Texas in the Red River Shootout and a 34-45 loss to Alabama in CFP semifinal.
Some interesting notes from my research…
- Oklahoma hold the top three spots in yards per play this decade with 8.6, 8.29, and 7.96 yards per play.
- Baylor holds three of the top four spots in yards per game with 618.2, 616.2, and 587.1 yards per game. Only Houston’s 599.1 in 2011 broke up that streak.
- The six of the top seven teams in yards per game this decade all play in the Big 12.
- From 2010-2015 Oregon averaged 46.1 points per game, from 2011-2015 Baylor averaged 47.6 points per game.
10: In 2017, Oklahoma averaged 8.29 yards per play and 579.6 yards per game while putting up 45.1 points per game. They went 12-2 with loses to Iowa St. and Georgia in a thrilling 48-54 shootout in double overtime. The team amassed over 8000 yards of total offense, with 3049 yards rushing and 5065 yards passing.
9: In 2014, Marshall averaged 7.59 yards per play and 559.2 yards per game while putting up 45.6 points per game. The Doc holiday leaf Thundering Herd went 13-1 with the only loss coming against Western Kentucky in a 66-67 overtime game.
8: In 2017, UCF averaged 7.46 yards per play and 530.5 yards per game while putting up 48.2 points per game. The Scott Frost lead Knights went 13-0 defeating Auburn 34-27 in the Peach bowl, self-proclaiming themselves the 2017 National Champions.
7: In 2018, Alabama averaged 7.76 yards per play and 522 yards per game while putting up 45.6 points per game. The Crimson Tide went 14-1 and were dominated 44-16 in the National Championship by Clemson.
6: In 2019, Alabama averaged 7.89 yards per play and 510.8 while putting up 47.2 points per game. An unusual down year for the tide resulted in an 11-2 record with losses to Auburn and LSU. Although they averaged 7.89 yards per play (5th highest this decade) they only had 842 offensive plays leading to mediocre 6600 yards for the season.
5: In 2013, Baylor averaged 7.48 yards per play and 618.2 yards per game while putting up 52.4 points per game, more than any other team this decade. The Bears went 11-2 with losses to Oklahoma St. and UCF in the Fiesta Bowl. With 3368 yards rushing and 4668 yards passing, they amassed 8036 yards of offense that season.
4: In 2011, Houston averaged 7.61 yards per play and 599.1 yards per game while putting up 49.3 points per game. The Sumlin/Kingsbury led Cougars went 13-1, there only loss coming to Southern Miss in the CUSA championship game. With over 8300 yards of total offense, Houston had a startling 6300 yards passing while adding 2000+ on the ground.
3: In 2019, LSU averaged 7.89 yards per play and 568.4 yards per game while putting up 48.4 points per game. The Orgeron Tigers went 15-0 demolishing Oklahoma 63-28 and then Clemson 42-25 capturing the National Championship. The 8526 yards of total offense is the most this decade. LSU went for 6024 yards through the air and 2502 yards on the ground.
2: In 2013, FSU averaged 7.67 yards per play and 519.1 yards per game while putting up 51.6 points per game. The Fisher led Seminoles went 14-0 defeating Auburn 34-31 in the national Championship game.
1: The most prolific offense of the last decade goes to the 2018 Oklahoma Sooners. Oklahoma averaged 8.6 yards per play, more than any other team this decade, and 570.3 yards per game while putting up 48.4 points per game. In Riley’s second season, and second time on this list, the Sooners went 12-2 with a 45-48 loss to Texas in the Red River Shootout and a 34-45 loss to Alabama in CFP semifinal.
Some interesting notes from my research…
- Oklahoma hold the top three spots in yards per play this decade with 8.6, 8.29, and 7.96 yards per play.
- Baylor holds three of the top four spots in yards per game with 618.2, 616.2, and 587.1 yards per game. Only Houston’s 599.1 in 2011 broke up that streak.
- The six of the top seven teams in yards per game this decade all play in the Big 12.
- From 2010-2015 Oregon averaged 46.1 points per game, from 2011-2015 Baylor averaged 47.6 points per game.
