Oklahoma State Ranks Near Bottom of FBS in Total Rushing

Through 2 games against lesser competition, Oklahoma State’s running game, at least statistically, is significantly worse than where the Pokes finished last season.

There could be several major reasons for the decline in total rushing, the most obvious being that Oklahoma State has been rotating running backs more than my wife rotates outfits in the morning. The second, and perhaps the biggest contributing factor, is the game plan against FCS and MAC competition is likely prepared so as not to ‘show all their cards’ before conference play.

But the trend is certainly concerning. OSU finished 99th in total rushing in 2015 with 136.6 yards per game, averaging 3.5 yards per carry and showing signs of promise and improvement as the season progressed.

And this season, the yards per carry has actually improved, sitting at 3.58 yards per carry. However they are currently averaged just at 127 total rushing yards per game, meaning that although they’re getting more yards out of their backs on a per carry basis, but they’re actually going to their backs less, which puts them at 116th in the FBS in total rushing.

“I think we were a little better last game, but we abandoned the run a little too quickly,” Gundy said in his coaches show this week.

The competition in Pitt is a cut above last week in Central Michigan, with Pitt’s rushing defense allowing an average of 148.5 yards per game in two wins this season — 4.35 yards per carry.

With the running game seemingly improved despite OSU going away from it last game, I expect they’ll try and find their stride early in the game to catch their rhythm. I’ll be looking for both Chris Carson and Justice Hill to get their carries early and often in today’s contest.