What Nebraska calls on every down, distance and part of the field, and how often each call works.
Every play is counted, so these tables line up with a box score. "Close-game plays only" leaves out snaps after a game is decided, when teams stop calling plays the way they normally do.
Nebraska's plays work 47% of the time (182 of 388). All teams: 44%. That is better than most. A play "works" when it stays on schedule: half the distance on first down, 70% on second, all of it on third or fourth.
On 3rd & 7+ they throw 74% of the time, but passes work 27% (7 of 26) and runs work 56% (5 of 9).
Runs by J. Rule work 51% of the time (29 of 57, 6.8 yards a carry). Every other back combined: 40% (40 of 100).
A. Colandrea's runs work 65% of the time (28 of 43). Handoffs work 44% (69 of 157).
A. Colandrea to M. Nelson works 62% of the time (8 of 13 throws, 9 caught, 12.5 yards a throw). Everything else through the air works 44%. He gets 7% of the targets.
On 2nd & 1-3 they run 47% of the time, but runs work 50% (4 of 8) and passes work 78% (7 of 9).
On third and fourth down, A. Colandrea to J. Barney Jr. has moved the chains 6 of 11 times (55%).
A. Colandrea has completed 113 of 179 passes (63%), and 47% of his throws keep the offense on schedule.
K. Gilmer: 30 catches on 52 targets, 7.3 yards a target, and 46% of throws his way work.
J. Barney Jr.: 26 catches on 37 targets, 9.3 yards a target, and 57% of throws his way work.
L. Lindenmeyer: 18 catches on 26 targets, 5.4 yards a target, and 46% of throws his way work.
M. Nelson: 58 carries, 4.7 yards a carry, and 41% of his runs work.
J. Rule: 57 carries, 6.8 yards a carry, and 51% of his runs work.
Passing on 3rd and medium (4-6) works 64% of the time, against 42% for all teams (9 of 14 plays).
Running on 2nd and long (7 or more) works 42% of the time, against 31% for all teams (17 of 40 plays).
Passing on 2nd and long (7 or more) works 45% of the time, against 38% for all teams (20 of 44 plays).
Passing on 1st and long (7 or more) works 44% of the time, against 48% for all teams (29 of 66 plays).
From 6 games through week 6, garbage time left out. Every line compares this team with all FBS teams in the same spot and shows the count behind it. "Small sample" means fewer than 15 plays, so treat it as a lead, not a fact. Copy puts the line on your clipboard, ready to paste.
The rank is among FBS teams, with 1st the best for an offense, and the bar fills toward the best. Garbage time is left out. These are plain rates, not adjusted for opponent. A drive's points count the touchdown with its extra point or a field goal.
435 plays across 6 games. Run rate 52%. The quarterback has 47 of 226 runs, and the feed cannot tell a designed keeper from a scramble.
| Situation | Plays | Run | All teams run | Handoffs | QB runs | Passes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st & 1-3 * | 4 | 50% | 86% | 50% of 2 | - | 50% of 2 |
| 1st & 4-6 * | 6 | 50% | 72% | 50% of 2 | 0% of 1 | 67% of 3 |
| 1st & 7+ | 185 | 62% | 56% | 39% of 100 | 50% of 14 | 44% of 71 |
| 2nd & 1-3 | 22 | 46% | 66% | 50% of 10 | - | 75% of 12 |
| 2nd & 4-6 | 29 | 45% | 58% | 60% of 10 | 67% of 3 | 69% of 16 |
| 2nd & 7+ | 94 | 48% | 45% | 34% of 32 | 62% of 13 | 49% of 49 |
| 3rd & 1-3 | 27 | 74% | 71% | 67% of 15 | 100% of 5 | 43% of 7 |
| 3rd & 4-6 | 17 | 12% | 30% | - | 100% of 2 | 67% of 15 |
| 3rd & 7+ | 39 | 26% | 23% | 0% of 2 | 62% of 8 | 28% of 29 |
| 4th & 1-3 * | 8 | 88% | 65% | 83% of 6 | 100% of 1 | 0% of 1 |
| 4th & 4-6 * | 2 | 0% | 16% | - | - | 0% of 2 |
| 4th & 7+ * | 2 | 0% | 12% | - | - | 0% of 2 |
| Situation | Plays | Run | All teams run | Handoffs | QB runs | Passes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Backed up (own 1-19) | 29 | 45% | 54% | 9% of 11 | 100% of 2 | 44% of 16 |
| Own side (own 20-49) | 196 | 45% | 48% | 40% of 70 | 58% of 19 | 46% of 107 |
| Opponent side (50 to the 21) | 143 | 58% | 50% | 48% of 63 | 70% of 20 | 50% of 60 |
| Red zone (20 and in) | 67 | 61% | 62% | 54% of 35 | 50% of 6 | 50% of 26 |
| Situation | Plays | Run | All teams run | Handoffs | QB runs | Passes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trailing by 9+ | 12 | 33% | 44% | 67% of 3 | 100% of 1 | 62% of 8 |
| Within one score | 261 | 48% | 51% | 45% of 95 | 58% of 31 | 42% of 135 |
| Leading by 9+ | 162 | 59% | 59% | 41% of 81 | 73% of 15 | 58% of 66 |
Handoffs, QB runs, and Passes show how often the play worked and how many there were. Run includes QB runs. * means fewer than 10 plays, so treat it as noise. Data from CollegeFootballData.com.