What Penn State 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.
Penn State's plays work 40% of the time (101 of 253). All teams: 44%. That is worse 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 1st & 7+ they run 62% of the time, but runs work 38% (25 of 66) and passes work 59% (24 of 41).
Only 44% of Penn State's runs gain 4 yards or more, against 49% for all teams. That ranks 116th of 137.
R. Becht to K. Howard works 64% of the time (9 of 14 throws, 10 caught, 21.9 yards a throw). Everything else through the air works 39%. He gets 12% of the targets.
Penn State scores 1.64 points per drive, against 2.07 for all teams. That ranks 109th of 137.
On 2nd & 4-6 they run 54% of the time, but runs work 14% (2 of 14) and passes work 42% (5 of 12).
On third and fourth down, R. Becht to K. Howard has moved the chains 2 of 4 times (50%).
R. Becht has completed 72 of 121 passes (60%), and 44% of his throws keep the offense on schedule.
C. Sowell: 17 catches on 28 targets, 9.9 yards a target, and 54% of throws his way work.
B. Brahmer: 13 catches on 22 targets, 6.5 yards a target, and 41% of throws his way work.
B. Eskildsen: 11 catches on 21 targets, 6.8 yards a target, and 29% of throws his way work.
J. Peoples: 45 carries, 3.1 yards a carry, and 40% of his runs work.
C. Hansen: 42 carries, 4.5 yards a carry, and 40% of his runs work.
Passing on 1st and long (7 or more) works 59% of the time, against 49% for all teams (24 of 41 plays).
Passing on 3rd and long (7 or more) works 33% of the time, against 26% for all teams (6 of 18 plays).
Running on 2nd and medium (4-6) works 14% of the time, against 49% for all teams (2 of 14 plays).
Passing on 3rd and medium (4-6) works 25% of the time, against 42% for all teams (4 of 16 plays).
Passing on 2nd and long (7 or more) works 28% of the time, against 39% for all teams (8 of 29 plays).
From 5 games through week 5, 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.
333 plays across 5 games. Run rate 53%. The quarterback has 23 of 176 runs, and the feed cannot tell a designed keeper from a scramble.
| Situation | Plays | Run | All teams run | Handoffs | QB runs | Passes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st & 4-6 * | 5 | 60% | 73% | 33% of 3 | - | 0% of 2 |
| 1st & 7+ | 142 | 63% | 56% | 42% of 83 | 14% of 7 | 62% of 52 |
| 2nd & 1-3 | 21 | 62% | 66% | 77% of 13 | - | 62% of 8 |
| 2nd & 4-6 | 32 | 53% | 58% | 21% of 14 | 0% of 3 | 47% of 15 |
| 2nd & 7+ | 56 | 39% | 45% | 20% of 15 | 29% of 7 | 32% of 34 |
| 3rd & 1-3 | 18 | 83% | 71% | 64% of 11 | 75% of 4 | 67% of 3 |
| 3rd & 4-6 | 21 | 24% | 30% | 60% of 5 | - | 25% of 16 |
| 3rd & 7+ | 32 | 25% | 24% | 0% of 6 | 50% of 2 | 33% of 24 |
| 4th & 1-3 * | 5 | 60% | 65% | 67% of 3 | - | 50% of 2 |
| 4th & 7+ * | 1 | 0% | 12% | - | - | 0% of 1 |
| Situation | Plays | Run | All teams run | Handoffs | QB runs | Passes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Backed up (own 1-19) | 38 | 79% | 54% | 35% of 26 | 25% of 4 | 25% of 8 |
| Own side (own 20-49) | 143 | 41% | 48% | 44% of 54 | 25% of 4 | 45% of 85 |
| Opponent side (50 to the 21) | 96 | 52% | 50% | 41% of 39 | 36% of 11 | 54% of 46 |
| Red zone (20 and in) | 56 | 68% | 61% | 44% of 34 | 25% of 4 | 28% of 18 |
| Situation | Plays | Run | All teams run | Handoffs | QB runs | Passes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trailing by 9+ | 59 | 30% | 44% | 33% of 12 | 33% of 6 | 46% of 41 |
| Within one score | 103 | 52% | 51% | 41% of 46 | 25% of 8 | 41% of 49 |
| Leading by 9+ | 171 | 61% | 59% | 43% of 95 | 33% of 9 | 46% of 67 |
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.
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