Leaf Climbs To Top, Leads Total Offense

Washington State quarterback Ryan Leaf, who passed for 355 yards and three touchdowns in Saturday’s 28-21 football victory at USC, is leading the nation in total offense with 354.5 yards per game.

Leaf, a junior, passed for 381 yards and two scores in the Aug. 30 season-opener against UCLA, which WSU won 37-34.

Against USC, his 51-yard scoring pass to Kevin McKenzie with 4:18 remaining put WSU ahead for good - and lifted the Cougars into the Top 25 for the first time since 1994.

The 19th-ranked Cougars visit Illinois on Saturday for a non-conference game, to be televised live at 9:30 a.m. on ESPN2.

Leaf’s passing efficiency rating of 165.2 ranks 15th nationally. Washington’s Brock Huard leads the nation in that category, at 219.0.

, DataTimes