Pac-10 at its offensive best as scoring up nationwide

PULLMAN – Is the rest of the country turning as offensive as the Pac-10?

When Navy and North Texas State combine for 136 points in a regulation game, as they did Saturday, it sure seems like it.

But the national statistics, while documenting an increase throughout the country, show the Pac-10 is still the offensive force it has traditionally been.

The NCAA’s Bowl Championship Subdivision has turned on the afterburners when it comes to offense, with its 119 teams averaging 28.4 points a game. The record for a full season was set in 2002 at 27.3 points a game.

But scoring isn’t the only measure of offensive explosion.

The nation’s averages in passing yards (231.9, also better than the previous record of 224.6 set in 2005) and rushing yards (160, more than 44 yards less than 1975’s record but still up 20 yards a game over last season) are reaching Pac-10 territory.

So how does the conference of champions hold up in this new era of offensive powerhouses like Texas Tech, Kansas and Hawaii?

Pretty well, actually. Strong in areas (scoring, passing and total offense) you would expect and weak in the one (rushing) you would as well – but not as weak as its national reputation might suggest.

Pac-10 teams average 37.9 rushes per game (the nation: 38.4) and gain 158.8 yards on the ground (less than 2 yards less than the national average), a 4.19 per-carry average (the nation: 4.2, more than the season mark of 4.05 set in 1954 and equaled in 2004).

Conference teams are averaging 28.8 points a game, they throw 35 times a game (the nation: 33.3) and complete 58.4 of those passes (the nation: 59.2). The result is 240 yards a game through the air.

The NCAA’s best year for total offense was 2003 at 382.6 yards a game. This year BCS schools are averaging 391.9.

The Pac-10 is more than 7 yards a game better at 399.2.

Why the national offensive surge? The complex answers revolve around the three blocking rule changes in 30 years that have allowed offensive lineman more freedom with their hands. Then there is the proliferation of the spread offense. Finally, there is this year’s rule tweak, moving the kickoff back 5 yards, leading to better field position – better field position leads to more offensive chances.

But a major culprit is being overlooked. It’s the timing rules.

Last year, the NCAA instituted rules to cut down the length of games. It was widely criticized. But the nation’s leader in plays per game, Oregon, only averaged 73.7.

In contrast, Boise State led the country in 2004 with 79.3 plays a game. In 2005 it was Oregon at 82.6. This year, it’s Houston, averaging 81.8 plays in each of its first 10 games.

Add seven, eight or nine plays a game to the offenses’ totals and it’s easy to see why scoring and other offensive statistics are up this season.

Around the conference

One team whose offense is doing better is Washington. The Huskies’ scoring has risen six points a game and their rushing is more than 60 yards a game to the plus side. Everyone knows the reason. Jake Locker, if he’s healthy, will set a conference mark for rushing by a quarterback in the modern era, eclipsing the post-World War II mark set by UCLA’s Jeff Dankworth (815 yards) in the Bruins’ 1976 veer attack. Locker has 807 rushing yards and seems to be bouncing back quickly from a neck injury suffered against Oregon State last weekend. Washington coach Tyrone Willingham told the Seattle P-I on Tuesday, “We’re not ruling him in or out. What I’m saying is that I like the progress I’ve seen from him.” The Huskies play Cal this Saturday. … Things can’t get much worse for UCLA, losers of three straight. The Bruins, who host Oregon in 10 days, had their game with Arizona State turn on a late first half roughing-the-passer penalty assessed to Bruce Davis, their best pass rusher. Davis didn’t like the call much. “If I say what I want to say, I’ll just get in trouble,” Davis told the L.A. Times after Arizona State rallied for a 24-20 win. “I haven’t seen the replay. I’m just going to leave it at that right now.” But he went on. “I was pretty shocked,” he said. “He throws the ball. I take a step and hit him. The side judge had been on me from the get-go. Who knows … whatever … they made their call.” … Arizona State’s defense is not only limiting the yards it yields (third in the conference in total defense), it also has forced at least one turnover in 12 consecutive games dating back to last season. The Sun Devils have intercepted a conference-best 15 passes this year. … Cal receiver Robert Jordan extended his school record of consecutive games with a reception to 39. His coach, Jeff Tedford, will go for his 50th win at the school against UW. … Stanford wide receiver Richard Sherman was reinstated to the team Tuesday after serving a one-game suspension because of poor sportsmanship on the sidelines during a game earlier this month. Sherman was called for a personal foul during a 27-9 home loss to Washington on Nov. 3. Soon after, television cameras caught Sherman on the sidelines pointing and screaming, apparently at teammates, while special teams coach C.J. Durkin tried to quell the situation. … Last year Stanford had a total of 14 sacks. Through 10 games this season the Cardinal have recorded 30.