College News & Analysis

College Football: Stats to know for Week 10 of the 2020 college football season

Iowa linebacker Nick Niemann catches USC freshman quarterback Kedon Slovis in the second quarter during the Holiday Bowl on Friday, Dec. 27, 2019, at the SDCCU Stadium in San Diego, Calif. 20191227 Holidaybowl

For the first time in 2020, this weekend truly feels like a normal college football weekend. The Pac-12 will be back in action, and all conferences in the Power 5 will be on the field for the first time this year.

Twenty-two of the top-25 teams have matchups in Week 10, so here are the stats to know for those top-25 matchups on the slate.

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No. 11 Miami @ NC State

The Miami Hurricanes' defensive line has racked up 90 total pressures this season, seventh among FBS units. This formidable pass rush will go against an NC State offensive line that has allowed the 11th-most pressures since Week 2.

No. 9 BYU @ No. 21 Boise State

Zach Wilson has been one of the biggest surprises of the 2020 college football season. Wilson was the 68th highest-graded quarterback in 2019, but he has taken his game to Heisman levels this season, ranking as the second-highest-graded quarterback in all of college football.

No. 23 Michigan @ No. 13 Indiana

After suffering a season-ending injury in 2019, Michael Penix Jr. has shown no signs of rust and has led Indiana to a No. 13 ranking heading into Week 10. Since the Big Ten kicked off, Penix ranks behind only Sam Howell and Spencer Rattler in big-time throws (7).

No. 18 SMU @ Temple

The Mustangs have found an offensive superstar in redshirt freshman running back Ulysses Bentley IV. Bentley's 84.8 PFF grade ranks fourth among qualifying Group of 5 running backs, and he is tied for the lead with 22 10-plus-yard runs.

October 19, 2019; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Southern California Trojans quarterback Kedon Slovis (9) throws against the Arizona Wildcats during the first half at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Arizona State @ No. 20 USC

After being thrust into the starting role, Kedon Slovis outplayed his three-star ranking out of high school to put up the second-highest accurate-pass rate (69.4%) in college football in 2019, trailing only Heisman winner Joe Burrow.

West Virginia @ No. 22 Texas

Sam Ehlinger has had to do everything for the Texas Longhorns offense this season. Heading into Week 10, Ehlinger is the Longhorns’ leading rusher, with 284 yards. He also is third among all Big 12 players in rushing touchdowns (7), recording more touchdowns on the ground than names like Chuba Hubbard and Deuce Vaughn.

No. 25 Liberty @ Virginia Tech

Auburn transfer Malik Willis has been on another level since getting the starting job at Liberty. Willis is a dual-threat quarterback with incredible running ability. He ranks second, behind only Middle Tennessee’s Asher O’Hara, in rushing yards among college quarterbacks, with 546. His 27 missed tackles forced on runs also ranks first among all quarterbacks in the country.

UMass @ No. 16 Marshall

The Thundering Herd defensive unit has been a force to be reckoned with so far this season. They have allowed -0.255 expected points added (EPA) per play so far, 13th among 130 FBS teams, and they have allowed a successful play (a play that generates positive EPA) on just 35.2% of plays, 11th.

University of Florida tight end Kyle Pitts (84) reaches out to catch a ball over his shoulder during a game against the Missouri Tigers at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, Fla. Oct. 31, 2020. [Brad McClenny/The Gainesville Sun]

No. 8 Florida @ No. 5 Georgia

Kyle Pitts is the second-highest-graded player in all of college football (95.0). He has caught seven of his 13 red-zone targets and is tied for the most red-zone reception touchdowns (6) since Week 4.

Houston @ No. 6 Cincinnati

The Cincinnati Bearcats have emerged as a legit playoff contender, and that can be attributed to the excellent play of the defense. Cincinnati’s secondary has allowed the third-lowest completion percentage (54.1%), only two passing touchdowns, and they have picked off eight passes in total.

Kansas @ No. 19 Oklahoma

Freshman wide receiver Marvin Mims had some big shoes to fill, given the Oklahoma wide receiver room's past successes. Mims has emerged as Rattler’s favorite target in 2020, leading all Oklahoma receivers in receiving grade (86.0), explosive plays of 15 or more yards (6), yards per route run (4.46) and passer rating when targeted (126.0).

No. 14 Oklahoma State @ Kansas State

Deuce Vaughn’s 87.2 PFF grade makes him the highest-graded freshman running back in college football. The true freshman has proven to be already one of the more versatile running backs in the nation, too, as his 91.3 receiving grade ranks second to Clemson's Travis Etienne.

No. 7 Texas A&M @ South Carolina

South Carolina cornerback Jaycee Horn has been one of the best defensive backs in the nation. Horn has allowed just five catches on 21 targets in 2020 — the country's lowest catch rate allowed (23.8%).

Baylor @ No. 17 Iowa State

Breece Hall ranks second in rushing yards (891) and leads the FBS in rushes of 30-plus yards with seven. Four of those seven went for touchdowns, which also ranks first in the FBS.

No. 1 Clemson @ No. 4 Notre Dame

Notre Dame has fielded one of the best offensive lines in the country this season. As a unit, they rank fifth in PFF grade, third in run-blocking grade and seventh in pass-blocking grade. Meanwhile, Clemson has produced the third-most quarterback pressures behind the ACC's highest pressure rate (39.4%).

Rutgers @ No. 3 Ohio State

Justin Fields and Chris Olave have played like one of the best quarterback-wide receiver duo in football since the Big Ten kicked off, picking up on the chemistry from last season. Fields when targeting Olave since 2019: 15 big-time throws, 144.0 passer rating, 18.4 average depth of target and 29 passes resulting in a 15-plus-yard gain.

Stanford @ No. 12 Oregon

Stanford’s offense was far from explosive in 2019. The Cardinals had 45 pass plays gain over 20 yards last season (T-60th in FBS) and had the second-lowest amount of run plays gaining 20-plus yards in the FBS (5).

South Alabama @ No. 15 Coastal Carolina

Coastal Carolina has emerged as one of the better Group of 5 teams in the country, jumping up to a No. 15 ranking. The extraordinary play from the Chanticleers has been largely due to quarterback Grayson McCall. The freshman is PFF’s seventh-highest-graded quarterback in the country (91.2) and has amassed a passing grade of 93.1 — behind only Zach Wilson and Spencer Rattler.

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