10 jaw-dropping college football stats from Week 8: Najee Harris in exclusive company
The best college football stats from Week 8 that will blow your mind, including Najee Harris joining an exclusive club of former Heisman Trophy winners.
It was an extra special Saturday of college football as the Big Ten entered the fray.
More games, more powerhouse programs and more stars made for an even more packed slate of games.
Now, it’s time to check out all the incredible stats from the latest weekend of college football excitement.
10 mind-blowing college football state from Week 8
1. Najee Harris is getting serious in the Heisman race
Alabama running back Najee Harris has always had a nose for the goal line.
Najee Harris has a rush TD in 12 straight games.
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) October 24, 2020
Tim Tebow & Derrick Henry are the only SEC players with longer streaks over the last 15 seasons.
The last 2 Alabama players to score a rush TD in the team’s first 5 games went on to win the Heisman – Derrick Henry & Mark Ingram. pic.twitter.com/3mpcL3qjYr
But in 2020, he’s really taking it to another level.
Najee Harris' 14 rush TD are tied with Lamar Jackson for the 2nd-most through his team's first 5 games over the last 25 seasons.
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) October 24, 2020
Only Ricky Williams had more with 20 in 1998.
Williams and Jackson both won the Heisman. pic.twitter.com/jMLKtiN7mi
His yardage totals are starting to look more Heisman-like too. After rushing for 141 yards in the first two games of the season, Harris has racked up 454 yards in the last three games, including 96 against Tennessee.
2. LSU’s Terrace Marshall Jr. loves the end zone
Find someone who loves you like LSU wide receiver Terrace Marshall Jr. loves the end zone.
Terrace Marshall Jr. has 2 rec TD in 4 straight games, the longest streak by a SEC player since Keenan Burton in 2006 for Kentucky.
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) October 25, 2020
Marshall Jr. and Burton are the only SEC players with 2 rec TD in 4 straight games over the last 25 seasons. pic.twitter.com/QFwbFb0pjN
Marshall had 13 touchdowns in 12 games in 2019. With eight in four games, he’s well on his way to eclipsing that total even in a shortened season.
3. It’s been that long since LSU had a kick return touchdown?
Congratulations are in order for LSU’s Trey Palmer, who did something no one has done at Death Valley in 39 years.
TREY PALMER HOUSE CALL@LSUfootball's first kickoff return TD in Tiger Stadium since 1981 🤯 pic.twitter.com/rx8S5nc9af
— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) October 25, 2020
Leonard Fournette returned a kick against Notre Dame in 2014. That was the last return TD for the Tigers, but it came in the Music City Bowl.
4. Clemson’s home-winning streak just keeps getting longer
Clemson continues to rack up winning streaks. They’re now 6-0 after a win over Syracuse.
Best fans in the country --> best home field advantage in the country --> longest active home winning streak in the country pic.twitter.com/nbzx6IPhWs
— Clemson Football (@ClemsonFB) October 24, 2020
Boston College and Pitt are the only teams left who can end that streak this year.
5. Less is more for Sam Ehlinger and Texas
Texas took out Baylor to improve their record to 3-2 in what was Sam Ehlinger’s quietest game of the season so far.
By quiet, we mean he only accounted for three touchdowns, one passing and two rushing, while throwing an interception. In each of the first four games of the season, he scored five or more total touchdowns
It turns out, the less Ehlinger has to do, the better.
35 is the magic number for Sam Ehlinger.
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) October 24, 2020
In his career as a starter, Ehlinger is 18-0 when he attempts 35 or fewer passes... he is 5-15 when attempting 36 or more passes.
Ehlinger attempted 23 passes in Texas' win vs Baylor today pic.twitter.com/RwNBhS0G0t
We’ll see if Texas can ask so little of their quarterback next week against undefeated Oklahoma State.
6. Indiana finally gets it done against a Top 10 team
Even though Indiana had a 10-point lead on No. 8 Penn State at halftime, history was very much working against the Hoosiers.
Per @ESPNStatsInfo Indiana has led 3 AP Top 10 teams by 10 points or more since 2009, but it lost all 3 games by at least a TD, and 2 by double digits.
— Heather Dinich (@CFBHeather) October 24, 2020
Indiana's streak of 41 straight losses vs AP Top-10 opponents was the longest in the AP Poll Era (since 1936) by a Big Ten team.
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) October 24, 2020
This was Penn State's eighth loss as a top-10 team in the last 5 seasons. Only Auburn (10) has more over that span. pic.twitter.com/CUoiaVZAtS
It took a miracle, controversial two-point conversion in overtime to get Indiana the 36-35 win, but they did indeed pull it off.
The last time Indiana beat a top-10 team the Big Ten had 10 teams. https://t.co/V6ZleN29XD
— Jason Starrett (@starrettjason) October 24, 2020
Indiana’s offensive coordinator wasn’t even born the last time the Hoosiers beat a top 10 team.
— Bryan Fischer (@BryanDFischer) October 24, 2020
7. Rutgers finally wins a conference game
It’s been a long time since Rutgers won a Big Ten game.
With its 38-27 victory, Rutgers snaps a 21-game conference losing streak in Greg Schiano’s first game back on the sidelines with the Scarlet Knights.
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) October 24, 2020
That ends the second-longest conference losing streak in Big Ten history. pic.twitter.com/WmjdvVZdr3
The 38-27 win over Michigan State was the Scarlet Knight’s first since Nov. 4, 2017, against Maryland.
8. Ohio State is working on a better streak
While Rutgers has had a rough time beating Big Ten teams, Ohio State has made a habit of blowing out teams in their conference.
Justin Fields completed 95.2% of his passes, tying Graham Mertz (last night) for the 2nd-highest comp pct in a game in Big Ten history, min 15 attempts.@OhioStateFB has now won 13 straight games vs conference opponents by double-digits, the longest streak in Big Ten history. pic.twitter.com/8IKbeRPfPt
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) October 24, 2020
9. Michigan blasts Minnesota early
Michigan appeared to relish the chance to get back on the field against Minnesota on Saturday. They took the frustrations of a long offseason out on the Gophers, that’s for sure.
Michigan scored 35 points in the first half.
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) October 25, 2020
That is its most in a first half vs a ranked opponent in the AP Poll Era (since 1936).
H/T @EliasSports
The Wolverines' 35 points are their most in a half (either 1st or 2nd) since 2003 against... Minnesota (38). pic.twitter.com/Tlxo3CH9Nd
And it got better.
Michigan's 49 points are tied for the 5th most points in a season opening game in school history.
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) October 25, 2020
The Wolverines have won 17 straight road games vs Minnesota. That is the longest road win streak vs a single opponent in Big Ten history. pic.twitter.com/c8rQTeL8nC
10. Dillon Gabriel is the truth for UCF
UCF may be 3-2, but it’s not because they lack a quarterback. Dillon Gabriel is doing just fine.
Dillon Gabriel is the 3rd player in the last 15 seasons with 400 Pass yards, 5 Pass TD and 0 interceptions in consecutive games.
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) October 24, 2020
He joins future NFL No. 1 picks, Jared Goff (2015) and Joe Burrow (2019). Burrow did this in the College Football Playoff. pic.twitter.com/w4HzVmGjyv
The future sure looks bright for Gabriel, whose numbers are simply out of this world at this stage.
Next. 10 college football rivalries dying a slow death. dark
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