14 SEC Stats You Need to Know for 2015
Here are the most important and interesting stats you need to know about the SEC in 2015:
1.5:
points per trip inside the 40 margin
A measure of a team’s ability to finish drives on offense and stop drives on defense is points per trip inside the 40. Alabama led the nation with a plus-1.5 point margin last season. It was 20th nationally with 5.0 points per trip inside the 40 on offense and was sixth with just 3.5 points allowed per trip inside the 40 on defense.
5: Times
held an opponent under 70 yards rushing
Everyone knows about the Razorbacks' identity on offense, finishing 26th nationally at 218 yards rushing per game. But the defense held it’s own in a big way on the ground as well, holding five different opponents to less than 70 yards. This included Alabama (66), LSU (36), Ole Miss (63) and Texas (2).
329.8: Will Muschamp’s career worst yards allowed
In 12 seasons as a defensive coordinator or head coach, Muschamp has never allowed more than 329.8 yards per game, 5.3 yards per play or 23.7 points per game in any season. Auburn last year allowed 398.8 yards per game, 5.7 yards per play and 26.7 points per game.
5.42: Jim McElwain’s lowest offensive output
In eight years as a coordinator or head coach, McElwain’s lowest offensive output was 5.42 yards per play in his first season at Colorado State. During his three years in Fort Collins, the Rams posted an average of 6.31 yards per play with a high of 7.1 in 2014. Last season, the Gators averaged 5.24 yards per play and were even worse in 2013 (4.79).
Related: Complete 2015 SEC Preview and Predictions
8.7:
field position margin
The Dawgs led the SEC and were fifth nationally with an average starting field position of the 34.5-yard line. The Dawgs also led the SEC and were third nationally in opponent’s starting field position at the 25.8-yard line. The 8.7 margin was good for third nationally and well ahead of the SEC’s No. 2 team, Tennessee (5.6, 12th).
11:
division wins against teams not named Vanderbilt
Since the SEC split into two divisions in 1992, the Wildcats have won just 11 games against teams not named Vanderbilt. Kentucky is 13-10 against the Dores but just 11-84 against Florida (0-23), Tennessee (1-22), Georgia (3-20), Missouri (0-3) and South Carolina (7-16).
50.0:
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team completion percentage last fall
The Tigers had quarterback issues in 2014 to say the least. LSU finished 138-of-276 for the entire season, ranking 120th in passes completed (ahead of mostly option offenses). That 50.0 percent completion rate ranked just 122nd nationally, ahead of only Hawaii, USF, Miami (Ohio), Navy and Army.
1: Times
has gone to five straight bowls
The 2014 season was a season of firsts for Mississippi State. It marked the first time in school history that the Bulldogs had been to five straight bowls. It also marked the first time in school history that they reached No. 1 ranking in the AP poll. In fact, Mississippi State spent four weeks ranked as the No. 1 team in the nation and won 10 games for only the third time in school history.
3: Fumbles lost by
The Tigers led the nation with just three fumbles lost last season, tied with Boston College and UNLV. Their 10 total fumbles ranked fourth nationally as well. Additionally, only Oregon (22) forced more fumbles than the Tigers (21). Needless to say, Gary Pinkel’s squad won the turnover battle last fall (+9).
1994: Last time
allowed less than 4.67 yards per play
The Ole Miss Landshark defense allowed just 4.67 yards per play last fall, ranking seventh in the nation. The last time the Rebels allowed less than 4.67 yards per play was way back in 1994. With seven starters back on defense (and nine more on offense), Hugh Freeze could see his team repeat the feat in 2015.
Related: 2015 Preseason SEC All-Conference Teams
14.0:
QB sacks
Steve Spurrier has harped on it all offseason long. The Gamecocks have to get better at pressuring the quarterback or his putrid defense has no chance of improving. South Carolina ranked last in the SEC and 119th nationally with just 14.0 sacks — or just 1.08 per game. Spurrier is hoping he can get an instant impact from newcomer D-linemen Dexter Wideman and Marquavious Lewis.
5.7: Yards per play when Joshua Dobbs started
The Vols offense averaged just 4.5 yards per play during the first eight games of the season last fall. Tennessee was 3-5 and would have ranked 122nd nationally at 4.5 yards per play. Dobbs entered the starting lineup against South Carolina and the offense surged, averaging 5.7 yards per play and going 4-1 down the stretch — which would have been good for 57th nationally.
153.63: Kyle Allen’s QB rating over the final four games
Joshua Dobbs was great for Tennessee and Jeremy Johnson will be for Auburn, but don’t overlook Allen in College Station. The uber recruit took over the Texas A&M offense and cruised in the final month. His QB rating over the final four games was 153.63 — which would have ranked third in the SEC and 13th nationally. Allen completed 65.1 percent of his passes and posted an impressive 12:4 TD:INT ratio over that span.
-16:
turnover margin
Vanderbilt was both bad and unlucky last season at protecting the football. The Dores' minus-16 turnover margin was last in the SEC and 124th nationally. This was an astronomical swing from the James Franklin era, where the Dores were plus-7 in the turnover margin department in 2013. The minus-23 swing is virtually impossible to replicate and should improve in 2015.
