Numbers and statistics are a huge part of college football. Every Sunday, reading updated box scores and stats is like Christmas for fans and media members. Some stats like total offense and total defense are overrated, but each help paint a picture for a team or particular game.
Whether the stats are historic, advanced or just an observation from a box score, Athlon Sports brings the most intriguing, important, historic and bizarre stats from around the weekend of college football action:
8: Laterals Used by Miami to Score Game-Winning Touchdown Against Duke
The ending to Saturday’s Miami-Duke matchup will be remembered as one of the craziest finishes to a game in recent memory. After the Blue Devils took a 27-24 lead with less than 10 seconds left, the Hurricanes scored the game-winning touchdown by using eight laterals on the kickoff return, with Corn Elder eventually breaking free down the sideline for a 91-yard score. While a Miami player appeared to have his knee on the ground before a lateral, as well as a missed block in the back, the touchdown was upheld on replay.
Related: 10 Coaching Candidates to Replace Al Golden at Miami
123: Combined Points in Oklahoma State’s 70-53 Win Over Texas Tech
Saturday’s 70-53 thrilling victory by Oklahoma State over Texas Tech was the highest scoring game at the FBS level this season. The 123 combined points was also the fourth-highest scoring FBS game over the last 10 years. The Cowboys and Red Raiders combined for 61 first downs, 1,304 total yards and only eight punts.
3: 8-0 Big Ten Teams for the First Time Since 1903
Conference superiority is always a point of conversation among college football fans, and there’s no doubt the Big Ten is headed in the right direction since the end of the 2014 season. After nine weeks of action, the Big Ten has three 8-0 teams – Ohio State, Michigan State and Iowa. According to the Big Ten Network’s Dave Revsine, that’s the first time the conference has three 8-0 teams for the first time since 1903.
Related: College Football's Best Cheerleaders from Week 9
11: Completions by Florida QB Treon Harris in Last Two Games Against Georgia
Led by a strong defense and rushing attack, Florida earned its second consecutive victory over Georgia on Saturday. The Gators recorded a dominant 27-3 victory over the Bulldogs, with quarterback Treon Harris completing only 8 of 19 passes for 155 yards and one score. In the last two meetings against the Bulldogs (both victories), Harris has completed only 11 of 25 passes for 182 yards. Needless to say, the low completion totals won’t matter much to coach Jim McElwain. The only stat that matters to McElwain? Wins.
11: Turnovers by Notre Dame’s Offense in Red Zone Last Two Years
Notre Dame avoided Temple’s upset bid on Saturday night, using a 17-yard pass from quarterback DeShone Kizer to receiver Will Fuller with just two over minutes remaining to score a 24-20 victory. However, a glaring problem popped up once again for the Fighting Irish. The offense lost two turnovers in the red zone against the Owls, which increased Notre Dame’s total to 11 in that area over the last two years. The 11 turnovers is the most by any FBS team over the last two seasons. If the Fighting Irish want to contend for a playoff spot, giving away scoring opportunities inside the red zone simply can’t continue.
Related: 5 Reasons Baylor Can Still Make the CFB Playoff With Jarrett Stidham at QB
0: Georgia Rushing Touchdowns the Last Three Weeks
It’s no secret Georgia misses running back Nick Chubb. Over the last three games, the Bulldogs have recorded 354 rushing yards, averaging only 3.7 yards per carry. Additionally, Georgia does not have a rushing score over its last three games. The Bulldogs have watched their rushing yardage total (165 to 120 to 69) decline over the last three weeks. Quarterback play is a huge issue for Georgia right now, but coach Mark Richt and coordinator Brian Schottenheimer have to find a way to generate more production from the ground attack.
1961: Last Time Texas Was Shutout by an Unranked Opponent
Texas appeared to be on the right track after wins over Oklahoma and Kansas State, but the Longhorns took a step back on Saturday. For the first time since 1961, Texas was shutout by an unranked opponent. The Longhorns were blanked 24-0 by Iowa State on Saturday, as the offense generated only 204 total yards, completed 12 of 22 passes and crossed midfield just two times. At 3-5 overall, Texas needs to win three out of its last four – Kansas, at West Virginia, Texas Tech and at Baylor – just to make a bowl this year.
77: Career Rushing Touchdowns by Navy QB Keenan Reynolds
Navy quarterback Keenan Reynolds inched closer to the record books in Saturday’s 29-17 victory over South Florida. The senior quarterback completed 3 of 9 passes for 16 yards and rushed for 117 yards and two touchdowns on 26 attempts. The two rushing scores gave Reynolds 77 in his career, tying Wisconsin running back Montee Ball for the all-time record. The senior has 13 rushing scores this season and could break the record in the Week 10 showdown against Memphis.
15 for 15: Cincinnati QB Gunner Kiel Completed All 15 Passes Against UCF
Injuries have prevented Cincinnati quarterback Gunner Kiel from building off last year’s season (31 TDs and 3,254 passing yards), but the junior has posted back-to-back 300-yard games and had a record-setting day against UCF on Saturday. Kiel completed all 15 of his passes for 319 yards and five touchdowns. The junior’s 15-for-15 performance was the most completions without an incompletion by a FBS player in the last 20 years.
11: FBS Unbeatens Entering November
College football’s 2015 season has reached the final full month of action. And with just five overall weeks of games before the four playoff teams are decided, 11 unbeaten teams remain at the FBS level. The 11 unbeaten teams entering November is unusual. In 2013, eight teams had an unbeaten mark at the start of November and only three teams reached that level in 2014.
-----
Watch for more rankings, previews and predictions from the good folks at Athlon here on Dr. Saturday. And don't forget to follow @YahooDrSaturday and @AthlonSports for all your college football information.