Who says it hasn't been a strange season so far?
| Rank | Name | Team | Yr | Pos | G | Att | Comp | Pct. | Yards | Yards/Att | Int | TD | Rating | Att/G | Yards/G |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyrod Taylor | Va Tech | JR | QB | 7 | 118 | 68 | 57.6 | 1154 | 9.8 | 3 | 9 | 159.87 | 16.9 | 164.9 |
| 2 | Nathan Enderle | Idaho | JR | QB | 8 | 214 | 136 | 63.6 | 2077 | 9.7 | 7 | 13 | 158.59 | 26.8 | 259.6 |
| 3 | Matt Barkley | USC | FR | QB | 6 | 161 | 97 | 60.2 | 1540 | 9.6 | 5 | 7 | 148.74 | 26.8 | 256.7 |
| 4 | Jacory Harris | Miami (Fl) | SO | QB | 7 | 189 | 122 | 64.6 | 1774 | 9.4 | 10 | 13 | 155.51 | 27.0 | 253.4 |
| 5 | Andrew Luck | Stanford | FR | QB | 8 | 196 | 114 | 58.2 | 1825 | 9.3 | 3 | 9 | 148.46 | 24.5 | 228.1 |
| 6 | Cody Endres | U Conn | SO | QB | 6 | 145 | 94 | 64.8 | 1314 | 9.1 | 4 | 6 | 149.09 | 24.2 | 219.0 |
| 7 | Max Hall | BYU | SR | QB | 8 | 247 | 170 | 68.8 | 2231 | 9.0 | 11 | 17 | 158.50 | 30.9 | 278.9 |
| 8 | Jimmy Clausen | Notre Dame | JR | QB | 7 | 230 | 150 | 65.2 | 2050 | 8.9 | 2 | 16 | 161.31 | 32.9 | 292.9 |
| 9 | Zac Robinson | Okla St | SR | QB | 7 | 176 | 115 | 65.3 | 1547 | 8.8 | 3 | 12 | 158.27 | 25.1 | 221.0 |
| 9 | Andy Dalton | TCU | JR | QB | 7 | 166 | 106 | 63.9 | 1464 | 8.8 | 3 | 11 | 156.20 | 23.7 | 209.1 |
| 9 | Tim Tebow | Florida | SR | QB | 7 | 132 | 84 | 63.6 | 1159 | 8.8 | 4 | 8 | 151.33 | 18.9 | 165.6 |
| 58 | Colt McCoy | Texas | SR | QB | 7 | 254 | 182 | 71.7 | 1806 | 7.1 | 8 | 14 | 143.26 | 36.3 | 258.0 |
| 7 | McCoy 2008 |
Texas | JR | QB | 13 | 433 | 332 | 76.7 | 3859 | 8.9 | 8 | 34 | 173.74 | 33.3 | 296.8 |
For McCoy, at least some regression to the mean was all but inevitable, but there's no question in my mind that this kind of variance is the effect of a much deeper cause -- and no, I don't mean the flu. If any still doubt the necessity of evolution in the offense, the chart above should complete the conversion.
The belated adjustments against Missouri were most welcome, but the qualifier is key -- it is late. And the stakes are so high. Colt McCoy has proven that he can succeed, and also where he will struggle. The defense alone might well be capable of getting the team through Stillwater, and on to Pasadena. But it is the extent to which the coaches succeed in putting McCoy in a position to excel that may well determine if Texas gets to dance in confetti.