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OHIO STATE SURVIVED a Week 3 scare from Northern Illinois -- and rebounded slightly against directional foe Western Michigan -- but its worries aren't over. In the season's first four games, OSU has posted its worst offensive efficiency score of the Urban Meyer era (2.3 vs. NIU), second worst (31.5 vs. Hawaii) and 13th worst (67.1 vs. Western Michigan), which led us to crunch some numbers: efficiency versus snaps per game. The Bucks aren't efficient (last among FPI's top 30) nor expedient (bottom half in snaps per game). They need to get better, and fast.
Method to our matrix
We compared teams' offensive efficiency -- offenses' point contributions to net scoring margin (0-100 scale) -- to offensive snaps per game (FBS average: 71.9). The verdict? Some squads pack in plays and punch (we see you, Texas Tech!). Others, well, don't (O-H no, Buckeyes).
Low volume + inefficient
OHIO STATE
Are they not who we thought they were? So much of what made the OSU offense hum in '14 is gone this season. Pace: The Buckeyes are managing 69 snaps per game -- five fewer than in 2014. Poise: 40.4 percent third-down conversion rate, No. 64 in the FBS. And most critically, playmaking: QBs Cardale Jones and J.T. Barrett have a pedestrian 57.4 QBR combined, 27 points below last year's mark.
Also in this quadrant:
Least efficient team (Power 5): Boston College
Lowest volume team: Troy
Low volume + efficient
MICHIGAN STATE
Proof that looks can be deceiving: Michigan State has managed just 372.3 ypg (No. 93 in the FBS) but still ranks 22nd overall in offensive efficiency. A penchant for moving the chains (49.0 percent third-down conversion rate) helps.
OLE MISS
There's no quelling the Rebels. Ole Miss has reached the end zone on 46.4 percent of drives, sixth best in the country. And the Rebs are already second best in ppg (54.8), so just think of the havoc they'd wreak if they squeezed in a few more than the 71 snaps they average now. (Triple-digit scores?)
High volume + efficient
ALABAMA
Alabama makes a surprise cameo among high-volume-snap squads (79 per game), but a very good offensive efficiency (74.7) falls short of very great, thanks in part to an un-Saban-like eight turnovers.
CAL
Cal rubbing data sets with TCU and Baylor? They aren't your average Bears, scoring 2.9 points per drive (No. 19 in the FBS).
Also in this quadrant:
Most efficient team: Texas Tech
Highest volume team: Cincinnati
High volume + inefficient
DUKE
Sure, the Blue Devils put up 34 points against Georgia Tech in Week 4. But Duke, which managed just 75 total yards and two first downs in the second half, still lacks offensive prowess. Struggles inside the 20 (the Blue Devils have scored TDs on just 55.6 percent of drives that reach the red zone, No. 84 in the FBS) and an inability to piece together extended drives (12 three-and-outs ending in a punt, No. 90) add up to an underwhelming 39.0 offensive efficiency.
Also in this quadrant:
Least efficient team: Charlotte
Rankings and stats through Week 4.
Stats provided by ESPN Stats & Information.