Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Griffin
The new timing rules installed this season have resulted in faster games in the Big 12 through the first week of the season with surprisingly more scoring compared to the first week of last season.
Statistics from last week compared to the first week of the 2007 season indicate five combined fewer plays and 31 combined fewer yards have been recorded, along with a timing reduction of 15 minutes per contest. Surprisingly, scoring is up 13.5 percent this season with an increase in more than seven combined points per game.
The major reason for the points binge last week was a run of blowouts that saw nine Big 12 teams score at least 38 points in the first week of the season.
After one week, the number of total plays per Big 12 game is down 3.4 percent, total yardage is down about 4.1 percent and average game time is down 7.4 percent from last season's first week.
| Big 12: 2008 Week 1 games vs. 2007 Week 1 games | | | Total Plays | Avg. Plays | Total Yards | Avg. Yards | Total Points | Avg. Points | Avg. Game Time | | 2007 | 1,742 | 145.2 | 9,076 | 756.3 | 629 | 52.4 | 3:24 | | 2008 | 1,684 | 140.3 | 8,704 | 725.3 | 714 | 59.5 | 3:09 |
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Tim Griffin joined ESPN.com in February 2008. He has covered the Big 12 since its inception, among a variety of beats during a 24-year career at the San Antonio Express-News. Griffin, a Memphis State University graduate, lives in San Antonio with his wife and son.
