The current 6-game winning streak matches the longest in Mike Riley’s career at OSU.  The longest all-time OSU in-season winning streak is 7 games (1962, 1964, 2000) and the longest winning streak of any kind (stretched over 2 seasons) is 10 games (1962-63).  A seventh win would not only set the record for best all-time start by an OSU team, it would also match the longest in-season winning streak at 7.

James Rodgers runs for a 55-yard TD against the UW in 2008 (click to enlarge)

Through the first six games, the 2012 Beaver team has scored an average of 26.2 points per game while the defense has only allowed 16.5 points per game.  As a comparison, the 2000 team was 5-1 after 6 games and was scoring 30.5 points per game and giving up 17.0 points per game on defense.  And there continues to be the home team and road team dichotomy for the 2012 Beavers.  The road team offense scores more points than the home team offense while the home defense is a very stingy team – only 20 points have been given up in 3 home games.

At the midpoint in the regular season, the number of running plays has increased over 2011 from 39% of all offensive plays to 48% this season.  On the other hand, the yardage gained has declined slightly to 3.1 yards per carry.  The diversity of running plays called has been the greatest in the past 4 years with 11 different types of running plays shown to date.  But the most unexpected diversity is found on the defensive side of the ball.  Multiple fronts, formations, stunts, blitzes, and coverages have the Beavers playing as good on defense as any team in the modern football era.

The only blemish on the 2000 team’s record was a close road loss to the University of Washington.  Can the 2012 Beavers do better?