The question, “Can you sub 11 for 11 in college football?” is a complex one, and the answer is no, a player cannot realistically “sub 11 for 11” in college football in the way the phrase might imply as a literal scoring achievement for a single player. This phrase is not a standard or recognized statistical category in college football. It seems to allude to a hypothetical scenario of scoring 11 points in 11 different ways, or perhaps achieving a perfect record of 11 successful scoring plays out of 11 attempts without a single miss or failure. However, given the nature of the sport, achieving such a feat is practically impossible. This blog post will delve into the mechanics of college football scoring, the statistical realities, and the sheer improbability of any singular player or team achieving such a perfectly executed, all-encompassing scoring record.
Image Source: external-preview.redd.it
Deconstructing the Improbable: What “Sub 11 for 11” Could Mean
The concept of “sub 11 for 11” in college football is not a recognized statistical metric. It evokes a sense of perfection and extreme efficiency, likely hinting at a scenario where a player or team attempts 11 scoring plays and successfully converts all of them, perhaps in a single game or a series of games. However, the ways points are scored in college football are varied, and relying on a specific number of attempts for a player to achieve such a feat is highly unlikely.
Let’s break down what this hypothetical scenario might imply and why it’s so challenging:
- A Perfect Scoring Game: Perhaps it refers to a player attempting 11 scoring plays (like touchdowns, field goals, or extra points) and making every single one.
- A Multifaceted Scoring Effort: It could also suggest a player scoring in 11 different types of plays or through 11 distinct scoring methods.
- An All-Around Dominant Performance: The phrase might be a metaphor for a player or team that is so dominant, they never falter in their scoring opportunities.
College Football Scoring: The Breadth of Points
To grasp the difficulty of “sub 11 for 11,” we must first understand the diverse ways points are accumulated in college football. The game is designed to offer multiple scoring opportunities, and each carries different values and strategic implications.
Primary Scoring Methods:
- Touchdowns (6 points): The most celebrated way to score, a touchdown is achieved when a player carries the ball into the opponent’s end zone or catches a pass within it. This is the cornerstone of offensive output.
- Extra Points (1 or 2 points):
- PAT (Point After Touchdown – 1 point): Typically a kick through the uprights after a touchdown. This is the most common method.
- Two-Point Conversions (2 points): An alternative to the PAT, where a team attempts to score again from the 2-yard line by running or passing the ball into the end zone. This is a more strategic, higher-risk, higher-reward play.
- Field Goals (3 points): A kick through the uprights from anywhere on the field during regular play, usually attempted when a team is close enough to the opponent’s goal line but unlikely to score a touchdown.
- Safeties (2 points): Awarded to the defense when they tackle an offensive player with the ball in their own end zone, or when the offense commits certain penalties in their own end zone.
Less Common, but Significant, Scoring Scenarios:
- Defensive/Special Teams Touchdowns: While the points are still 6, these touchdowns are achieved by the defense (interception return, fumble return) or special teams (kickoff return, punt return). This highlights that scoring is not solely the domain of the offense.
- Blocked PAT/Field Goal Returns (2 points): If a defensive player blocks a PAT or field goal attempt and returns it all the way to the opponent’s end zone, they are awarded 2 points. This is a rare but spectacular scoring play.
The sheer variety of scoring opportunities means that a player focusing on a specific number of attempts, let alone a perfect record across different types of plays, faces an uphill battle.
The Statistical Hurdle: Why “11 for 11” is an Astronomical Feat
Let’s consider the statistical realities of college football scoring. Even the most prolific players and teams rarely achieve perfect efficiency over a significant number of scoring opportunities.
Player-Specific Efficiency:
Imagine a star running back or wide receiver. Their primary scoring method is touchdowns. Even the best players have games where they don’t score, or where they might have a touchdown called back due to a penalty. If we were to hypothesize a scenario for a player to “sub 11 for 11,” it would likely involve:
- 11 Touchdowns: This is an incredibly rare feat for a single player in a single game, let alone multiple games. The NCAA record for most touchdowns in a single game is 7, achieved by several players.
- 11 PATs/Two-Point Conversions: This is almost exclusively the domain of kickers. A kicker making 11 PATs or 11 two-point conversions in a game would be historic, and most games don’t even provide that many scoring opportunities for a single kicker.
Team-Specific Efficiency:
When we consider an entire team’s offensive output, the “11 for 11” concept becomes even more abstract. A team might have opportunities for:
- Multiple Touchdowns: Teams aim for multiple scoring drives.
- PATs/Two-Point Conversions: Following each touchdown.
- Field Goals: When drives stall.
For a team to go “11 for 11” implies perfect execution on 11 distinct scoring opportunities, whether it’s touchdowns, successful PATs, or made field goals, without a single miss, turnover on downs, or failed conversion. This level of perfection is virtually unheard of in the high-pressure environment of collegiate athletics.
Analyzing Scoring Opportunities:
- Average Points Per Game: NCAA Division I FBS teams average around 25-30 points per game. This means a team might score 3-5 touchdowns plus associated extra points and perhaps a field goal in a typical game. Reaching 11 scoring plays in any successful fashion is already a high-volume offensive game.
- The Nature of Football Strategy: Football game strategy involves risk assessment. Teams may opt for a field goal in a crucial situation rather than risk a turnover on downs trying for a touchdown. They might attempt a two-point conversion when trailing late in a game, accepting the higher risk for the potential reward. This inherent strategic decision-making introduces variables that make perfect 11-for-11 streaks difficult.
Factors Against Achieving “11 for 11”
Several factors make achieving this hypothetical “11 for 11” benchmark nearly impossible in college football:
1. Variety of Scoring Attempts:
- Different Players, Different Roles: Scoring is a team effort. A quarterback throws a touchdown, a receiver catches it, a running back runs it in, and a kicker converts the extra point or a field goal. It’s unlikely one player would be responsible for all 11 scoring plays.
- Situational Play Calling: Coaches call plays based on down, distance, field position, and game situation. This means the type of scoring opportunity can vary greatly. A team might get 5 touchdowns and 4 field goal opportunities in a game, but never 11 of the same thing.
2. The Element of Surprise and Defense:
- Defensive Play: Opposing teams are actively trying to prevent scoring. They will block kicks, make crucial tackles, and force turnovers. Even the most efficient offense faces a formidable defense.
- Special Teams Blocks: Kickers are susceptible to blocks on PATs and field goals. A blocked kick is a failed scoring attempt.
- Turnovers: Fumbles and interceptions can halt scoring drives, preventing scoring opportunities from even materializing.
3. Kicking and Conversion Percentages:
- Kickers are Human: Even the best college kickers don’t make 100% of their field goals or PATs over a season, let alone in a single game with 11 attempts. Weather conditions, pressure, and defensive schemes all play a role.
- Two-Point Conversion Risks: Two-point conversion attempts have a success rate much lower than PAT kicks, often hovering around 50%. Successfully converting 11 in a row is statistically improbable.
4. Game Flow and Total Scoring Opportunities:
- Limited Opportunities: Most college football games do not present 11 distinct scoring opportunities for a single player or even a single phase of the game (like just kicking). A team might score 30-40 points, which could translate to 4-5 touchdowns and the associated PATs, plus perhaps a field goal. That’s roughly 9-11 scoring plays in total, but not necessarily 11 attempts of the same type, and certainly not guaranteed success.
- Blowouts vs. Close Games: In a blowout, a team might have many scoring opportunities, but the opposing defense may be depleted. In a close game, every scoring opportunity is critical, but the pressure is immense, and defenses are typically at their best.
Hypothetical Scenarios (and why they’re still unlikely)
Let’s try to construct a scenario where “11 for 11” might be discussed, even if it’s a stretch:
Scenario 1: The Kicker’s Dream Game
- 11 Field Goal Attempts, 11 Made: This would require an extraordinary number of drives stalling just inside the opponent’s 40-yard line, and a kicker having the game of their life, unaffected by pressure or defensive schemes. Most games don’t have 11 field goal opportunities for one team.
- 11 PAT Attempts, 11 Made: This would mean scoring 11 touchdowns and successfully converting every single PAT. While high, this is more plausible for a kicker than 11 field goals.
Scenario 2: The Receiver/Running Back’s Touchdown Barrage
- 11 Touchdowns: As mentioned, this is practically impossible in a single game. Even across a few games, sustaining a TD per attempt rate for 11 touchdowns would require an unprecedented level of offensive dominance and consistent scoring opportunities.
Scenario 3: A Multifaceted Player (Highly Improbable)
Imagine a player who somehow:
* Scores 6 receiving touchdowns.
* Scores 3 rushing touchdowns.
* Returns an interception for a touchdown (7 total TDs).
* Then, as the designated kicker, makes 4 extra points.
This totals 11 scoring plays, but it’s an outlandish combination of skills and opportunities that no player has ever demonstrated.
The Odds of “11 for 11”
The odds of any player or team achieving a perfect “11 for 11” in college football are astronomically low, bordering on impossible.
- Player Level: For an individual player, the odds are effectively zero. No player has ever come close to scoring in 11 different ways or having 11 flawless scoring attempts of any single type in a relevant timeframe.
- Team Level: For a team to achieve 11 perfectly executed scoring plays in a single game (e.g., 11 touchdowns with successful PATs, or a mix of touchdowns, PATs, and field goals) without any misses, blocks, or failed conversions, is also incredibly unlikely. While teams might have games with 7-9 scoring plays, a perfect 11-for-11 is a statistical anomaly that simply doesn’t occur in real gameplay.
Real-World Football Statistics: A Measure of Success
Instead of an impossible “11 for 11,” college football relies on more realistic metrics to evaluate offensive output and scoring efficiency:
- Points Per Game (PPG): A standard measure of a team’s scoring prowess.
- Touchdowns Per Game: Tracks the primary scoring method.
- Red Zone Efficiency: The percentage of times a team scores a touchdown or field goal once they get inside the opponent’s 20-yard line. This is a key indicator of how well an offense converts scoring opportunities.
- Field Goal Percentage: The success rate of kickers.
- PAT Percentage: The success rate of extra points.
- Two-Point Conversion Success Rate: How often teams convert these higher-risk plays.
These metrics provide a far more accurate and attainable picture of success in college football scoring than a theoretical “11 for 11.”
Conclusion: A Quixotic Quest
The notion of “sub 11 for 11” in college football, while evocative of perfect execution, remains a theoretical construct rather than a realistic aspiration. The multifaceted nature of scoring, the inherent challenges posed by defenses, the probabilities involved in kicking and conversions, and the sheer variability of game situations make achieving such a flawless record virtually impossible.
College football is a game of strategy, skill, and grit, where perfection is the aim, but human error and the brilliance of opponents ensure that such absolute dominance across a specific, high number of varied scoring attempts is a quest bordering on the quixotic. Instead, we celebrate the impressive feats of players and teams who consistently convert their scoring opportunities and contribute to exciting college football scoring narratives.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1: What does “sub 11 for 11” mean in college football?
A1: “Sub 11 for 11” is not a recognized statistical term in college football. It’s likely a hypothetical phrase implying a perfect record of 11 scoring attempts without any misses or failures, possibly across different types of scoring plays or for a single type of play.
Q2: Can a single player score 11 touchdowns in a college football game?
A2: No, a single player scoring 11 touchdowns in a college football game is extremely unlikely, if not impossible. The NCAA record for most touchdowns in a single game is 7.
Q3: Is it possible for a kicker to make 11 field goals in one game?
A3: While theoretically possible, it is highly improbable. A team would need to have 11 distinct drives stall within field goal range, and the kicker would need to be perfect under pressure, which is rare. Most games do not even present 11 field goal opportunities for one team.
Q4: What are the most common ways to score in college football?
A4: The most common ways to score are touchdowns (6 points), extra points after touchdowns (1 point via kick, or 2 points via conversion), and field goals (3 points).
Q5: How does college football scoring strategy influence a team’s attempts?
A5: Coaches make strategic decisions about when to attempt field goals versus going for touchdowns, or when to attempt two-point conversions based on game situation, score, and risk assessment. This variability makes consistent, perfect scoring streaks challenging.