Run, Not Pass: Former Pac-12 Schools Are Adjusting to Big Ten's Run-Heavy Style

When the Big Ten added former Pac-12 schools Oregon, Washington, UCLA and Southern California to the conference last fall, there was a belief those programs would struggle to adjust their styles of play.

For years, Pac-12 schools that preferred aerial attacks and Big Ten teams that opt to run the ball clashed in Rose Bowl matchups.

The Pac-12 style meant more plays were being run in their conference play — something Washington coach Jedd Fisch said he's noted.

Fisch, who previously coached in the Pac-12 at Arizona and as a UCLA assistant, said he expected to run 76 plays per game in that conference.

Last year, the Huskies averaged 64.7 plays per game.

"The Big Ten," Fisch said in October, "is certainly a different league when it comes to the amount of plays being run."

The former Pac-12 schools finished toward the middle and bottom of the conference in rushing yards per game last season. This year, however, the Big Ten’s bellwether programs have not demonstrated themselves to have superior rushing attacks.

Oregon leads the conference in both average yards per rush (6.4) and rushing yards per game (239.7). USC is fourth in rushing yards per game (200.2) while Washington and UCLA are at seventh and eighth in the conference, respectively.

Huskies running back Jonah Coleman, who was recently named one of six finalists for the Hornung Award, leads the Big Ten in rushing touchdowns (13) and is tied for third in the nation behind Ole Miss running back Kewan Lacy (16) and Georgia Tech quarterback Haynes King (14).

"Jonah’s a great short-yardage runner," Fisch said. "So when you have short-yard opportunities and you have a chance for Jonah, that usually works out well."

Seven of the Big Ten’s top 20 total rushers are from former