[CTcard]

Well, except for the fact that some of those first downs result in a new first down >10 yards down the field.  It also doesn't take into account penalties (though I guess if Costello just spikes it we don't wind up with a penalty)

On first down this year:
Rushing: 50 caries for 179 yards, 3.5 ypc, 2 TD's and 6 first downs
Passing: 19/30 (63% completion) for 278 yards (9.3 ypa), 2 TD, 0 INT, 8 first downs
Overall: 457 yards on 80 plays (5.7 ypp), 4 TD's and 14 first downs

So, in 80 first downs so far this year, 18 (22.5% resulted in either a brand new first down or a touchdown).  It is possible that we have an average of 10 yards to go on the remaining second downs if the 457 yards we gained occurred on the 18 plays that resulted in a new set of downs or made up for a penalty.

BC

It's a little tricky to see how the average-10 yards to go on second down squares with the numbers, though it's not impossible. I also am too tired to be sure I am not missing something (like how to count if there are two second downs because of a penalty).

First off, I cannot see it explicitly stated, but I think a first down play from outside the 10 yard line that results in a TD is both a first down and a TD. Less likely a TD from inside the 10 counts as a first down, but I don't know.

Stanford's 4 TDs on first downs were: from the 38 (pass - first TD vs SDSU), from the 6 (run - first TD vs $C), from the 8 (pass - second TD Davis), from the 5 (run - last TD Davis). One from outside the 10.

That seems likely to mean 17 plays went for either TDs or new first downs.

The four TDs cover 57 yards. The rest of the first down plays would cover a neat 400 yards. 13 of those.
I happen to remember the pass to St. Brown for another 53 yards, so now we're at 347 yards in 12 successful first down plays.

The average for those other 12 plays would have to be 29 yds. That seems too high, especially since I don't remember any other brobdingnagian gainers on first down.
At 20 yds/play on those successful first downs we would account for 240 yds.
That would mean 107 yards of penalty make-up.
That's seems too high as Stanford has 134 penalty yards on the year total. (Not all were on offense, not all on first down)

Maybe I'm missing another brobdingnagian first down gain and our successful first downs averaged 25 yds/play. Maybe the two second down scenario is a bigger factor than I think. Or maybe there were significant rounding issues in the original claim.

[CTcard]

Well, except for the fact that some of those first downs result in a new first down >10 yards down the field.  It also doesn't take into account penalties (though I guess if Costello just spikes it we don't wind up with a penalty)

On first down this year:
Rushing: 50 caries for 179 yards, 3.5 ypc, 2 TD's and 6 first downs
Passing: 19/30 (63% completion) for 278 yards (9.3 ypa), 2 TD, 0 INT, 8 first downs
Overall: 457 yards on 80 plays (5.7 ypp), 4 TD's and 14 first downs

So, in 80 first downs so far this year, 18 (22.5% resulted in either a brand new first down or a touchdown).  It is possible that we have an average of 10 yards to go on the remaining second downs if the 457 yards we gained occurred on the 18 plays that resulted in a new set of downs or made up for a penalty.

BC

It's a little tricky to see how the average-10 yards to go on second down squares with the numbers, though it's not impossible. I also am too tired to be sure I am not missing something (like how to count if there are two second downs because of a penalty).

First off, I cannot see it explicitly stated, but I think a first down play from outside the 10 yard line that results in a TD is both a first down and a TD. Less likely a TD from inside the 10 counts as a first down, but I don't know.

Stanford's 4 TDs on first downs were: from the 38 (pass - first TD vs SDSU), from the 6 (run - first TD vs $C), from the 8 (pass - second TD Davis), from the 5 (run - last TD Davis). One from outside the 10.

That seems likely to mean 17 plays went for either TDs or new first downs.

The four TDs cover 57 yards. The rest of the first down plays would cover a neat 400 yards. 13 of those.
I happen to remember the pass to St. Brown for another 53 yards, so now we're at 347 yards in 12 successful first down plays.

The average for those other 12 plays would have to be 29 yds. That seems too high, especially since I don't remember any other brobdingnagian gainers on first down.
At 20 yds/play on those successful first downs we would account for 240 yds.
That would mean 107 yards of penalty make-up.
That's seems too high as Stanford has 134 penalty yards on the year total. (Not all were on offense, not all on first down)

Maybe I'm missing another brobdingnagian first down gain and our successful first downs averaged 25 yds/play. Maybe the two second down scenario is a bigger factor than I think. Or maybe there were significant rounding issues in the original claim.