Lamar Jackson's eye-popping season, by the numbers

By Lamar Jackson's standards, Saturday's 54-13 rout of NC State was a letdown. The sophomore quarterback only managed four touchdowns on the afternoon, though he did sit out most of the fourth quarter. Before Saturday, Jackson was averaging five scores a game — tied for the most in history. 

After Saturday's performance, where Jackson outgained NC State 431 yards to 250, the sophomore has 34 touchdowns on the year — a Louisville record. 

Add it to the long list of historically impressive achievements Jackson has accumulated through the first eight weeks of the season.

Consider these stats:

Before Week 8, the sophomore from Boynton Beach, Florida, averaged more points — by himself — than 61 other FBS teams.

Jackson is the first player in the history of the ACC with 15 rushing and 15 passing touchdowns in the same season — and he still has at least five games left.

Editor's note: It took one drive for Lamar Jackson to make the above graphic outdated. Jackson scored early on a 36-yard touchdown run and added a 74-yard touchdown pass later in the first quarter. He finished the first half with 340 total yards, three passing TDs and a rushing score. Get complete Louisville vs. North Carolina State stats here.

Louisville 54, North Carolina State 13

Facing an upset-minded North Carolina State squad that nearly stunned No. 3 Clemson last weekend, No. 7 Louisville jumped all over the Wolfpack early and never let up to keep its College Football Playoff hopes alive. The Cardinals, whose 44-0 halftime lead was their fourth-largest in school history, have won two straight since falling to Clemson.

Player of the game

Cardinals quarterback Lamar Jackson threw for 355 yards and three touchdowns and ran for 76 yards and a score, bringing his nation-leading and school-record total touchdown count to 34. The Heisman hopeful has a passing and rushing touchdown in 10 consecutive games.

Key stats

Louisville improved to 4-1 all-time against North Carolina State.
The Cardinals have won eight straight home games and improved to 35-4 at home in seven seasons under Bobby Petrino.
Louisville outgained North Carolina State 244 to minus-1 yards after one quarter and finished with a 553-250 edge.
This was the fifth 50-point outing of the year for the Cardinals, which leads the nation.
Wolfpack running back Matthew Dayes, who entered the game averaging 111.5 rushing yards per game, was held to 15 yards on six carries.
Cardinals tight end Cole Hikutini caught six passes for a career-high 118 yards and a touchdown.
Wolfpack quarterback Ryan Finley was intercepted twice and now has four interceptions over the last two games after not throwing one over the first five outings.
Louisville running back Jeremy Smith carried the ball 14 times for 51 yards and two touchdowns.

Key play

Jackson’s first passing score came on a 74-yard pass to wide receiver Jaylen Smith with 5:33 remaining in the first quarter. It was the longest touchdown pass of Jackson’s career and gave the Cardinals a 17-0 lead.

Up next

North Carolina State vs. Boston College (10/29)
Louisville vs. Virginia (10/29)