Stanford’s run game is 3rd-worst in Pac-12

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This is rare territory for Stanford, at least since it started hanging out in BCS bowls in the 2010 season.

Not only are the Cardinal still short of bowl eligibility in November — they’re 5-4 overall and 3-3 in the Pac-12 — but they’re also sagging in the rushing statistics.

They’re 10th in the conference in rushing, averaging 140.1 yards per game. The only Pac-12 teams below them are Oregon State (117.5) and Washington State (44.6), which runs only experimentally.

After the 45-16 thumping that Stanford absorbed at Oregon on Saturday, it’s clear that between the offensive line and the tailbacks, something is amiss. The tailbacks have scored a total of two touchdowns in nine games — this on a team that traditionally prides itself on its ability to run the ball down people’s throats.

The yards-per-carry statistics of the top three tailbacks are still good: Barry Sanders, 6.3; Kelsey Young, 5.7; and Remound Wright, 4.5. Those numbers, though, were built largely at the expense of lesser opponents early in the season. Now, they’re declining.

Of the team’s low rushing standing in the Pac-12, head head coach David Shaw said Tuesday night, “Given how we’ve gone this year, I’m not really surprised. We’ve had a lot of 3rd-and-longs, a lot of 2nd-and-longs.”

One reason they’ve had so many such plays, has been their inability to run on first down, a weakness that was glaring against Oregon.

Stanford tailback Barry Sanders (left) is averaging 6.3 yards per rushing attempt, but none of his 46 carries have resulted in touchdowns. Saturday against Oregon, he gained only 2 yards. Stanford tailback Barry Sanders (left) is averaging 6.3 yards per rushing attempt, but none of his 46 carries have resulted in touchdowns. Saturday against Oregon, he gained only 2 yards. Photo: Ryan Kang / Associated Press Photo: Ryan Kang / Associated Press Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Stanford’s run game is 3rd-worst in Pac-12 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

Shaw acknowledged that the Cardinal haven’t been able “to impose our will and dominate a team.” Lately, they’ve opened up the attack to better utilize the wide receivers and tight ends; that has meant fewer runs. In three games, they were behind and had to pass to try to catch up.

On Saturday, he said, his team “didn’t play terribly” but it did hand the Ducks some plays. Even when it didn’t, the brilliance of Marcus Mariota turned plays in their favor. “I wouldn’t be surprised if they ran the table all the way through the national championship,” Shaw said.

He said he was encouraged by many aspects of his team’s game against Oregon, including the play of quarterback Kevin Hogan. But he said Hogan’s interception and fumble “just crushed us because we were moving the ball.”

Psychologically, the players have bounced back quickly from the defeat, he said. “Watching our practice tonight, you would think that we’re 9-0, ready for the last run.”

Briefly: Stanford has a bye this week before hosting Utah on Nov. 15. ... Fullback Patrick Skov is questionable for the game because of an undisclosed injury.

Tom FitzGerald is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. E-mail: tfitzgerald@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @tomgfitzgerald