BYU’s tough defense is making life difficult for quarterbacks.
The No. 14 Cougars (5-0, 2-0 Big 12) are heading into Saturday’s matchup with Arizona as one of only two unbeaten teams in the Big 12, thanks to their ability to disrupt offenses and pressure quarterbacks consistently.
In five games, the Cougars have recorded 10 sacks and 27 tackles for loss. Jack Kelly leads the team with three sacks, and both he and Isaiah Glasker have five tackles for loss each. Last season, BYU was at the bottom of the Big 12 in both sacks (11) and tackles for loss (51).
“It’s nothing new from what we ran last year,” said senior defensive end Logan Lutui. “We are just more urgent and able to execute our calls, and that’s what happens when we execute. We find success getting to the QB.”
Their impact goes beyond just sacks. BYU is third in the Big 12 for turnovers gained with 10. Seven different players have intercepted a pass for the Cougars this season. Opponents are only getting about 16.0 first downs per game against BYU.
“The guys are really understanding it more,” said BYU coach Kalani Sitake. “We’re making bigger plays. Not just sacks, but getting some hurries and forcing tough throws. We’ve faced some really good quarterbacks who can make accurate throws, but we’ve made it hard for them.”
Arizona (3-2, 1-1 Big 12) has the right offensive weapons to really challenge BYU’s improving ability to make disruptive plays.
The Wildcats have Tetairoa McMillan, the top receiver in the league. McMillan leads the Big 12 with 664 receiving yards and has gained at least 100 yards in seven of his last nine games dating back to last season.
Noah Fifita is another strong quarterback who has thrown for at least 200 yards in 12 of his last 14 games. Although he has had some struggles this season compared to his standout performances last year, he still earns his team’s confidence with his ability to make big plays when needed.
