Utah hasn’t been in the Big 12 long, but they’re already making noise in the trenches. According to recent data, the Utes are leading the entire FBS in average time to sack allowed, giving their quarterback a whopping 5.3 seconds on average before a defender gets home. That’s not just good. That’s the best in college football.
It’s easy to overlook offensive line stats in the era of highlight plays and flashy skill talent, but this number should have everyone paying attention. Utah’s front five is giving its quarterback more time than any unit in the country, and it’s not particularly close. In an era where most quarterbacks are lucky to get three or four seconds, sitting at 5.3 is wild.
This is the kind of stat that tells you more than a box score can. Utah isn’t just surviving up front; they’re dominating. The pocket is holding, plays are developing, and the offense isn’t being forced into panic mode the second the ball is snapped. That kind of consistency gives a team real control over the pace and rhythm of a game.
In the Big 12, where defenses throw everything at you and edge rushers are built like NFL prospects, this matters even more. Utah is holding its own against conference opponents who thrive on disruption. If you can win the battle up front, especially in this league, you’re going to be in a lot of games deep into the fourth quarter. And right now, that’s holding true for Utah.
The crazy part is that Utah has managed to stay at the top of this metric despite rotating quarterbacks and dealing with the usual in-season bumps. That speaks to how well-coached this unit is and how well they’ve held together regardless of who’s under center.
This isn’t a flashy stat that’s going to go viral, but it might be the most important one if Utah keeps pushing for a spot near the top of the Big 12 standings. You can’t score if you can’t protect. Utah is proving they can do both.
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