At 3:00 Jarom asks Dennis "How are they doing this?"

Dennis says the defense has been unbelievable, but then he makes a point about turnovers.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OryS8LE7iSc
—
"The turnover battle, its ALWAYS the key indicator in whether you win or lose a football game."

So I get that its just him on a Studio B interview and he's not making a scientific study. But take that little maxim and build a defense around it. What would you do?

You'd calculate how you could manufacture interceptions. You'd coach to create fumbles, sure, but you'd really lean into interceptions because there's more predictability there. You'd go moneyball on college football defense design. Don't believe it to be possible? Count the number of times you've heard a player or coach talk about having anticipated an interception opportunity. Here's what I have off the top of my head, but I'm likely missing others.

1. SMU: Marque Collins said his coach predicted/dreamed about a pick. We didn't know that was a foreshadow of things to come, but in hindsight, it tells you how focused the D is on this issue.

2. Baylor first of game. Kpop said they called it, seeing as how the QB had a low delivery.

3. Baylor end of game. Genaro called it, and Wakely said he knew it would happen.

4. Kansas State: J. Hill said they anticipated they'd get one or two by putting defenders in the right spots.

5. Kansas State: Taggart makes the pick, but remember a second defender was there to grab it if he had missed it? They knew it was coming.

6. Arizona: J Hill talks about how they encouraged Fifita to roll out and throw on his left and they picked him when he did.

7. UCF: K pop mentioned they expected the UCF QB to try something like he did and they were waiting for him.

8. Utah: K pop said they had BAITED Rose into making the throw they wanted, but they (our defense Raider Damuni?) took a bad angle.
In other words, he thought there SHOULD have been an interception on that long pass play.

9. Utah: When they do their trick play, K pop (or J Hill?) mentions "our guys weren't fooled at all," JRob read the play and was waiting for it.

Earlier in the season I posted that BYU Defensive coaches could predict interceptions. Got a lot of push back on that take, but the evidence is overwhelming now. J Hill is all about the turnover margin.

If Dennis Pitta is right, Turnover battle predicts a win, then not only is J Hill a genius to focus on it, you have to wonder: what took so long for any D coach to figure this out?

Incredible work by Jay and Kelly! Here's hoping their edge persists through the end of the season.