Boise State is ranked No. 3 in the NCAA in takeaways, with 26. Only Wake Forest (28) and Minnesota (27) are ahead of the Broncos.
Even if the offense hasn’t quite hit its stride yet, the defense has obviously more than made up for any deficiencies. The Broncos have forced a turnover in every game this season, including big games against Utah State (six), Hawaii (five) and Oregon (four).
“Nothing is too different, but I think we just had a lot of experienced guys coming back, and that D-line has been huge,”
head coach Chris Petersen said. “It all starts with them, getting pressure, stripping the ball, you name it.”
Here’s an interesting stat — the Broncos have four more takeaways after nine games than they did all of last season (22). Petersen stressed taking the ball away during spring and fall practices, sounding an air horn any time the defense forced a turnover.
“I think it just translates from how we’ve practiced,”
senior linebacker Tim Brady said. “We really emphasized it, and it really goes without saying how big turnovers have been for us.”
