Your hypothesis that the defense is tired and is making games close in the 4th is not true. Now you want to say they are not making crucial late game plays (oh except for in 1/3rd of the games). I think this is also false BTW. Huge sack by Pili in the 4th to hold Utah to a FG, INT in the endzone against AZ with 6 minutes left to stay up 2 scores. The only reason BYU even had the chance to narrow the score to within a touchdown against BSU was due to a huge sack by Tanuvasa forcing a 3rd and long deep in their own territory.


The fact is there is little evidence that they are any more vulnerable late in games as they are in the beginning. Ill concede USF but you must also take into account that was the game with the most starters out and guys stepping in for the first time. They were struggling to stick to the scheme as many coaches pointed out.