Utah defense · 2020–2025
Utah defense scouting
What offenses run, and how well they succeed, when they face Utah. Run/pass allowed, EPA by down, 3rd down conversion rates, red zone patterns.
2026 DC: Colton Swan
Swan ran linebackers in Scalley's system from 2019–2025. Data shown reflects Scalley's historical scheme as the best available proxy for 2026.
Defensive overview
4,378 plays tracked
negative = good for Utah
plays that gained positive EPA
Not enough plays for Arizona State vs. Utah to compute stats (need ≥30). Run the pipeline backfill.
Key situations
3rd & long
80% pass
217 plays · 31% success
3rd & short
66% run
195 plays · 57% success
Red zone
49% run
238 plays · 41% success
Goal line
62% run
242 plays · 50% success
Offense trailing big
58% pass
1,715 plays · 40% success
2-min drill
60% pass
633 plays · 39% success
After big gain
49% run
494 plays · 47% success
After sack
60% pass
171 plays · 30% success
Where offenses gained ground against Utah
Situations where opposing offenses averaged positive EPA against Utah's defense, 2020–2025 (Morgan Scalley's units), largest first. Descriptive, not a prediction for Colton Swan's 2026 defense.
3rd & Short (1–3)
57% success rate
+0.563 EPA
57% of 3rd & Short (1–3) plays against Utah were successful by EPA (gained positive expected points).
3rd down
+0.485 EPA
34% success rate
Offenses gained +0.485 EPA/play against Utah on 3rd down, with a 34% success rate.
Goal Line
+0.466 EPA
62% run / 38% pass
Offenses gained +0.466 EPA/play against Utah in Goal Line, running 62% / passing 38%.
4th down
+0.410 EPA
50% success rate
Offenses gained +0.410 EPA/play against Utah on 4th down, with a 50% success rate.
What offenses do against Utah
Opponents: Balanced attack
45% run / 55% pass over 4,378 plays (2020–2025).
Opponents: 3rd & Long: throws it
80% pass — 25pp more pass-oriented than the 55% career average (217 plays).
Opponents: Goal Line: runs it
62% run — 17pp run-heavier than the 45% career average (242 plays).
Run/pass allowed, by down
What offenses choose to do on each down against Utah. SR = success rate
EPA allowed, by down
Negative EPA = Utah stops the offense. Positive = offense gains an edge.
3rd down by distance
Red zone and field zones
Game script: how play-calling shifts by score
Run% and pass% as the score differential changes (left = winning big, right = losing big)
Drive opener: first play by zone
How offenses have changed their attack
Season-by-season shift in run/pass balance and EPA allowed against Utah's defense (2020–2025)
EPA per play