BYU completed an improbable run to another AP Top 25 finish by going 5-0 against the PAC-12 including a win over PAC-12 Champ Utah. The Cougars season was somewhat soured by an upset loss to BYU in the Independence Bowl, but it did not diminish their accomplishments in their 10-3 season. In addition to BYU, Army and Liberty also enjoyed solid seasons, both ending with big bowl wins.
Coming off last year’s 10-1 and 17th place finish in the final AP poll, expectations were sky high for Liberty. However, after a hot 5-1 start (including a 3-point road loss to Syracuse), the Flames hit a rough stretch. An unexpected loss to UL Monroe was followed by two victories before a turnover plagued streak of three consecutive losses put the Flames at 7-5 entering their bowl game. They responded with a resounding win over Eastern Michigan to close an 8-5 campaign.
Similarly, Army was coming off a strong 2020 season (9-3) and looking to accomplish even more in 2021. A 4-0 start showed promise, but the Black Knights stumbled dropping three consecutive games, including a wild 70-56 loss to #16 Wake Forest. Army rallied for 4 straight wins before a demoralizing season-ending loss to Navy in their annual meeting. But the Black Knights once again showed their resolve, topping P5 Missouri 24-22 in the Armed Forces Bowl.
2021 G5 Independents Final Performance
Division/Team | All Games | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Team | W | L | Pct | Points | Against |
![]() | 10 | 3 | 0.769 | 430 | 322 |
![]() | 9 | 4 | 0.692 | 427 | 290 |
![]() | 8 | 5 | 0.615 | 437 | 280 |
![]() | 2 | 10 | 0.167 | 271 | 485 |
![]() | 1 | 11 | 0.083 | 196 | 517 |
![]() | 1 | 11 | 0.083 | 187 | 462 |
2021 G5 Independents Team Statistical Leaders
Statistic | Team | Metric |
---|---|---|
Team Scoring Offense and Defense | ||
Points Scored Per Game-Total | Liberty | 33.6 |
Average Game Margin-Total | Liberty | 12.1 |
Points Scored Per Game-Conf | ||
Average Game Margin – Conf | ||
Passing Offense | ||
Pass Attempts Per Game | New Mexico State | 43.2 |
Pass Completions Per Game | New Mexico State | 24.7 |
Completion Percentage | Brigham Young | 65.1 |
Passing Yards Per Game | New Mexico State | 269.4 |
Passing TDs Per Game | Liberty | 2.5 |
Rushing Offense | ||
Rushing Attempts Per Game | Army | 58.3 |
Rushing Yards Per Game | Army | 281.1 |
Average Yards Per Carry | Brigham Young | 5.1 |
Rushing TDs Per Game | Army | 3.5 |
Total Offense | ||
Plays Per Game | New Mexico State | 74 |
Total Yards Per Game | Brigham Young | 452.5 |
Average Yards Per Play | Brigham Young | 6.8 |
Penalties | ||
Penalties Per Game (Fewest) | Army | 3.8 |
Penalty Yards Per Game (Fewest) | Army | 36.8 |
Offense Turnovers | ||
Fumbles Per Game (Fewest) | Army | 0.4 |
Interceptions Per Game (Fewest) | Army | 0.2 |
Total Turnovers Per Game (Fewest) | Army | 0.6 |
Team Scoring Defense | ||
Points Allowed Per Game-Total | Liberty | 21.5 |
Points Allowed Per Game-Conf | ||
Passing Defense | ||
Completions Allowed Per Game | Liberty | 15.4 |
Passing Yards Allowed Per Game | Liberty | 180.3 |
Passing Completion % Per Game | Liberty | 56.5 |
Passing TDs Allowed Per Game | Liberty | 1.1 |
Rushing Defense | ||
Rushing Yards Allowed Per Game | Army | 118.2 |
Rushing Yards Per Carry Allowed | Liberty | 3.5 |
Rushing TDs Allowed Per Game | Liberty | 1.5 |
Total Defense | ||
Yards Allowed Per Game | Liberty | 320.2 |
Total Yards Allowed Per Play | Liberty | 4.8 |
Turnovers | ||
Interceptions Per Game (Most) | Brigham Young | 1.2 |
Fumbles Recovered Per Game (Most) | New Mexico State | 0.8 |
Total turnovers Forced Per Game | New Mexico State | 1.7 |
2020 G5 Independents Individual Statistical Leaders
Statistic | Player | Team | Metric |
---|---|---|---|
Passing | |||
Completions | Jonah Johnson | New Mexico State | 257 |
Completion % | Jaren Hall | BYU | 63.9% |
Passing Yards | Malik Willis | Liberty | 2,857 |
Passing Yards Per Att | Jaren Hall | BYU | 8.7 |
Passing TDs | Malik Willis | Liberty | 27 |
Passer Efficiency | Jaren Hall | BYU | 156.1 |
Rushing | |||
Rushing Attempts | Tyler Allgeier | BYU | 276 |
Rushing Yardage | Tyler Allgeier | BYU | 1606 |
Rush Yards Per Att | Christian Anderson | Army | 5.8 |
Rushing TDs | Tyler Allgeier | BYU | 23 |
Receiving | |||
Receptions | Demario Douglas | Liberty | 52 |
Receiving Yards | Puka Nacua | BYU | 805 |
Yards Per Reception | Puka Nacua | BYU | 18.7 |
Receiving TDs | CJ Daniels | Liberty | 7 |
Total Offense | |||
Yards From Scrimmage | Tyler Allgeier | BYU | 1,805 |
Total Yards | Malik Willis | Liberty | 3,735 |
Total Yards Per Play | |||
Touchdowns | Tyler Allgeier | BYU | 23 |
TDs Responsible For | Malik Willis | Liberty | 40 |
Kicking | |||
Extra Points Made | Cole Talley | Army | 44 |
Field Goals Made | Ethan Albertson | New Mexico St | 17 |
Field Goal Pct | Ethan Albertson | New Mexico St | 77.30% |
Avg. Punt Yards | Ryan Rehkow | BYU | 48.6 |
Defense | |||
Solo Tackles | Storey Jackson, Ben Bywater | Liberty, BYU | 57 |
Total Tackles | Jackson Mitchell | Connecticut | 114 |
Tackles for Loss | Andre Carter II | Army | 17 |
Sacks | Andre Carter II | Army | 14.5 |
Interceptions | Syrus Dumas, Malik Moore, DJ McCullough, Jakob Robinson | New Mexico State, BYU, New Mexico State, BYU | 3 |
Passes Defended | Josh Wallace, Kaleb Hayes | Umass, BYU | 11 |
Fumbles Forced | Andre Carter II | Army | 4 |