So you can see some teams were extremely lucky with injury (WMU) and some teams were not (Tenn and Cuse). Once the injuries start they usually snowball as players are inserted who are not ready and they themselves can get hurt. I believe some programs have a knack for keeping players eligible either through great training, great technique, great trainers or Drs who are more liberal in making calls on players readiness to play.

However, most teams just suffer bad luck or playing a young team in a tough league. The seasoning the 2nd and 3rd string players receive before their time should pay dividends going forward.

Here is the injury rates of all teams.

H/T to Phil Steele and his awesome magazine

Quote:Here is my complete list of 2016 Starters Lost to Injury. Green highlight has your teams with 5 or less starters lost on the season. Grey highlight is your teams with 34 or more starters lost and 9 or fewer wins on the season.

Total Starts Starts
2016 Starters Lost to Injury Starts Lost Lost
Lost Percent Rank
W Michigan 2 0.6% 1
Ohio St 2 0.7% 2
LA Tech 4 1.3% 3
Virginia Tech 7 2.3% 4
Kansas St 7 2.4% 5
Southern Miss 7 2.4% 5
Louisville 7 2.4% 5
Washington St 9 3.1% 8
UTEP 9 3.4% 9
Oklahoma St 10 3.5% 10
Boston College 10 3.5% 10
Georgia 10 3.5% 10
Louisiana 10 3.5% 10
Troy 10 3.5% 10
UTSA 10 3.5% 10
Clemson 12 3.6% 16
Illinois 10 3.8% 17
Virginia 10 3.8% 17
NC State 11 3.8% 19
Vanderbilt 11 3.8% 19
Buffalo 11 4.2% 21
Maryland 12 4.2% 22
Kentucky 12 4.2% 22
Fresno State 12 4.5% 24
Utah St 12 4.5% 24
Idaho 13 4.5% 24
Connecticut 12 4.5% 24
USF 13 4.5% 24
Temple 15 4.9% 29
San Diego St 15 4.9% 29
Texas 13 4.9% 31
FIU 13 4.9% 31
Michigan 15 5.2% 33
Nebraska 15 5.2% 33
Baylor 15 5.2% 33
Georgia Tech 15 5.2% 33
Air Force 15 5.2% 33
UCF 15 5.2% 33
South Carolina 16 5.6% 39
Iowa St 15 5.7% 40
Washington 18 5.8% 41
USC 17 5.9% 42
Arkansas 17 5.9% 42
TCU 17 5.9% 42
Tulsa 17 5.9% 42
Toledo 17 5.9% 42
Middle Tenn 17 5.9% 42
Indiana 18 6.3% 48
Pittsburgh 18 6.3% 48
Auburn 18 6.3% 48
Old Dominion 18 6.3% 48
Notre Dame 17 6.4% 52
San Jose St 17 6.4% 52
Charlotte 16 6.6% 54
Colorado St 19 6.6% 55
Boise St 19 6.6% 55
California 18 6.8% 57
Marshall 18 6.8% 57
Nevada 18 6.8% 57
Alabama 23 7.0% 60
Arkansas St 20 7.0% 61
Oregon St 19 7.2% 62
Memphis 21 7.3% 63
Army 21 7.3% 63
North Texas 21 7.3% 63
Cincinnati 20 7.6% 66
ULM 20 7.6% 66
Appalachian St 22 7.7% 68
Colorado 24 7.8% 69
WKU 25 8.1% 70
Minnesota 24 8.4% 71
Misssissippi St 24 8.4% 71
Rutgers 23 8.7% 73
Duke 23 8.7% 73
East Carolina 23 8.7% 73
Georgia Southern 23 8.7% 73
Northwestern 25 8.7% 77
Texas A&M 25 8.7% 77
New Mexico 25 8.7% 77
Ohio 27 8.8% 80
Stanford 26 9.1% 81
Akron 24 9.1% 81
Iowa 27 9.4% 83
Texas Tech 25 9.5% 84
Tulane 25 9.5% 84
Wyoming 30 9.7% 86
Houston 28 9.8% 87
UCLA 27 10.2% 88
Hawaii 32 10.4% 89
UNLV 28 10.6% 90
Ball State 28 10.6% 90
N Illinois 28 10.6% 90
Navy 33 10.7% 93
North Carolina 31 10.8% 94
Wake Forest 31 10.8% 94
Florida St 31 10.8% 94
FAU 30 11.4% 97
Georgia St 30 11.4% 97
West Virginia 33 11.5% 99
Penn St 36 11.7% 100
Kansas 31 11.7% 101
Miami, Fl 31 11.7% 101
UMass 31 11.7% 101
Arizona St 32 12.1% 104
LSU 32 12.1% 104
Rice 32 12.1% 104
Kent St 32 12.1% 104
Michigan St 33 12.5% 108
Purdue 33 12.5% 108
Bowling Green 33 12.5% 108
C Michigan 36 12.6% 111
Missouri 34 12.9% 112
Oregon 34 12.9% 112
Texas St 34 12.9% 112
South Alabama 37 12.9% 115
Mississippi 35 13.3% 116
Florida 38 13.3% 117
Miami (Ohio) 38 13.3% 117
Wisconsin 41 13.3% 119
Utah 40 14.0% 120
BYU 41 14.3% 121
New Mexico St 38 14.4% 122
Arizona 39 14.8% 123
E Michigan 43 15.0% 124
Oklahoma 44 15.4% 125
SMU 42 15.9% 126
Tennessee 52 18.2% 127
Syracuse 50 18.9% 128

http://www.philsteele.com/Blogs/2017/AUG...Aug05.html

Style of play also has a HUGE impact.