not sure why this is but i recently have been unable to play the entire length of a game due to severe lag that up until now was nonexistent. ive lagged out several times consecutively when i used to not do so at all.
any idea why this is?

same I had in non ranked with friends
:C

I do not have this issue.
There obviously must be some reason to why it is happening but it has not corrupted the whole game.

Oh, this happened to me all the time! It was the worst, get a new router and you should be all good.

It is entirely ping lag that is the issue here?

no.
the game runs smoothly with no stops yet the timer counts down anyway

Quote from PUMU

the game runs smoothly with no stops yet the timer counts down anyway

Then it's almost assuredly your ISP that's the issue.