NCAA Defensive Rankings: Top Defensive Units in College Football
- The 1971 Nebraska squad could be the best team in college football history, and defense is part of the reason for this.
- The 2001 Miami defense was loaded with future NFL stars.
- Alabama is well-represented in the ranking of the best college football defenses of all time.
In an era of spread formations and pass-happy offenses, the teams leading the way in the list of the best defensive rankings are dominated by teams in previous generations.
None of this year’s defenses made the cut when looking at how the NCAA defenses were ranked, even though Texas has been vying for the national lead in scoring defense and total defense throughout the 2024 college football season. The NCAA football odds have shown plenty of love to Texas and other SEC teams in the 2024 season.
It should not be surprising that many of the defenses listed in the top 10 were part of national championship teams. It would be fun to see some of the older teams included in the best defense in NCAA 25 rankings.
Let’s look at the best college football defenses of all time.
Who Are The Best College Football Defenses Of All Time?
2011 Alabama Crimson Tide
This is the last major college football team to allow less than 10 points per game. Current Georgia head coach Kirby Smart was the defensive coordinator of a team. When looking at the NCAA total defense rankings, this is as good a place to start as anywhere.
The Crimson Tide defense featured future NFL players Dont’a Hightower, Courtney Upshaw, Mark Barron, and CJ Mosley. This defensive unit could have dominated in any era of football.
Alabama only allowed nine points to LSU in its only loss of the season. Georgia Southern was the only team to score more than 14 points on the Alabama defense. SEC teams were not quite as successful.
They ended the season with a 21-0 win over top-ranked LSU. This is the last major college football team to allow less than 200 yards of offense per game.
2001 Miami Hurricanes
The talent level of the 2001 Miami Hurricanes was off the charts.
The secondary alone had future NFL first-round picks Ed Reed, Sean Taylor, Antrel Rolle, and Phillip Buchanon. D.J. Williams and Jonathan Vilma were linebackers of note, while Vince Wilfork, William Joseph, and Jerome McDougle led the defensive front. There were times when it was fair to wonder if the defense from Miami would outscore the opposing offense. Imagine the chaos ensuing if they landed on the same NFL team. It could be argued that Miami deserves the top spot in the NCAA defensive rankings.
Miami won 10 games by at least 20 points, which led to some late yardage being given up when the top defensive players were out of the game.
Miami capped a perfect season by rolling past Nebraska 37-14 in the Rose Bowl. Miami is among the best college football teams of all time.
1971 Nebraska Cornhuskers
If only all the high-profile games lived up to the hype, like the 1971 clash between Nebraska and Oklahoma. The star-studded Oklahoma offense scored 31 points on Nebraska. The Cornhuskers held ten teams under 10 points, and in a No. 1 vs. No. 2 showdown in the Orange Bowl, second-ranked Alabama managed just six points. That clinched Nebraska’s place among the best college football teams of all time.
Defensive lineman John Dutton might be the most recognizable name on that dominating defense.
1979 Alabama Crimson Tide
The 1979 Alabama Crimson Tide nearly had as many shutouts as touchdowns allowed. The Crimson Tide allowed just nine points in its first five games.
E.J. Junior and Don McNeal were among Alabama’s top defense performers.
One issue for Alabama is that the Crimson Tide didn’t face a team in the top 10 in the national polls until topping Arkansas in the Sugar Bowl.
1992 Alabama Crimson Tide
Yes, another Alabama defense makes the list. After allowing 21 points in the previous two games against ranked opponents, not much was expected when Alabama faced mighty Miami in the Sugar Bowl. Alabama rolled to the 34-13 win with George Teague, Sam Shade, Antonio Langham, Eric Curry, and John Copeland among the players from that defense who went onto the NFL.
1997 Michigan Wolverines
Heisman Trophy winner Charles Woodson was the big name, but he was far from the only star on a Michigan defense that allowed less than 10 points per game. Woodson was one of five members of the defense to play at least eight seasons in the NFL.
Michigan allowed seven points or less in six games during the 1997 season, going undefeated. According to the college football rankings, this was one of the best Michigan teams ever.
1991 Washington Huskies
The strength of the 1991 Washington defense was up front, with Steve Emtman and D’Marco Farr leading the way.
The Huskies had both the offensive and defensive players of the year in the Pac-10 Conference, and they went on to an undefeated season.
1973 Ohio State Buckeyes
At one point, Ohio State‘s defense, featuring Doug Plank, Randy Gradishar, Neal Colzie, and Tim Fox, had three straight shutouts. In the tie with Michigan, Ohio State only allowed one touchdown.
The Buckeyes allowed 13 points in the first half of their ten regular-season games—not 13 points per game, but 13 total points.
1959 Syracuse Orange
The last time a major college team allowed fewer than 100 yards of total offense was in 1959 when Syracuse accomplished the feat on its way to winning the national title.
The 21 points Kansas scored in the season opener were the most allowed by Syracuse all season.
1939 Tennessee Volunteers
Tennessee would probably be a little higher on this list if not for a loss to USC in the Rose Bowl. The Volunteers played ten games in the regular season and had ten shutouts. It is pretty hard to top that.
What Are the College Football Rankings?
During the regular season, the Associated Press and American Football Coaches Association release weekly polling the top 25 teams. Starting in November, the list of the top teams in the College Football Playoff rankings is released.
The NCAA updates the individual and team rankings in the major offensive and defensive categories.
