The other day I look at the most prolific offenses of the last decade. Today we will look at the most prolific defenses of the past decade. Once again, I looked at yards per play allowed and points per game allowed to come up with the following teams.
10: In 2016, Alabama allowed 3.99 yards per play and 261.8 yards per game while giving up 13 points per game. The Crimson Tide finished the season 14-1 losing to Clemson in the National Championship 35-31.
9: In 2012, Alabama (again) allowed 4.18 yards per play and 250 yards per game while giving up 10.9 points per game. The Tide finished the season 13-1 and winning the National Championship with a 42-14 victory over Notre Dame. Their only loss of the season was at home to Texas A&M 29-24.
8: In 2013, FSU allowed 4.09 yards per play and 281.4 yards per game while giving up 12.1 points per game. The Fisher led Seminoles went 14-0 defeating Auburn 34-31 in the national Championship game. This is the only team to appear on both the most prolific offense and defense top 10 list for the past decade.
7: In 2009, Texas Christian University allowed 3.89 yards per play and 239.7 yards per game while allowing 12.8 points per game. The Horned Frogs finished the season 12-1 with their only loss coming to Boise State in the Fiesta Bowl 17-10. TCU finished the season ranked 6th in both the coaches and AP poll.
6: In 2010, BSU allowed 3.98 yards per play and 254.7 yards per game while giving up 12.8 points per game. The Broncos finished the season 12-1 with their only loss coming at Nevada 34-31 in overtime. BSU finished the season with a 26-3 drubbing of Utah in the Maaco Las Vegas Bowl.
5: In 2011, LSU allowed 4.08 yards per play and 261.5 yards per game surrendering 11.3 points per game. The Tigers finished the season 13-1, winning the SEC, but falling to Alabama 21-0 in the BCS National Championship Game.
4: In 2009, Alabama (yes again) allowed 4.08 yards per play and 245.4 yards per game while giving up 11.7 points per game. In Saban’s 3rd season at Alabama, the Crimson Tide finished 14-0 and won the national Championship with a 37-21 defeat of Texas in the BCS National Championship.
3: In 2017, Alabama (see the trend here?) allowed 3.99 yards per play and 260.4 yards per game while allowing 11.9 points per game. Alabama finished the season 13-1 winning the National Championship by defeating Georgia 26-23 in overtime of the CFP National Championship. Their only loss of the season was in the Iron Bowl where they fell 16-14 to Auburn.
2: In 2009, Nebraska allowed 3.98 yards per play and 271.3 yards per game whiling giving up only 10.4 points per game. The Black Shirts, led by Bo Pelini, still only managed to finish the season 10-4 with losses coming to Virginia Tech (16-15), Texas Tech (31-10), Iowa St. (9-7), and Texas (13-12). This might have been one of the unluckiest football teams of all time.
1: In 2011, Alabama (yes 5 out of 10) allowed 3.32 yards per play and 183.6 yards per game while surrendering only 8.2 points per game. All of those were the least allowed in all three categories for the past decade. The Crimson Tide finished the season 12-1, not winning the SEC after missing the SECCG following a 9-6 loss in overtime to LSU, but taking revenge by winning the National Championship with a 21-0 defeat of LSU in the BCS National Championship.
Some interesting notes from my research…
- Florida came in at number 15. In 2009 Florida allowed 4.19 yards per play and 252.4 yards per game while giving up on 12.4 points per game. Florida finished the season 13-1 with their only loss coming to Alabama in the SECCG 32-13. Florida finished the season ranked 3rd in both the AP and Coaches polls.
- As I stated above only FSU ranked in both the most prolific offense and defense top 10 list for the past decade. The next closest team was Boise St. in 2010 who ranked 6th in defense and 16th in offense for the past decade.
- 2009 was a hell of a year for defenses. Three of the top ten, five of the top fifteen, and seven of the top twenty-three defenses in the past decade came from the 2009 season.
- Nine of the top twenty teams for the past decade were from the SEC. Only one was from the Big 12 (2009 Nebraska, no longer a big 12 member). So does the SEC not play offense or does the Big 12 not play defense? Or is the defense too good in the SEC for there to be great offense or is the offense too good in the Big 12 for there to be great defense?
- Five of the top ten defensive teams won a National Championship compared to only two of the top 10 offensive teams. Although the overall records were 128-11 for the offenses and 127-11 for the defenses.
10: In 2016, Alabama allowed 3.99 yards per play and 261.8 yards per game while giving up 13 points per game. The Crimson Tide finished the season 14-1 losing to Clemson in the National Championship 35-31.
9: In 2012, Alabama (again) allowed 4.18 yards per play and 250 yards per game while giving up 10.9 points per game. The Tide finished the season 13-1 and winning the National Championship with a 42-14 victory over Notre Dame. Their only loss of the season was at home to Texas A&M 29-24.
8: In 2013, FSU allowed 4.09 yards per play and 281.4 yards per game while giving up 12.1 points per game. The Fisher led Seminoles went 14-0 defeating Auburn 34-31 in the national Championship game. This is the only team to appear on both the most prolific offense and defense top 10 list for the past decade.
7: In 2009, Texas Christian University allowed 3.89 yards per play and 239.7 yards per game while allowing 12.8 points per game. The Horned Frogs finished the season 12-1 with their only loss coming to Boise State in the Fiesta Bowl 17-10. TCU finished the season ranked 6th in both the coaches and AP poll.
6: In 2010, BSU allowed 3.98 yards per play and 254.7 yards per game while giving up 12.8 points per game. The Broncos finished the season 12-1 with their only loss coming at Nevada 34-31 in overtime. BSU finished the season with a 26-3 drubbing of Utah in the Maaco Las Vegas Bowl.
5: In 2011, LSU allowed 4.08 yards per play and 261.5 yards per game surrendering 11.3 points per game. The Tigers finished the season 13-1, winning the SEC, but falling to Alabama 21-0 in the BCS National Championship Game.
4: In 2009, Alabama (yes again) allowed 4.08 yards per play and 245.4 yards per game while giving up 11.7 points per game. In Saban’s 3rd season at Alabama, the Crimson Tide finished 14-0 and won the national Championship with a 37-21 defeat of Texas in the BCS National Championship.
3: In 2017, Alabama (see the trend here?) allowed 3.99 yards per play and 260.4 yards per game while allowing 11.9 points per game. Alabama finished the season 13-1 winning the National Championship by defeating Georgia 26-23 in overtime of the CFP National Championship. Their only loss of the season was in the Iron Bowl where they fell 16-14 to Auburn.
2: In 2009, Nebraska allowed 3.98 yards per play and 271.3 yards per game whiling giving up only 10.4 points per game. The Black Shirts, led by Bo Pelini, still only managed to finish the season 10-4 with losses coming to Virginia Tech (16-15), Texas Tech (31-10), Iowa St. (9-7), and Texas (13-12). This might have been one of the unluckiest football teams of all time.
1: In 2011, Alabama (yes 5 out of 10) allowed 3.32 yards per play and 183.6 yards per game while surrendering only 8.2 points per game. All of those were the least allowed in all three categories for the past decade. The Crimson Tide finished the season 12-1, not winning the SEC after missing the SECCG following a 9-6 loss in overtime to LSU, but taking revenge by winning the National Championship with a 21-0 defeat of LSU in the BCS National Championship.
Some interesting notes from my research…
- Florida came in at number 15. In 2009 Florida allowed 4.19 yards per play and 252.4 yards per game while giving up on 12.4 points per game. Florida finished the season 13-1 with their only loss coming to Alabama in the SECCG 32-13. Florida finished the season ranked 3rd in both the AP and Coaches polls.
- As I stated above only FSU ranked in both the most prolific offense and defense top 10 list for the past decade. The next closest team was Boise St. in 2010 who ranked 6th in defense and 16th in offense for the past decade.
- 2009 was a hell of a year for defenses. Three of the top ten, five of the top fifteen, and seven of the top twenty-three defenses in the past decade came from the 2009 season.
- Nine of the top twenty teams for the past decade were from the SEC. Only one was from the Big 12 (2009 Nebraska, no longer a big 12 member). So does the SEC not play offense or does the Big 12 not play defense? Or is the defense too good in the SEC for there to be great offense or is the offense too good in the Big 12 for there to be great defense?
- Five of the top ten defensive teams won a National Championship compared to only two of the top 10 offensive teams. Although the overall records were 128-11 for the offenses and 127-11 for the defenses.
