Best defensive performance in 2025?

Really so sad that we didn’t have Lucas for that first half. Completely different gameplan in the 2nd half.
Hopefully the Lucas situation changes the targeting rules because prominent voices in the sport were speaking of its ridiculousness . What’s been in place has been moronic since its inception. No one should be ejected or suspended unless there’s serious, intentional bloodshed. A questionable targeting call like we saw with Lucas ain’t the type of dirty play they’re trying to eliminate. You know it’s highly questionable when it wasn’t called targeting on the field. The types of hits you want gone usually make the crowd wince and say “ooouuuuu” with 10 flags flying in immediately. Not a hit that didn’t draw a flag with everyone wondering wth is being reviewed.
 
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Hopefully the Lucas situation changes the targeting rules because prominent voices in the sport were speaking of its ridiculousness . What’s been in place has been moronic since its inception. No one should be ejected or suspended unless there’s serious, intentional bloodshed. A questionable targeting call like we saw with Lucas ain’t the type of dirty play they’re trying to eliminate. You know it’s highly questionable when it wasn’t called targeting on the field. The types of hits you want gone usually make the crowd wince and say “ooouuuuu” with 10 flags flying in immediately. Not a hit that didn’t draw a flag with everyone wondering wth is being reviewed.
I believe it is being discussed in the off season. They discussed it on the Cover 3 podcast recently. If anything there needs to be a yellow/red card situation.
 
I don’t disagree, but defense won a lot of our games this season. Ole Miss was #1 in total offense and put up 40 against their 2 previous CFP opponents including Georgia. They received the opening kickoff against us and didn’t pick up a first down until the 2nd quarter. That 1st down being the 70+ yard TD run that was basically a busted play. We let them hang around by not scoring any points of our own until the late in the 4th.

That Fiesta Bowl saw what was arguably the best offense in the country look completely inept for most of the game. In my opinion that’s the best defensive performance.
Our offense had to win it late vs ole miss, their offense scored 27 in 18 minutes. Our offense keeping the ball for 42 minutes is what limited their offense more so than our defense
 
Our offense had to win it late vs ole miss, their offense scored 27 in 18 minutes. Our offense keeping the ball for 42 minutes is what limited their offense more so than our defense
That A&M performance was pretty impressive as well. That whole game was played on a razor’s edge where one blown coverage or one missed tackle could have meant ball game. All those missed FG’s as well, yet the defense kept refusing to give in.
 
There are a lot of games you can point to, I haven't seen Pitt mentioned yet. They were rolling pretty well before our game minus basically laying down for ND. There was the talk of the cold. The ghosts from the previous year with Syracuse. We went in there and punched them in the mouth and never looked back.
 
The performance against the Gaytes is mine because of how inept we made them look for most of the game.
 
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For me it was the aTm game. How many missed field goals and other adversity did our defense have to overcome? Including the Beck fumble. They executed nearly to perfection...very few missed tackles or penalties if any.

Factoring in NFL talent and "heisman candidate" qb, the OSU game was my next favorite. Keionte changed that game completely with the INT and Jakobe had some great tackles.

And lastly, the ND game was very impressive. The early forced fumble, shutting down Love altogether, and the Bain INT where he nearly scored a TD on the return...that was fun to watch!
 
Indiana, bucks, and a distant Florida. Indiana is the best by a mile and I don't think it’s close. Our defense put us in position to win 6 only to be failed by special teams and a last minute INT against an offensive juggernaut. Come on guys get your heads out of your asses!
 
Notre Dame and Ohio State. Games were close on the scoreboard but we whooped their *** Physically. Both those teams pride themselves on that identity and on the field it wasn't even close in that aspect.
 
1. Indiana 42.6 pts avg. #2 nationally 20 pts allowed 22.6 pt differential
2. Notre Dame 41.8 pts avg #3 nationally 24 pts allowed 17.8 pt differential
3. USF 40.5 pts avg #5 nationally 7 pts allowed 33.5 pt differential
4. Ole Miss 36.9 pts avg #10 nationally 27 pts allowed 9.9 pt differential
5.Texas ATM 33.8 pts avg #19 nationally 3 pts allowed 30.8 pt differential
6. Pittsburgh 33.7 pts avg #20 nationally 7 pts allowed 26.7 pt differential
7. Ohio State 33.4 pts avg #21 nationally 14 pts allowed 19.4 pt differential
8. FSU 33 pts avg #22 nationally 22 pts allowed 11 pt differential
9. SMU 32.2 pts avg #26 nationally 26 pts allowed(20 pts in regulation) 6.2 pt differential
10. NC State 30.2 pts avg #45 nationally 7 pts allowed 23.2 pt differential
11. Louisville 29.9 pts avg #46 nationally 24 pts allowed 5.9 pt differential
12. Florida 21.6 pts avg #109 nationally 7 pts allowed 14.6 pt differential
13. Virginia Tech 21.4 pts avg #112 nationally 14 pts allowed 7.4 pt differential
14. Syracuse 20.2 pts avg #116 nationally 7 pts allowed 13.2 differential
15. Stanford 18.8 pts avg #120 nationally 7 pts allowed 11.8 pt differential

I thought it would be interesting to list the 15 FBS offenses we faced, where they ranked nationally in scoring offense then what we held them to.

We held every offense we faced under their per game scoring average.
 
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Our offense had to win it late vs ole miss, their offense scored 27 in 18 minutes. Our offense keeping the ball for 42 minutes is what limited their offense more so than our defense
That’s a good point regarding TOP. But our offense really wasn’t doing anything other than hanging onto the ball. We’d get to midfield and punt. I just remember the first 3 possessions for Ole Miss going backwards. One of their possessions in the second half when they got a TD was extended by a bad call which allowed the drive to keep going.
 
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Hard to say as the defense kicked major *** basically every week
 
I believe it is being discussed in the off season. They discussed it on the Cover 3 podcast recently. If anything there needs to be a yellow/red card situation.
Good take. Also could be like an NBA tech foul accumulation thing

Targeting is a good thing in principle, just horribly managed
 
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