REVENGE OF THE DEFENSE

After years of offensive fireworks, the guys on the other side of the ball are catching up. For now...

- by PAT FORDE

OSU's Caleb Downs is the ultimate "box player," capable of coverage, blitzing and run defense.

“IT FELT LIKE for a while there was going to be no end to offensive progress,” says Vanderbilt's Clark Lea. But the former Notre Dame defensive coordinator and the 2024 SEC Coach of the Year can smile: Over the past two years, the pendulum has begun to swing back in favor of the defense. Last season, FBS teams averaged 28.0 points and 386.7 yards, appreciably down from the record highs of 30.0 points and 417.1 yards in 2016. Passing yards per game (227.2) was its lowest since '10. Says Lea, “Those are good statistics.”

Defense led to CFP berths last season. Title winner Ohio State was No. 1 in the nation in scoring defense, and six of the top eight in that category were in the 12-team playoff, compared to just three of the top eight scoring offenses.