A fun aspect of SRS is that it has both an offensive and defensive rating.
I looked at defenses only and did the same exercise as before. I jotted down whoever the NC's defense rating was as well as whoever the best (or next best if it was the NC's) defenses were. Here's what I found:
2021 Georgia has the best defense rating ever. Comfortably ahead of #2.
Remember, this is simply how they performed against who they played. No style points, no fame or fortune, no draft stock or recruiting stars. Just the facts, ma'am.
Behind the Dawgs, we have a pair of non-NCs: 85 UM and 72 OU. Like with the overall ratings, non-NCs are among the best of all-time.
Then there's 2012 Alabama. The 2011 Tide D had the legendary pass D, but the '12 version was better overall.
Then another pair of non-NCs: 73 OSU and 17 Bama.
We have a cluster after that: 18 Clemson, 11 Bama, 91 Miami
Then 11 LSU, 00 FSU, 16 Bama, 09 Bama, 71 Nebraska, 08 USC
One could make the claim that Saban's defenses during their run of NCs were the best of all time, as a program.
Close cluster after that: 23 UM, 01 Miami, 97 UM
Yes, this year's Wolverine D rates as good as the 97 unit.
Small gap.
02 OSU, 93 FSU, 23 OSU, 18 Miss St, 86 OU, 74 UM
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Some defenses with great reputations that sort of finished down in the 'others receiving votes' level:
2000 OU, 99 FSU, 78 Bama and 92 Bama rate in the lower third of all NCs. Those surprised me.
I must mention an all-time great defense across several seasons: 87-88-89 Auburn under Pat Dye. All non-NCs, but all ranking very highly. With this quick once-over, they'd be my vote for 2nd-best multi-season defense of all-time.
Nebraska is on both lists (NCs, non-NCs) plenty, so you understand where the Blackshirts notoriety came from.
1980 Pitt rates a very pedestrian middle ground in the non-NCs list and overall. That's interesting.
Now for the ugly list:
Worst NC defense rating: 2010 Auburn...which makes what Newton did all the more amazing.
Next-worst raised my eyebrow: 68 OSU.
03 USC is next. Wow!
All worse than 84 BYU. Yeeesh.
Next ugly cluster: 19 LSU, 14 OSU, 07 LSU, 96 Florida
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Some noteworthy takeaways from non-NC defenses:
22 Iowa is toward the lower end
In 2006, no one had a particularly good defense. Outlier season.
2020 N'Western's defense rates about the same as their 95 defense.
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I think teams and fans really take pride in a strong defense, more so than a big O. I guess that's why I chose this side of the ball first.
Any thoughts?
