2013 College Football Preseason Rankings: Top 5 Defenses – Alabama the Nation’s Best

2013 College Football Preseason Rankings: Top 5 Defenses – Alabama the Nation’s Best: It has become a bit cliché to say that defense wins championships, but it has certainly been the case in recent years in college football. In fact, the last two BCS title games have featured the teams with the top-two scoring defenses in the country. It’s kind of ironic that in the era of high-powered offenses, championships are still being won on the defensive side of the ball. The trend could certainly continue this year considering there are several teams that figure to have stingy defensive units in 2013, including some that are on the short list of preseason national title favorites. With that in mind, here is a closer look at the top defenses in college football heading into the 2013 season.

1.      Alabama Crimson Tide

Plenty of key pieces are back for a unit that ranked second in the country last season in points allowed per game (10.7) and led the country yards allowed (246.0) and yards per rush (2.5). C.J. Mosley leads a loaded linebacking corps, and star safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix is back for a secondary that led the country in pass defense last year. Granted, Alabama does lose three big contributors along its defensive front, but thanks to Nick Saban’s belief in rotating fresh bodies in the trenches, the replacements already have plenty of experience. Add it all up, and the Crimson Tide look as dominant as ever on the defensive side of the ball.

2.      Stanford Cardinal

Plain and simple, teams aren’t going to win a war in the trenches against the Cardinal. Playmakers Ben Gardner and Henry Anderson are back for a defensive line that returns every starter while the return of Trent Murphy, Shayne Skov and A.J. Tarpley means that all but one of Stanford’s linebackers is back. With another year of experience, Stanford’s front seven in 2013 could actually be better than the unit that led the country with 57.0 sacks in 2012 and ranked fourth in rush defense. Granted, the secondary does lose a couple of starters, but ball-hawking safety Ed Reynolds is back after taking three of his six interceptions back for scores a year ago.

3.      TCU Horned Frogs

At least on the defensive side of the ball, TCU can match up with any team in the country. Coming off a 10.0-sack season as a true freshman, defensive end Devonte Fields leads a speedy, explosive defensive front. Meanwhile, senior cornerback Jason Verrett and safety Sam Parker form half of what might be the country’s best secondary. Last year, TCU ranked fourth in the country in interceptions and had a top-10 run defense. This year’s unit should be even better, and it should be fun watching the Horned Frogs’ loaded defense go toe to toe with the high-powered offenses of the Big 12.

4.      Ohio State Buckeyes

Urban Meyer has brought in a ton of talented prospects the past two years to add depth to a defense that is primed for a breakout season. Outside linebacker Ryan Shazier is probably the most physically-gifted pass rusher in the Big Ten, and junior Curtis Grant has NFL-caliber talent at the inside linebacker spot. Meanwhile, star corner Bradley Roby leads a stacked secondary that also features two seniors at the safety spots. The Buckeyes will be replacing some leaders along the defensive front, but Adolphus Washington and Noah Spence are among the highly-touted recruits set to fill the void. The speed of Ohio State’s defense will be in a class by itself in the Big Ten.

5.      Notre Dame Fighting Irish

While Notre Dame will be missing a certain linebacker that nearly won the Heisman Trophy, there are plenty of other stars back for a unit that was the stingiest in the country last season, allowing just 10.3 points per game. Nose tackle Louis Nix and defensive end Stephon Tuitt are both among the best in the country at their positions, making the defensive front of the Fighting Irish’s 3-4 base very potent. Meanwhile, the secondary returns three of its four starters from last season with the only newcomer being former four-star recruit Elijah Shumate. Yes, Notre Dame will be breaking in some new starters at inside linebacker, but Prince Shembo and Danny Spond will be back at the two outside positions.

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