It feels a little surreal to say still, but there aren’t many defenses in the country that are better than what Shiel Wood and the Texas Tech Red Raiders have been able to trot out this season. Seriously, that’s a real thing that we can say and brag about this year.
The Red Raiders have, by far, one of the most impressive defenses in the country this season.
That is a factual statement. It doesn’t feel real, partially because Texas Tech had one of the worst defenses in the nation a season ago, but things have improved drastically this year and that is something that we should be happy about and more than okay with bragging about.
And when you examine where Texas Tech stands among the remaining College Football Playoff contenders, the Red Raiders defense happens to clearly be one of the best in the remaining in the running for a national title.
Texas Tech has the second best total defense among the teams remaining in the College Football Playoff
Here’s where the Red Raiders defense stands among the other teams that remain standing in the College Football Playoff:
- Ohio State Buckeyes - 213.5 yards per game - No. 1 overall
- Texas Tech Red Raiders - 254.4 yards per game - No. 3 overall
- Indiana Hoosiers - 257.2 yards per game - No. 4 overall
- Oregon Ducks - 271.4 yards per game - No. 7 overall
- Miami Hurricanes - 281.5 yards per game - No. 10 overall
- Georgia Bulldogs - 284.5 yards per game - No. 11 overall
- Alabama Crimson Tide - 288.9 yards per game - No. 13 overall
- Ole Miss Rebels - 339.8 yards per game - No. 41 overall
Just about all of the defenses for the teams left in the College Football Playoff are competent, solid defenses. And it’s not that the Ole Miss Rebels are bad. Their numbers are solid, especially when you combine them with what Ole Miss does on offense.
But comparing that defense to the other national title contending teams? Well, it’s just not at the same level right now. Other than them though, all of the national title contenders have top 15 defenses in total defense. And that’s impressive to see.