But don’t change, LSU … this version is too much fun
So, are we all just going to ignore this whole LSU Is Bad At Defense thing?
Alright, “bad” is an overstatement.
To be fair, the Alabama offense when Tua Tagovailoa was at the helm was an all-time great fun show of a passing game – and still might be with Mac Jones winging it. And on the right day, Ole Miss offensive coordinator Rich Rodriguez’s rushing attack is devastating.
However …
LSU just got ripped apart by the Rebels for 402 rushing yards and four touchdowns in a 58-37 Tiger win. In the game before that, Tua and his guys went off for 418 passing yards and four scores – and yes, even a desperation late bomb counts in the equation.
Florida’s Kyle Trask went off for over 300 yards through the air, and Sam Ehlinger of Texas threw for over 400. But whatever … the offense is enough to overcome anything and anyone in the College Football Playoff, right?
At the moment, LSU is 47th in the nation in total defense.
Last year, Clemson finished fifth in total D.
2017 national champion Alabama finished No. 1 in the nation in total defense. 2016 Clemson finished 8th, 2015 Alabama finished 3rd, and 2014 Ohio State finished 19th.
How about in the final years of the BCS era?
2013 Florida State’s D ended up third in the nation. The 2011 and 2012 Alabama defenses both finished No. 1, and 2010 Auburn …
There’s the outlier. The Tigers won the national title with the 60th-best defense in college football.
2009 Alabama? No. 2.
So over the last ten years, nine of the national champions finished in the top 20 in total defense, and eight were in the top ten. What does it all mean?
Ohio State is No. 1 in the nation in total defense right now.
Clemson is No. 2, Utah is No. 3, Georgia is No. 6, and Oregon is No. 14.