Four weeks into the season, we are finally starting to see the true top defenses enter the top-10 while the cupcake schedules get funneled out.
Some of our top 10 defenses are solid year in and year out, but we definitely have some new teams playing some of their best defenses of the last several seasons in 2025. Who makes the list?
25) Alabama Crimson Tide
PFSN Defi Season Score: 86.7
After a mediocre start to the season, the Alabama Crimson Tide defense has worked its way back into the top 25. With a matchup against the other SEC powerhouse, Georgia, this week, the Crimson Tide gets an opportunity to prove itself once again after facing some weak offenses to boost its rating.
Ironically enough, among all defenses in 2025, Alabama has faced the 25th toughest strength of schedule, meaning its 25th ranking is neither boosted nor dropped by a tough schedule. It is perfectly average.
24) Vanderbilt Commodores
PFSN Defi Season Score: 86.7
The Commodores continue to impress both offensively and defensively. According to TruMedia, Vanderbilt ranks seventh in forcing turnovers per drive.
With eight turnovers on the season, Vanderbilt has doubled the amount of passing touchdowns allowed on the season. They will need the defense to stay hot with SEC showdowns looming.
23) UCF Knights
PFSN Defi Season Score: 86.9
UCF has been one of the unsung heroes of the 2025 season. They rank 12th in yards per play allowed and 10th in opponent points per drive.
After being the latest team to smack down North Carolina, UCF’s schedule will get significantly more difficult with future games against Kansas, Texas Tech, BYU, and Baylor.
22) Utah Utes
PFSN Defi Season Score: 86.9
Despite the tough loss to Texas Tech, Utah’s defense was still borderline elite for the first three quarters of this game. John Henry Daley continues to lead the charge for the defensive line with six sacks (first in FBS).
Despite four pressures and a forced fumble, backup quarterback Will Hammond was able to deliver the knockout punch in what was otherwise a fantastic game for Utah.
Through three quarters of football, the Utes had given up just 10 points, with seven of them coming from the first possession. Unfortunately, Hammond’s addition to the ground game either exposed a weakness in this defense or gassed them after a rough showing from the offense.
21) Oregon Ducks
PFSN Defi Season Score: 87.2
With an 87.2 Impact score, the Oregon Ducks have been in cruise control offensively and defensively in the 2025 season. With the 47th-ranked strength of schedule, the Ducks’ defense will get its first big test of the season in Week 5, when they face Penn State in a huge Big Ten showdown.
The Ducks defense ranks 17th in passing success rate and fourth in pass EPA allowed, and it is one of four teams that has not allowed a passing touchdown this season. With a run defense that ranks 66th and 62nd in success rate and EPA, the Ducks don’t have quite the favorable matchup against Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen.
Luckily, a high-scoring offense that can hopefully force Penn State into passing situations would favor the Ducks’ defense.
20) West Virginia Mountaineers
PFSN Defi Season Score: 87.5
With an 87.5 Impact score, the West Virginia Mountaineers have completely turned around a defense that ranked 104th in 2024 and 748th out of 922 Division I defenses since 2019.
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You would expect a turnaround like that to (at least partially) be due to an easier schedule, but the Mountaineers have played the 47th toughest combination of offenses in football this season. Like it or not, the Mountaineers’ defense is legit.
19) Florida Gators
PFSN Defi Season Score: 88.4
I said it last week, and I’ll say it again this week: The Florida Gators consistently stay in games longer with much better teams because of how talented this defense is. Miami’s offense ranks 20th this season in our Impact scores with an 85.5 score and a B grade.
Yet, when facing Florida in Week 4, they scored 78.9, which is their second-worst score this season. The same thing applies to LSU, which had its fourth-worst offensive outing since 2019 against the Gators’ defense. Unfortunately for the Gators, it takes two sides of the ball to tango, and Billy Napier is as good as gone.
18) Mississippi State Bulldogs
PFSN Defi Season Score: 89.0
The Mississippi State Bulldogs are quietly fielding a legit SEC defense despite consistently being one of the conference’s bottom feeders in the past few years.
They have been a near top-30 team in both pass and run defense, as well as in the red zone and at forcing turnovers. The only issue is that they are only slightly above average in rushing the passer, which could take a toll on them when facing a fast-paced Tennessee offense.
17) Louisville Cardinals
PFSN Defi Season Score: 89.3
With a schedule as easy as Louisville has played, you almost expect the defense to be on this list. Louisville’s defense ranks 123rd in plays per game because of the offense’s ability to kill the clock and stay on the field.
The best feature of this defense is the nasty pass-rush, which ranks fourth in the nation in pressure rate without blitzing.
16) Pittsburgh Panthers
PFSN Defi Season Score: 89.3
Despite not playing this week, the Pittsburgh Panthers moved up in both score and ranking due to the performance of those around them. Considering this team’s offensive opponents to date combine for the 121st-ranked impact score, I would definitely like to see more from this defense before I’m ready to consider them legit.
15) LSU Tigers
PFSN Defi Season Score: 89.8
The LSU Tigers continue to impress on defense despite the offense getting most of the praise this offseason. Mansoor Delane is our highest-graded corner this season with a 98.9 Impact score and an A+ grade. With a lot of time left to be played, that ranks first this season and last.
Another shoutout from this defense goes to Harold Perkins Jr. As an X user pointed out, Perkins’s ability to do it all is an asset when used correctly.
I love watching the LSU defense man… Harold Perkins is just unreal
Do you need a linebacker? Do you need an EDGE rusher? Do you need a zone corner? Do you need a QB spy on the D Line?
This dude can do it all… Its insane
— Matt Chabot (@Chabotsports) September 22, 2025
Perkins has totaled seven pressures, a sack, and 12 tackles, and has been in coverage playing slot corner this season. As a box safety/linebacker hybrid who is allowed to rush the passer, Perkins could really dominate at the next level.
14) Missouri Tigers
PFSN Defi Impact Score: 89.9
The Missouri Tigers continue to live up to the hype I gave them throughout the offseason. I knew this defense was legit, but the emergence of QB Beau Pribula and the offense has made this one tough team to beat.
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Something that kind of blows my mind is that Missouri ranks sixth this season in plays per game defensively. My first thought was that maybe the offense plays deceptively fast, but that isn’t the case. They rank 100th in seconds per play.
It turns out that this is because the offense is ridiculously explosive. Ranking eighth in explosive plays this season at 32 has meant the defense is on the field a lot longer. In spite of that, the defense still ranks 33rd in yards per play allowed and has the seventh-best pressure rate without blitzing.
13) Miami (FL) Hurricanes
PFSN Defi Impact Score: 90.2
Not much else can be said about the Miami defense after this week. The tests will continue to get harder, and it’s looking like they will continue to answer.
Miami held the Gators to just 131 yards of total offense, seven points, and a turnover. The Hurricanes’ defense was just a brick wall this week. The Gators’ 2.7 yards per play was their lowest performance since October 19, 2013, when they lost to Missouri 36-17 and registered just 2.5 yards per play.
12) Florida State Seminoles
PFSN Defi Impact Score: 90.3
Despite the weak schedule, the Florida State Seminoles’ defense still looks impressive. Their best trait is their ability to force you into third downs, ranking sixth in FBS in the percentage of opponent plays run on third down. Once you get there, good luck converting, as they also rank 18th, allowing opponents to convert on just 29.4% of third downs.
11) Maryland Terrapins
PFSN Defi Impact Score: 90.4
Maryland’s latest thrashing of Wisconsin continues to instill confidence in this team. Off to a 4-0 start, the Terrapins’ defense ranks ninth in turnover rate with nine total turnovers, including eight interceptions. They also get after the passer well, ranking 32nd in pressure rate without blitzing.
10) Texas Tech Red Raiders
PFSN Defi Impact Score: 90.7
I am genuinely shocked the Texas Tech Red Raiders aren’t ranked even higher after their performance last week.
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This Red Raider defense forced three turnovers and rarely allowed the ground game to breathe. In the pass game, Utah QB Devon Dampier had his worst outing as a Ute, getting pressured on only 25.6% of drop-backs but still not managing much.
9) Minnesota Golden Gophers
PFSN Defi Impact Score: 91.1
Minnesota was able to rest and prepare for a battle with an impressive Rutgers offense that scored 28 points on Iowa’s defense.
Minnesota’s offensive opponents rank 107th in impact score, and Rutgers ranks 11th. This will be by far the toughest matchup Minnesota has seen in 2025.
8) Houston Cougars
PFSN Defi Impact Score: 91.3
Houston did not play this week but still jumped from 15th to eighth in the rankings as offenses continue to ramp up.
Houston gets one more weaker team in Oregon State before facing another top-flight defense in Texas Tech. The only difference is that Houston might not have the offensive firepower to match the Red Raiders.
7) Arizona Wildcats
PFSN Defi Impact Score: 91.9
The Arizona Wildcats have faced the 98th toughest group of offenses this season, which means I am going to hold my opinions until I see them face off against Iowa State this week.
Nevertheless, a 91.9 impact score on defense is nothing to scoff at. Especially considering the three 2025 games, this season accounts for 38% of Arizona’s top eight defensive games since 2019.
6) BYU Cougars
PFSN Defi Impact Score: 92.2
BYU finally falls off slightly, allowing its first touchdown of the season to East Carolina. Even still, a 92.2 defensive impact score puts them sixth in our rankings and would be the best BYU defensive performance since 2019. Outside of the strength of schedule, BYU has an argument for the best defense statistically.
They rank first in yards per play allowed, opponent points per drive, and points per game allowed. They also rank third in defensive red zone efficiency and 12th in turnover rate. Luckily for BYU, the real offensive tests don’t come until later in the season.
5) Penn State Nittany Lions
PFSN Defi Impact Score: 92.5
The Nittany Lions’ tune-up games are officially over, as they play the Oregon Ducks this week. Oregon ranks seventh this season in our offensive impact grades, which means Penn State is going to go from zero to 100 really, really quickly.
As always, Penn State specializes in the pass-rush, ranking 12th in pressure rate without blitzing, which will be critical for stopping one of the NCAA’s most accurate passers, Dante Moore.
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Most importantly, Penn State ranks second in forcing teams into third downs but 60th in conversion rate in said situations. This could spell trouble against an Oregon team that ranks 12th in third-down conversion rate.
4) Texas Longhorns
PFSN Defi Impact Score: 93.0
After a bye week in Week 5, Texas will get to be the next defense to take advantage of a reeling Florida offense, but then face a red-hot Oklahoma in the Red River Rivalry. From now until then, the Longhorns’ defense will likely remain untested.
Texas ranks fifth and sixth in yards per play allowed and opponent points per drive when their team has a lead, versus (still respectable) 17th and 24th when trailing. If QB Arch Manning and the offense don’t figure it out soon, there is only so much this defense can do.
3) Ohio State Buckeyes
PFSN Defi Impact Score: 95.0
The Ohio State schedule has been perfect for a team with a lot of inexperience. They thrived in their first game of the season, holding Texas to just seven points, and have been allowing young players to get some serious game reps in meaningless blowouts ever since.
One of the players benefiting from that is Caden Curry, who ranks 17th out of 554 FBS defenders with over 50 pass-rushing snaps in pressure rate at 20%. He’s also among the best run defenders in college, ranking in tackle percentage. If he continues to develop, that elite secondary will dominate on even higher levels than we have already seen.
2) Indiana Hoosiers
PFSN Defi Impact Score: 96.6
The Indiana Hoosiers’ defense put their team back in the spotlight with as big a statement win as you can imagine. When Illinois beat Duke, I wrote this article, ultimately explaining why Illinois is not a legitimate College Football Playoff threat. The Hoosiers’ defense did more than just prove me right.
They dominated from start to finish. The most impressive aspect of this defense is that it isn’t overly reliant on turnovers to perform this well. They rank 43rd in opponent turnovers per drive but second in defensive pass EPA, second in defensive passing and rushing success rate, and are the number one red zone defense in football.
Even better, they don’t have one overly dominant player they rely on to make plays. In fact, Indiana has two safeties ranked in our top 10, one of the nation’s best corners in DeAngelo Ponds, two stud defensive tackles, and one of the best edge rushers in Mikail Kamara.
1) Oklahoma Sooners
PFSN Defi Impact Score: 97.9
Despite an incredible game played by the Oklahoma Sooners’ defense, they managed to fall in impact score because of how perfect they have been to start the season. R Mason Thomas and his teammates combined for a school-record-tying nine sacks, including an absolutely dominating final drive that solidified the win.
All season long, Oklahoma’s best attribute has been its ability to get after the passer, and the Auburn game was no different. Thomas had three pressures and two sacks, which culminated in 4.6 expected points lost for the Tigers. When you can impact the game so significantly from just a few plays a game, this just invigorates the rest of your defense.
The same can be said about the others. They all play off of each other so well. I was hesitant to crown the Sooner defense, but after this performance, their group of offensive opponents ranks 28th toughest. There will be many more trials and tribulations to come, but this Oklahoma defense is certified.
College Football Defense Rankings | Best of the Rest
26) Wisconsin Badgers (86.2, B)
27) Washington Huskies (85.4, B)
28) Nebraska Cornhuskers (85.0, B)
29) Auburn Tigers (84.9, B)
30) Kansas Jayhawks (84.5, B)
31) Georgia Bulldogs (84.5, B)
32) James Madison Dukes (84.4, B)
33) Wake Forest Demon Deacons (84.2, B)
34) Iowa Hawkeyes (84.2, B)
35) Michigan Wolverines (84.1, B)
36) San Diego State Aztecs (83.9, B)
37) USC Trojans (83.8, B)
38) Mississippi Rebels (83.1, B)
39) Kentucky Wildcats (82.5, B-)
40) California Golden Bears (82.5, B-)
41) Iowa State Cyclones (82.3, B-)
42) Cincinnati Bearcats (82.1, B-)
43) Texas A&M Aggies (82.0, B-)
44) Virginia Cavaliers (81.7, B-)
45) Boston College Eagles (81.3, B-)
46) Arkansas Razorbacks (81.2, B-)
47) Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (80.9, B-)
48) Arizona State Sun Devils (80.8, B-)
49) Toledo Rockets (80.6, B-)
50) South Carolina Gamecocks (80.2, B-)
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51) Northwestern Wildcats (79.9, C+)
52) Clemson Tigers (79.8, C+)
53) East Carolina Pirates (79.6, C+)
54) Memphis Tigers (79.3, C+)
55) Tennessee Volunteers (79.3, C+)
56) TCU Horned Frogs (78.9, C+)
57) Appalachian State Mountaineers (78.7, C+)
58) SMU Mustangs (78.5, C+)
59) Rice Owls (78.3, C+)
60) Kansas State Wildcats (78.0, C+)
61) Syracuse Orange (77.8, C+)
62) Baylor Bears (77.8, C+)
63) North Texas Mean Green (77.5, C+)
64) Colorado Buffaloes (77.4, C+)
65) Illinois Fighting Illini (77.1, C+)
66) Navy Midshipmen (77.1, C+)
67) Hawaii Warriors (77.1, C+)
68) Western Kentucky Hilltoppers (77.0, C+)
69) North Carolina Tar Heels (76.4, C)
70) Stanford Cardinal (75.8, C)
71) Notre Dame Fighting Irish (75.7, C)
72) North Carolina State Wolfpack (75.6, C)
73) Louisiana Tech Bulldogs (75.4, C)
74) Rutgers Scarlet Knights (75.4, C)
75) Michigan State Spartans (75.1, C)
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76) Old Dominion Monarchs (75.0, C)
77) Oklahoma State Cowboys (74.7, C)
78) Purdue Boilermakers (74.7, C)
79) Temple Owls (74.6, C)
80) Buffalo Bulls (74.3, C)
81) USF Bulls (74.2, C)
82) Troy Trojans (73.9, C)
83) Florida Atlantic Owls (73.8, C)
84) UTEP Miners (73.4, C)
85) Duke Blue Devils (73.3, C)
86) Virginia Tech Hokies (73.2, C)
87) Marshall Thundering Herd (73.1, C)
88) Wyoming Cowboys (73.1, C)
89) New Mexico State Aggies (72.8, C-)
90) UTSA Roadrunners (72.6, C-)
91) Boise State Broncos (72.5, C-)
92) Fresno State Bulldogs (72.4, C-)
93) Southern Miss Golden Eagles (72.4, C-)
94) Tulsa Golden Hurricane (72.4, C-)
95) Utah State Aggies (72.1, C-)
96) Bowling Green Falcons (71.5, C-)
97) San Jose State Spartans (71.5, C-)
98) Coastal Carolina Chanticleers (71.1, C-)
99) Florida International Golden Panthers (71.0, C-)
100) Texas State Bobcats (70.9, C-)
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101) Western Michigan Broncos (70.7, C-)
102) Northern Illinois Huskies (70.7, C-)
103) Colorado State Rams (70.6, C-)
104) Tulane Green Wave (70.4, C-)
105) Nevada Wolf Pack (70.3, C-)
106) Connecticut Huskies (69.5, D+)
107) New Mexico Lobos (69.1, D+)
108) Washington State Cougars (69.1, D+)
109) Kennesaw State Owls (69.0, D+)
110) UNLV Rebels (68.8, D+)
111) Jacksonville State Gamecocks (68.7, D+)
112) Ohio Bobcats (68.6, D+)
113) Akron Zips (68.5, D+)
114) Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks (68.5, D+)
115) Liberty Flames (67.8, D+)
116) South Alabama Jaguars (67.8, D+)
117) Oregon State Beavers (66.8, D)
118) Missouri State Bears (66.7, D)
119) Delaware Fightin Blue Hens (66.6, D)
120) Army Black Knights (66.4, D)
121) Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns (66.4, D)
122) Charlotte 49ers (66.4, D)
123) Central Michigan Chippewas (65.6, D)
124) Kent State Golden Flashes (63.8, D)
125) Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders (63.6, D)
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126) Ball State Cardinals (63.6, D)
127) Georgia Southern Eagles (63.0, D)
128) Massachusetts Minutemen (62.7, D-)
129) UCLA Bruins (62.6, D-)
130) Air Force Falcons (62.5, D-)
131) Miami (OH) RedHawks (61.9, D-)
132) Sam Houston State Bearkats (60.9, D-)
133) Arkansas State Red Wolves (60.4, D-)
134) UAB Blazers (59.0, F)
135) Georgia State Panthers (58.7, F)
136) Eastern Michigan Eagles (57.0, F)
