Key Players: DT Reggie McGrew, LB Jevon Kearse, LB Mike Peterson, LB Johnny Rutledge, FS Tony George
The defenses on the Danny Wuerffel Gator teams were really good too, but for my money, this one was better; bolstered by the fact that they had to do so much more work without inflated offensive numbers in 1998.
Against the Vols, they played well enough to get the game to overtime, despite five Gator turnovers. Against Florida State in their only other loss on the year, a fluke tipped pass turned the whole game around, but this UF defense played well enough to win every single game.
In between, they completely shut down Auburn (24-3) and Georgia (38-7), and finished off the year by taking care of Donovan McNabb and Syracuse 31-10 in the Orange Bowl.
Kearse led the way with 7.5 sacks and George with four INTs. Aside from the No. 1 team on this list, I’d fear this defense the most if I saw them again.
8. 1994 Alabama (15.1 PPG allowed, 12-1, SEC West Champions)
Key Players: DE Dameian Jeffries, SS Sam Shade
Oft forgotten is the 1994 Crimson Tide season, the last hurrah of Jay Barker and his “no matter what, we’re going to win this game” offense, coupled with some of the last vestiges from the ’92 Championship defense.
The Tide ran to an 11-0 start behind especially dominating performances against Southern Miss (a 14-6 save for the defense), Tennessee (17-13 with a last second goal-line stop), and 21-14 against Auburn in an Iron Bowl for the ages.
The Tide broke only once, to Danny Wuerffel, late in the SEC Championship Game, 24-23. They rebounded to shut down Ohio State in the Citrus Bowl 24-17. They carried their offense more than teams like ’02 Georgia, which is why they’re slightly higher on the list.
7. 2005 Alabama (10.7 PPG allowed, 10-2, Cotton Bowl)
Key Players: DE Mark Anderson, LB DeMeco Ryans, LB Freddie Roach, FS Roman Harper
The little defense that could...based on total points per game allowed, this is the second best defense of the modern era. This Tide team ran to 9-0 behind this defense and clutch kicking, after being bolstered by Tyrone Protho’s catch against Southern Miss in the second game of the season; after that game the defense went on one of the best stretches in SEC history.
Alabama beat South Carolina 37-14 and Arkansas 24-13 before they made the nation stand up and take note with the 31-3 decimation of No. 5 Florida.
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