The defense literally won the game against the Vols, keeping Tennessee at bay the entire game and getting a Tennessee fumble through the end zone when it looked like they’d finally crack in an eventual 6-3 victory.
And the D got the game to overtime against LSU before finally falling in an equally low-scoring affair 16-13. Though Auburn got the best of them, they finished the year by locking down Texas Tech in a 13-10 Cotton Bowl win.
No other defense on this list did more winning with less contribution from the offense.
6. 2006 LSU (12.6 PPG allowed, 11-2, BCS at-large)
Key Players: DE Tyson Jackson, DE Chase Pittman, DT Glenn Dorsey, DT Rickey Jean-Francois, LB Ali Highsmith, FS LaRon Landry
The ’07 National Champion defense was good, but this one was better. Interestingly enough, though they played with eventual No. 1 pick JaMarcus Russell, like ’98 Florida, they played well enough to win every game, but didn’t get the breaks they needed from their offense.
The two losses on the year came at Auburn 7-3, and at Florida 23-10 thanks to turnovers.
Aside from that, the Tigers rolled behind a defense that finished fourth nationally, with one of the best career, defensive-line units in SEC history and the all-everything Landry. They really showed their worth in the Sugar Bowl, crushing Brady Quinn and Notre Dame 41-14.
5. 2004 Auburn (11.3 PPG allowed, 13-0, SEC Champions)
Key Players: DT Stanley McClover, LB Travis Williams, CB Carlos Rogers, FS Junior Rosegreen
The perfect example of a great offense and a great defense coming together at the right time (even though 2004 turned into the wrong time in the BCS).
After carrying the team to a 10-9 win over LSU in September, the Tigers and their defense weren’t threatened again until the final game of the season in the Iron Bowl.
They had a field day in Knoxville with a 34-10 win and held a great Georgia offense to six points. Things got a bit dicey in their final three, but they were up to the task against Alabama 21-13, then had a strange off-day against Tennessee in the SEC Championship, but their offense was up to the task in a 38-28 win.
And when their offense needed them to return the favor, they delivered in a 16-13 win over Virginia Tech. You would’ve loved to see this defense go up against USC’s offense, but alas...
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