Nebraska Football: Ranking the Bo Pelini Defenses Over the Years

Over the past eight unpredictable years in college football, fans have come to expect very few things.  But if there is one thing you can be certain of it's that a Bo Pelini coached defense will show up every Saturday and simply dominate.

The numbers speak for themselves.  From Nebraska to Oklahoma to LSU and back, Pelini has produced routinely dominant defenses that are among the nation's elite. 

But which one of these is best?

No. 8: 2008 Nebraska

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AUSTIN, TX - OCTOBER 27: Zach Potter #98 of the Nebraska Cornhuskers looks on the field during the game against the Texas Longhorns at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium October 27, 2007 in Austin, Texas. Texas won 28-25. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty I

Total Defense: No. 55 (349.85 ypg)

Scoring Defense: No. 80 (28.54 ppg)

Rush Defense: No. 21 (116.46 rush ypg)

Pass Defense: No. 89 (233.38 pass ypg)

Turnovers Forced: No. 97 (17)

Pass Efficiency: No. 15 (154.46 rating)

Not a surprise here, Bo Pelini's rebuilding project with his first Nebraska squad obviously produced his least effective defense over his eight-year college stint. 

But, Pelini must be applauded for taking this disastrous 2007 group under Kevin Cosgrove and turning it into one that at least put up a fight.

With a scarily similar personnel group, Bo Pelini was able to instill a sense of hunger back into the Blackshirts, evident by the vastly improved rush defense.

No. 7: 2004 Oklahoma (Co-Defensive Coordinator)

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STILLWATER, OK - OCTOBER 30: Quarterback Donovan Woods #8 of Oklahoma State is tackled by Rufus Alexander #42 of Oklahoma at Boone Pickens Stadium on October 30, 2004 in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Oklahoma defeated Oklahoma State 38-35. (Photo by Jeff Gross/G

Total Defense: No. 13 (299 ypg)

Scoring Defense: No. 11 (16.85 ppg)

Rush Defense: No. 6 (94.62 rush ypg)

Pass Defense: No. 48 (204.38 pass ypg)

Turnovers Forced: No. 54 (22)

Pass Efficiency: No. 42 (117.01 rating)

As co-defensive coordintaor of the 2004 Oklahoma Sooner defense, Pelini helped to lead one of the nation's stingiest against the run. 

Overall, the team went 12-1 with the lone loss coming in the National Championship.

No. 6: 2010 Nebraska

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LINCOLN, NE - OCTOBER 30: Cornerback Prince Amukamara #21 of the Nebraska Cornhuskers breaks up a pass intended wide receiver Wes Kemp #8 of the during second half action of their game at Memorial Stadium on October 30, 2010 in Lincoln, Nebraska. Nebraska

Total Defense: No. 11 (306.79 ypg)

Scoring Defense: No. 9 (17.36 ppg)

Rush Defense: No. 63 (153.14 rush ypg)

Pass Defense: No. 5 (153.64 pass ypg)

Turnovers Forced: No. 49 (23)

Pass Efficiency: No. 3 (96.29 rating)

Hard to believe that the 2010 Bo-fense could be this low on the list, a testament to the defenses left to be uncovered.

The 2010 Blackshirts had an undeniably remarkable secondary that includes likely first-rounder Prince Amukamara.  Pelini's abilty to develop the Peso package to suit his talent is just a small sliver to the genius behind his defenses.

No. 5: 2005 LSU

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NEW ORLEANS - JANUARY 07: Defensive coordinator Bo Pelini of of the Louisiana State University Tigers celebrates with Harry Coleman #24 after Coleman recovered a fumble in the fourth quarter against the Ohio State Buckeyes during the AllState BCS Nationa

Total Defense: No. 3 (266.85 ypg)

Scoring Defense: No. 3 (14.23 ppg)

Rush Defense: No. 6 (91.54 rush ypg)

Pass Defense: No. 11 (175.31 pass ypg)

Turnovers Forced: No. 111 (14)

Pass Efficiency: No. 3 (96.26 rating)

The first Bo-led Tiger defense was the lowest ranked of the bunch.  Remarkable considering the fact they ranked third in both total defense and scoring defense.

While Bo's defenses typically have a knack for finding the ball and causing turnovers, this defense was inexplicably poor in that sense, ranking nearly last in the country in takeaways.

That may actually make the fact they finished so high in other categories that much more impressive.

No. 4: 2003 Nebraska

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LAWRENCE, KS - NOVEMBER 8: Demorrio Williams #7 of the Nebraska Cornhuskers brings down quarterback Adam Barmann #7 of the Kansas Jay Hawks behind the line of scrimmage as T.J. Hollowell #2 pursues in the first half November 8, 2003 at Memorial Stadium i

Total Defense: No. 11 (297.5 ypg)

Scoring Defense: No. 2 (14.5 ppg)

Rush Defense: No. 24 (119.3 rush ypg)

Pass Defense: No. 11 (177.85 pass ypg)

Turnovers Forced: No. 2 (47)

Pass Efficiency: No. 1 (88.66 rating)

Who's Bo Pelini?  You mean the linebackers coach for the Green Bay Packers?  Boy did Husker fans receive a pleasant surprise.

Demorrio Williams and the rest of the Blackshirts emerged as one of the nation's best, forcing 47 turnovers!

The ball-hawking, opportunistic style of this team gave college football fans their first taste of what Bo-fense really is.

No. 3: 2006 LSU

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NEW ORLEANS - JANUARY 07: Defensive coordinator Bo Pelini of the Louisiana State University Tigers walks the sidelines during the AllState BCS National Championship against the Ohio State Buckeyes on January 7, 2008 at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orle

Total Defense: No. 3 (242.77 ypg)

Scoring Defense: No. 4 (12.62 ppg)

Rush Defense: No. 14 (97.08 rush ypg)

Pass Defense: No. 3 (145.69 pass ypg)

Turnovers Forced: No. 78 (21)

Pass Efficiency: No. 3 (92.19)

In their sophomore year under Pelini, the Tigers D improved, forcing more turnovers and allowing less points than the previous year.

Everyone began to realize that the next year might bring something special with nearly three-quarters of the defense returning for the 2007 season.

No. 2: 2007 LSU

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NEW ORLEANS - JANUARY 07: Quarterback Matt Flynn #15 of the Louisiana State University Tigers celebrates with coach Bo Pelini after defeating the Ohio State Buckeyes 38-24 in the AllState BCS National Championship on January 7, 2008 at the Louisiana Supe

Total Defense: No. 3 (288.79 ypg)

Scoring Defense: No. 17 (19.93 ppg)

Rush Defense: No. 12 (106.07 rush ypg)

Pass Defense: No. 9 (182.71 pass ypg)

Turnovers Forced: No. 3 (36)

Pass Efficiency: No. 3 (98.35 rating)

In Pelini's final season as defensive coordinator at LSU, the Tigers won it all, stifling a potent Ohio State offense led by Heisman-winner Troy Smith.

The emergence of Glenn Dorsey was immediately referenced to Pelini's tutelage and would not be the first All-American defensive tackle he would produce.

No. 1: 2009 Nebraska

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ARLINGTON, TX - DECEMBER 5: Quarterback Colt McCoy #12 of the Texas Longhorns is sacked by Ndamukong Suh #93 of the Nebraska Cornhuskers in the first quarter of the game at Cowboys Stadium on December 5, 2009 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Jamie Squire/G

Total Defense: No. 7 (272 ypg)

Scoring Defense: No. 1 (10.43 ppg)

Rush Defense: No. 9 (93.14 rush ypg)

Pass Defense: No. 18 (178.86 pass ypg)

Turnovers Forced: No. 21 (28)

Pass Efficiency: No. 1 (87.28 rating)

Say what you want.  This may be a homer pick, but this defense was breathtaking.  The streak put on at the end of the year involving the dismantling of the Texas offense in the Big 12 Championship, partnered with the shutout of Arizona in the Holiday Bowl was amazing.

Watching Nebraska defenses all my life, I have never seen one this good down the stretch.  I know I may receive some backlash from the dominating Blackshirt defenses in the mid-90's, but this was simply jaw-dropping.

Another point you must take notice of is the anemic counterpart to the defense.  Shawn Watson's offense made this group that much more special, forcing them to continuously stall teams despite starting near mid-field following a three-and-out.

Pelini is a defensive genius—a guru be it—and this was the best product he has produced.