15 College Football Teams Committed to Stopping the Run

Did you know that over past five years no team has won a BCS title that finished the season ranked lower than No. 15 nationally in rushing defense?

In a world that celebrates piling on the yardage it’s an ironic twist that the ability to consistently stop the run, not score points, may be the best indicator of whether or not a team is worthy of the tag “championship caliber.”

The following slideshow highlights and then power ranks the top 15 college football teams that are committed to stopping the run.

And by “committed” we mean that these programs have a rushing defense that has performed well not just in 2012 but over the past five seasons of play.

To compile this honor roll of run stoppage we utilized rushing defense stats since 2008, a process which gives us an idea of which teams aren’t just toying with the idea of pumping out smash-mouth defenses, these guys are married to the concept.

15. North Carolina

Average Rushing Yards Allowed Per Game since 2008: 124.62

Average Rushing Defense Ranking since 2008:  30.4

Overall Record since 2008:  38-25

The truth of the matter is the Tar Heels haven’t had the success levels over the past five years of other squads on our list, but that fact doesn’t meant the they haven’t played defense at a high level.

The lowest moment for North Carolina’s rush defense in the last five seasons came way back in 2008 when it was ranked No. 58 nationally, since then it was a run of top 25 finishes from 2009-11 and then a No. 35 ranking through 11 games this season.

The Tar Heels best rushing D since 2008 came in 2009 when they ranked No. 10 vs. the run but struggled to an 8-5 finish behind an offense that managed only 23.8 points per game (No. 83 nationally).

The good news is that North Carolina has continued to apply pressure and despite a bowl ban the Heels currently rank No. 35 nationally in rushing D which goes a long way in explaining a decent 7-4 mark in 2012.

14. Penn State

Average Rushing Yards Allowed Per Game since 2008: 121.73

Average Rushing Defense Ranking since 2008:  30.8

Overall Record since 2008:  45-18

Penn State scored top ten ranked rushing defenses in 2008 (No. 8) and 2009 (No. 6) which goes a long way in explaining its back-to-back 11-2 seasons during that time frame, a run that included the 2008 Big Ten Co-Championship.

In the same vein, the Nittany Lions 7-6 mark in 2010 can be justified with a drop in rushing defense to the tune of a No. 74 national ranking.

The good news for Penn State fans (if that’s something you can say to a beleaguered football people) is that their team continues to improve in terms of run stoppage garnering a No. 42 ranking last season (the Nittany Lions finished 9-4) and then a No. 24 rank thus far this season.

This is a team that has lost more, from a purely football perspective, than any other in the nation and so the fact that they’ve held foes to 126.64 rushing yards per game does a lot to explain how they’ve managed a 7-4 record in 2012.

13. Michigan State

Average Rushing Yards Allowed Per Game since 2008: 119.63

Average Rushing Defense Ranking since 2008:  30

Overall Record since 2008:  41-22

Perhaps the hidden defensive gem of the Midwest region, Michigan State has been cashing in defensive prowess for wins more and more frequently as the Mark Dantino era has progressed.

The Spartans’ high-water mark in terms of rushing D over the last five years came in 2011 when it hit No. 9 in the final rankings, a performance that resulted in an 11-2 record and a shared Big Ten Championship.

Despite the serious lack of an offense in 2012 (Michigan State ranks a dismal No. 110 in points scored), the Spartans have hung in games via a scoring D that ranks No. 10 nationally and then a rushing D that sits at No. 13 through 11 weeks.

If you’re wondering how Michigan State became relevant over the last several years…think defense.

12. Utah

Average Rushing Yards Allowed Per Game since 2008: 118.59

Average Rushing Defense Ranking since 2008:  24.4

Overall Record since 2008:  45-18

One of the non-AQ success stories in the BCS era, Utah has achieved “BCS Buster” status twice, winning its blockbuster bowl game both times.

It’s no coincidence that the Utes have reached the Promised Land of the BCS and then AQ status while pumping out consistent defenses that can shut down the run.

The only blip on Utah’s top 20 rushing D radar since 2009 was when the Utes dropped to No. 54 vs. the run but still managed a 10-3 finish.

The zenith in terms of Utah’s run stoppage came in both 2008 and 2010 when it managed to earn No. 11 rankings in both campaigns.  Again, it’s no twist of fate that the Utes finished 13-0 in 2008 and beat Alabama in the Sugar Bowl and then went 10-3 in 2010.

In case you’re wondering what Utah’s stats against the run look like since it hooked up with the Pac-12; the Utes ranked No. 20 vs. the run last season and are currently sitting at No. 26 in rushing D through 12 weeks of play in 2012.

11. Texas

Average Rushing Yards Allowed Per Game since 2008: 118.14

Average Rushing Defense Ranking since 2008:  31

Overall Record since 2008:  46-16

Even the Longhorns’ epically bad rushing defense in 2012 couldn’t keep them off our distinguished list. 

In fact, if the Longhorns had managed even a top 25 run stoppage performance this year (they are currently ranked at No. 100) they’d be at No. 3 in our five-year cumulative rankings.

Other than a hiccup in 2010 when Texas ranked No. 44 vs. the run and not so ironically went 5-7, the Longhorns have ranked in the top five in rushing defense every season from 2008-11.

The high-water mark came (again, not so ironically) in 2009 when the Horns ranked No. 1 in rushing D (they allowed a mere 72.36 ground yards per game) and went 13-0 only to lose to Alabama in the BCS title game.

One of the key things Texas must do if they expect to return to national prominence is to shut down opponent’s running attacks, and that’s a fact regardless of a conference home that is oh so pass happy.

10. BYU

Average Rushing Yards Allowed Per Game since 2008: 117.82

Average Rushing Defense Ranking since 2008:  28.8

Overall Record since 2008:  44-19

Perhaps a bit of a surprise at No. 10 we have BYU, a team that has shut down the run whether as a member of the Mountain West or as an Independent team.

With the exception of a blip on the screen in 2010 (when a young BYU team struggled to a 7-6 mark), the Cougars have continued to improve their rushing defense stats during the Bronco Mendenhall era.

In 2011 BYU ranked No. 19 in the nation vs. the run (it went 10-3) and this season the Cougars have soared to a No. 4 rank, allowing a mere 89.27 ground yards per game.

But even a top ten rushing defense that has netted the Cougars a No. 7 rank in defensive scoring can’t cover for the fact that BYU has struggled to score points in 2012.

Indeed, the 6-5 record is much easier to understand when you consider the Cougars’ No. 73 ranking in offensive scoring.

9. Boise State

Average Rushing Yards Allowed Per Game since 2008: 117.116

Average Rushing Defense Ranking since 2008:  20.8

Overall Record since 2008:  59-5

Though lots of Bronco lovers and haters think of the golden boy QB Kellen Moore when they think of Boise State’s glorious run through the last several years, this is another team that has risen up the charts due to defense.

The Bronco’s No. 31 ranking in rushing D through 11 games of 2012 represents a sizeable dip for a unit that ranked, on average, No. 18 from 2008-11.

This all makes a lot more sense when you consider the fact that Boise State returned only two starters on defense this season.

The Broncos ranked No. 21, No. 28, No. 7 and No. 17 respectively in rushing defense from 2008-11, a slew of stats that builds a rock solid foundation for results that include a 50-3 record, three conference titles and a BCS bowl win over the same time period.

8. UCF

Average Rushing Yards Allowed Per Game since 2008: 116.798

Average Rushing Defense Ranking since 2008:  24.4

Overall Record since 2008:  36-26

UCF has to be the best story on our rushing defense honor roll.

 Indeed, let’s try and explain how a program that has only been playing football since 1979 and didn’t move up to the FBS (formerly Division I-A) until 1996 has won three divisional and two Conference USA titles since 2005.

Well, let’s start with a rushing defense that has been has been ultra consistent since 2008 to the tune of top ten rankings in the category in 2009 and 2010.

In 2010 the Knights ranked No. 8 vs. the run and went 11-3 (losses to NC State, Kansas State and Southern Miss), won the Conference USA crown and beat Georgia in the Liberty Bowl.

UCF currently holds an 8-3 mark through 12 weeks; the Knights are 6-1 in league play and in great shape to vie for another conference title.

This is all fairly ironic because 2012 is the year that the Knights have dipped to their lowest ranking vs. the run in five seasons, coming in at No. 55 allowing 152.3 rushing yards per game.

This little nugget of statistical data will make it even more interesting to see how the remainder of UCF’s campaign plays out.

7. Connecticut

Average Rushing Yards Allowed Per Game since 2008: 115.82

Average Rushing Defense Ranking since 2008:  25

Overall Record since 2008:  33-28

Maybe the biggest surprise in our defensive sweepstakes, UConn proves that a consistent commitment to stopping the run doesn’t always result in consistent wins.

The Huskies have been a lot of things since 2008, but one thing they’ve been for sure is good at shutting down opponents’ ground attacks.

The low point for UConn over the last five years came in 2010 when they dropped to a No. 50 national ranking vs. the run and the shining moment came last season when they soared to a No. 3 mark in rushing defense.

Ironically, 2010-11 paid witness to the Huskies memorable BCS campaign (they lost 48-20 to Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl) while 2011 was a less-scrapbook worthy 5-7 campaign.

As far as 2012 goes the Huskies are off to not-so-nice 4-6 start, a mark that is underlined by a rushing defense that ranks No. 11 nationally, a scoring D that is No. 19 in the land and then a scoring offense that is No. 120.

6. LSU

Average Rushing Yards Allowed Per Game since 2008: 114.53

Average Rushing Defense Ranking since 2008:  23.6

Overall Record since 2008:  50-14

In a brazen claim that should surprise no defensive-minded college football enthusiast, LSU has been a consistent run stopper in recent years.

What hurts the Tigers as far as making the top five in our list is that fact that they struggled in both 2009 an 2010 to respective rushing D rankings of No. 46 and No. 42.

Again, it’s no irony that 2009 was the year that LSU “skidded” (in a relative sense) to a 9-4 finish.

The apex for the Tigers since 2008 in terms of run stoppage came last season when they ranked No. 5 vs. the rush and soared to a 13-0 record and an SEC title only to be shut down by Alabama in the BCS title game.

Looking back a bit further for some historical perspective, the last time LSU did win the big BCS enchilada, in 2007-08, they ranked No. 12 vs. the run.

In 2012 LSU is hopeful at 9-2 but they own the rights to the No. 8 ranking rushing defense in the land.

5. Stanford

Average Rushing Yards Allowed Per Game since 2008: 114.27

Average Rushing Defense Ranking since 2008:  31.4

Overall Record since 2008:  45-17

If you’re yearning for a heart-warming tale of improving rushing defense running alongside increased win production—look no further than the Stanford Story.

In 2008, the Cardinal was ranked No. 77 vs. the run in Jim Harbaugh’s second season at Stanford and ultimately finished 5-7.

For 2009 Stanford improved to a No. 55 mark in rushing defense and went 8-5, the best finish since 1999 and the first bowl bid since 2001.

Things went nuts in 2010 when the Cardinal run D earned a No. 19 national ranking and the program went 12-1 and walloped Virginia Tech in the BCS Orange Bowl.  It was Stanford’s first bowl victory since beating Michigan State in the 1996 Sun Bowl and the first 12-win season in school history.

In 2011 Harbaugh left for the NFL and David Shaw stepped in to guide Stanford to a No. 4 ranking vs. the run and an 11-2 finish that included another BCS run.

For 2012 expectations were lower for a team that lost a boatload of offensive firepower but the Stanford rushing D improved anyway and currently ranks No. 2 in the nation allowing a mere 71.27 ground yards per game.

And that my friend, is how you manage an 9-2 record and a No. 13 ranking in the BCS despite the fact that you no longer have Andrew Luck or a chunk of your offensive line.

Furthermore, if you're wondering how the Cardinal managed to upend No. 2 ranked Oregon on the road, look no further than a rushing D that held a Duck attack that had averaged 325 ground yards per game coming into Saturday to under 200.

4. Florida

Average Rushing Yards Allowed Per Game since 2008: 112.87

Average Rushing Defense Ranking since 2008:  20.8

Overall Record since 2008:  51-14

One of the intriguing bits about the Gators performance vs. the run is the continuity between rushing D and wins that can be tracked over a major coaching change.

To illustrate, Urban Meyer led Florida to a 26-2 mark (including a National title) from 2008-09, a period of time where in the Gators ranked No. 15 (2008) and No. 12 (2009) vs. the run.

Meyer’s final season in 2010 when Florida dropped to 8-5, the Gators fell to a No. 31 ranking in rushing defense.

Moving on to the Will Muschamp era, the 2011 Gators (the first under his tutelage) ranked No. 40 vs. the run and finished the season at a lowly 7-6, one game over .500 by virtue of barely beating a poor Ohio State team in the Gator Bowl.

For 2012 Florida is 10-1, one game short of perfection and, you guessed it the Gators have improved vs. the run to the tune of a No. 6 ranking.

Is this all a statistical quirk of fate?

Absolutely not.

3. Ohio State

Average Rushing Yards Allowed Per Game since 2008: 111.14

Average Rushing Defense Ranking since 2008:  19.2

Overall Record since 2008:  50-13

One of only two Big Ten teams on our honor roll, Ohio State is yet another program that has a success story built on the foundation of a smash-mouth defense.

The Buckeyes have only missed the top 20 in terms of rushing defense once since 2008 and this blip occurred in 2011 when OSU was No. 51 vs. the run and dropped to a devastating 6-7 finish.

The high point came in 2009 when the Bucks ranked No. 7 in run stoppage and finished the season 11-2, a mark that included a Rose Bowl win and a Big Ten title.

Just to underscore the importance of shutting down the run one more time, the last time Ohio State went to the BCS title game (2007-08) they were ranked No. 3 vs. the run and ultimately fell to the No. 12 ranked team, LSU.

The good news for Ohio State enthusiasts is that Urban Meyer has the Buckeyes’ needle on the gauge that tracks rushing D moving in the right direction with a current ranking of No. 17.

Now if they could just improve their No. 85 ranking vs. the pass…

2. TCU

Average Rushing Yards Allowed Per Game since 2008: 89.83

Average Rushing Defense Ranking since 2008:  8.2

Overall Record since 2008:  53-9

The Horned Frogs take a back seat to only one team in terms of commitment to rushing defense, and this is the case because of an ever so small hiccup in 2011 when a very young TCU team dropped to a No. 25 mark vs. the run.

Other than this relative anomaly, TCU has flat-out been stellar against the run.  The Frogs ranked No. 1 in 2008, No. 3 in 2009, No. 5 in 2010 and then are No. 7 this season which needs to be viewed while keeping in mind that the TCU has “stepped up” to the Big 12.

Regardless of conference membership or AQ status the results are stunning; a 53-9 overall record, three Mountain West conference championships, two BCS bowl busts and a 21-19 win over Wisconsin in the 2010-11 Rose Bowl.

TCU is far and away one of the two most consistently effective programs against the run and this is a fact that is even more bedazzling when you keep in mind the fluid situation in terms of personnel that is unique to college sport.

The success and the results vs. the run are no coincidence and they are precisely why Gary Patterson and TCU will continue to be a force to be reckoned with, wherever they go.

1. Alabama

Average Rushing Yards Allowed Per Game since 2008: 82.28

Average Rushing Defense Ranking since 2008:  3.6

Overall Record since 2008:  58-7

It’s no irony that the Nick Saban era at Alabama has spawned not only one of the most successful streaks in the BCS era of college football, but also one of the most stunning performances ever in terms of stopping the run.

The Crimson Tide have pumped out their fifth consecutive double-digit win season in 2012 and along the way they’ve stockpiled two SEC west titles, one SEC crown, three BCS bowl bids and two National Championships.

And never in this amazing run has Alabama dropped below a No. 10 national ranking in rushing defense.

The low mark, again No. 10 in the nation, came in 2010 when the Tide went 10-3 and didn’t make the BCS.

Other than that blip it’s been seriously impressive, in a top two sort of way.  Alabama ranked No. 2 vs. the run in 2008, were No. 2 again in 2009, ranked No. 1 last season and currently hold the No. 3 spot in 2012.

If you want more flashy stats how about the fact that other than allowing an average of 110.15 ground yards per game in 2010, the Tide haven’t allowed over 80 rushing yards per game in a season since 2007?

And if that’s not enough how about the alarming results through ten games that blare out the fact that Alabama has given up, on average, a paltry 75.64 rushing yards per game this season?

The Crimson Tide are the absolute best example of what happens when you can consistently shut down the run.

Of course you have to be able to do other things too, but Alabama has won a bunch of games since 2008 and has never finished a season ranked above No. 18 nationally in scoring offense.

Wow.