No Offense, but Texas, Florida, and Alabama Remain Unbeaten with Defense

The top three teams in the country were very defensive last weekend, zealously protecting their undefeated records and staying alive in the hunt for the BCS national championship.

The Alabama Crimson Tide, Texas Longhorns, and Florida Gators, all received a scare but each made came through with another a win in matchups that came down to the wire. Half of the 2009 season is complete and the national championship contenders are still hanging on, overcoming adversity, and rising to the challenge of being crowned champions.

Every game in college football’s playoff-free system is a must-win and the trio made it through another dangerous weekend.

Alabama (7-0, 4-0 SEC)

Although Alabama isn’t ranked No. 1 in the first BCS standings of the year, it has looked more impressive than any other team this year. The Tide has played an extremely difficult schedule including a neutral site 34-24 victory over No. 7 Virginia Tech, a road win over No. 20 Mississippi, and this week’s 20-6 home victory over No. 22 South Carolina.

The Tide is known for its muzzling defense, but running back Mark Ingram has emerged as the team’s star player this season. Ingram only needed 24 carries to rush for a career-high 246 yards and one touchdown. Last season’s breakout star for the Tide, wide receiver Julio Jones has battled double-coverage all year, and Ingram has more than taken up the slack against SEC opponents.

Heisman whispers should grow louder in Tuscaloosa if Ingram continues to run through talented SEC defenses. Ingram is averaging 129 yards per game, 6.7 yards per carry, and he’s scored a rushing touchdown in every game. He has eight rushing touchdowns and three receiving scores on the year.

The 5’10”, 215-pound bruiser has been increasingly productive in his last three games rushing for 140 yards vs. Kentucky, 172 vs. Mississippi, and 246 yards against South Carolina. Ingram’s performance against tough competition, including 150 rushing yards, a rushing touchdown, and a receiving touchdown against Virginia Tech in the season opener, makes his accomplishments more noteworthy.

Alabama didn’t lose a game until the SEC Championship game in 2008, and this year’s version has a chance to repeat the feat with an advantageous remaining schedule including LSU, Tennessee, and Chattanooga at home and Mississippi State and Auburn on the road.

If Alabama can continue its defensive domination and Ingram keeps plowing through SEC defenses, the Tide will enjoy a return trip to the SEC title game with the chance at a national title on the line.

Texas (6-0, 3-0 Big 12)

The Longhorns’ 16-13 victory over the Sooners settled the score in 2009 after a 45-35 win against Oklahoma in 2008 wasn’t enough to propel Texas to the national championship game. This year’s win probably impressed few voters as Texas only scored one touchdown versus a depleted Oklahoma Sooners team that was playing without its Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback, its All-American tight end, and its All-Big 12 offensive lineman.

While the Sooners did a great job of controlling the Longhorns’ offense, quarterback Colt McCoy, a Heisman Trophy candidate, didn’t try to the win the award in one game and kept his team in title contention in the face of a fervent effort from Texas’ biggest rival.

McCoy hasn’t been as productive as he was last year and he was only 21-for-39 for 127 yards and an interception against the Sooners. He has 11 touchdowns and eight interceptions on the season, and though he isn’t the Heisman front-runner, he has his team on the right track to the national title.

The Longhorns’ defense was amazing and cornerback Aaron Williams led the way with a big sack and an even bigger interception. Defensive end Eddie Jones also had a sack while safety Earl Thomas ended the Sooners scoring chances with a fourth quarter interception.

Texas is not out of the woods yet, and in 2006 and 2008 the Longhorns beat the Sooners only to watch Oklahoma go on to win the Big 12 championship. Texas hasn’t played as tough a schedule as Alabama, but like Florida, if the Longhorns can end the season undefeated and Big 12 champs, they should claim a spot in the BCS title game.

Florida (6-0, 4-0 SEC)

The defending champions’ 23-20 triumph over the Arkansas Razorbacks was a test of wills. Arkansas had a chance to win the game but Arkansas kicker Alex Tejada missed a 38-yard field goal with less than four minutes left in the game.

Florida kicker Caleb Sturgis converted a 27-yard, game-winning field goal with 13 seconds to go and the Gators found yet another way to win a game.

Although the Gators lack the offensive firepower of their previous championship teams, this squad is led by its defense and Florida is still on track for its first undefeated season.

The defensive unit lost All-American linebacker Brandon Spikes to a groin injury early in the game, but the team didn’t lose its focus. With their defensive leader absent, the Gators yielded their most points of the season, failing to come up with a turnover, and allowing its longest play of the season on Greg Childs’ 75-yard touchdown reception.

Still, the Gators’ relatively impenetrable defense is only allowing 8.7 points per game and its the reason why they’re ranked No. 1.

Arkansas’ defense was the surprise of the day and the Razorbacks forced the Gators to throw the ball, knowing that running was the team’s strength. The Gators responded well as Tebow had his biggest passing game of the year, completing 17-of-26 passes for 255 yards and a touchdown. Florida has done just enough to beat LSU, Tennessee, and Arkansas and the Gators should be favored in their remaining games.

Florida has lost to an SEC West foe every year this decade, and former Florida offensive coordinator and current Mississippi State head coach Dan Mullen brings the 3-4 Bulldogs to Gainesville on Saturday, before a likely matchup against undefeated Alabama in a rematch of last year’s SEC title game.

Florida also has an interesting history against Georgia. The Gators have lost to the Bulldogs the season after winning each of its national championships. The Gators already dispatched LSU, which held the same distinction against Florida.

Florida head coach Urban Meyer promised that he wouldn’t forget Georgia’s team celebration in the Gators’ 42-30 loss to the Bulldogs in 2007, and the Gators will try to be the team that provides a humbling experience this year.