As college football season gets closer by the day, we are taking a look at how the area colleges stack up.
The Dallas Morning News already broke down the top quarterbacks, wide receivers and running backs in the area. But top-notch defenses are often what takes a team from just a good team to a great one.
Here are the five best defenses among the area colleges, based on returning production, new additions, 2024’s numbers and more.
Note: Returning production numbers are based on ESPN’s post-spring rankings, showing the percentage of 2024 production that is back for 2025 and where that ranks nationally. The SP+ projection is where each team’s defense ranks in ESPN’s preseason projections based on three factors: returning production, recent recruiting and recent history.
Sports Roundup
5. Texas Tech
FILE – Texas Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriguez (10) during an NCAA football game against Arizona on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in Tucson, Ariz.(Rick Scuteri / AP)
Defensive coordinator: The Red Raiders are breaking in a new coordinator after hiring Shiel Wood away from Houston. He has served as the DC for Army, Troy, Tulane and Houston before arriving to Texas Tech and created a reputation of turning defenses around quickly.
Houston went from 112th nationally in total defense to 25th in Wood’s first season with the Cougars.
Returning production: 76% (5)
ESPN SP+ projection: No. 55
New additions: Despite returning plenty from 2024’s defense, change was still needed given how abysmal Texas Tech’s defense was last season. The Red Raiders’ star-studded transfer class beefed up the trenches in a big way, adding top transfer talents like UCF’s Lee Hunter, Georgia Tech’s Romello Height and Stanford’s David Bailey. Texas Tech also overhauled its secondary with a host of transfers as Joey McGuire looks to get his defense back on track.
Summary: The 2024 season was a complete disaster on the defensive side of the ball for Texas Tech, but there are plenty of signs that point to a big improvement in 2025. The new defensive coordinator has a strong track record and the transfer portal haul provided a big boost, especially on the defensive line. Combine that with a lot of returning production, namely 210 tackles from linebackers Jacob Rodriguez and Ben Roberts, and the Red Raiders defense should bounce back in a big way this season.
4. SMU
SMU safety Isaiah Nwokobia (23) celebrates with teammates after intercepting a pass against Stanford during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Stanford, Calif., Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024.(Jeff Chiu / AP)
Defensive coordinator: Scott Symons is back for a fourth year as the Mustangs’ defensive coordinator after an outstanding 2024 campaign that had him in contention for the Broyles Award, given to the nation’s top assistant coach. After his rapid transformation of the SMU defense culminated into the Mustangs boasting one of the ACC’s best defensive units and making the College Football Playoff, he received a contract extension with the school.
Returning production: 54% (67)
ESPN SP+ projection: No. 42
New additions: SMU lost a decent bit of talent from 2024’s standout unit, but reloaded in the transfer portal. The Mustangs’ bread and butter was getting after the passer last season, and SMU will look to key transfers like Missouri’s Jahkai Lang, Purdue’s Jeffrey M’ba, Baylor’s Trey Wilson, Kansas’ DJ Warner and others to shore up the defensive front.
Summary: Symons isn’t the only key piece from 2024’s unit. SMU returns key pass rushers Cameron Robertson and Isaiah Smith, star safety Isaiah Nwokobia and top cornerbacks Jaelyn Davis-Robinson and Deuce Harmon. That pair of pass rushers combined for nine sacks last year and that trio of defensive backs totaled five interceptions. While the Mustangs have a lot of production to replace, there are enough key returners and key newcomers to expect that Symons’ defense will be strong again in 2025.
3. Texas A&M
Texas A&M defensive back Will Lee III reacts after a play against Arkansas during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. Texas A&M won 21-17.(Julio Cortez / AP)
Defensive coordinator: Defensive struggles in 2024 put some pressure on Jay Bateman, but Mike Elko kept Bateman on the staff and brought in James Madison’s Lyle Hemphill as another key defensive assistant. One key change is that Elko will be the primary defensive play-caller in 2025, but that’s nothing new for Elko, who has been a defensive play-caller throughout his career.
Returning production: 74% (7)
ESPN SP+ projection: No. 18
New additions: The Aggies boosted their defensive front is a few transfers like Florida’s TJ Searcy, Rutgers’ Damon Hayes, Georgia’s Samuel M’Pemba and Iowa State’s Tyler Onyedim. Georgia transfer defensive back Julian Humphrey should help shore up a secondary that was quite leaky in 2024.
Summary: Texas A&M is set up to bounce back in 2025, especially with Elko’s hands on the play-calling steering wheel. On top of the key newcomers, the Aggies also returned several key contributors like star linebackers Scooby Williams and Taurean York, as well as All-SEC cornerback Will Lee III. The Aggies’ blend of incoming talent and returning production should lead to them having one of the better defenses in the country.
2. Oklahoma
Oklahoma defensive lineman R Mason Thomas sacks Tulane quarterback Darian Mensah (10) on a play during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Norman, Okla.(Alonzo Adams / AP)
Defensive coordinator: The Sooners’ defensive vision will be somewhat different after 2024’s defensive coordinator Zac Alley bolted for West Virginia. After making a failed play for Ohio State’s Jim Knowles, who ultimately went to Penn State, Brent Venables decided to do things himself. Venables, who was a longtime coordinator at Clemson, will take over the play-calling duties for the Sooners’ defense this year.
Returning production: 63% (30)
ESPN SP+ projection: No. 13
New additions: The Sooners actually don’t have a ton of incoming transfers because a lot of Oklahoma’s defense is homegrown. Oklahoma State transfer linebacker Kendal Daniels racked up 240 tackles over the last three seasons and should contribute for the Sooners this year. Marvin Jones Jr. joins the defensive line after two years at Georgia and one year at Florida State, tallying four sacks for the Seminoles last year.
Summary: Oklahoma’s defense was one of the very best in the country last season. Despite losing star contributors like Danny Stutsman and Billy Bowman, Venables’ unit has plenty of talent. Star safety Robert Spears-Jennings returns, as does R Mason Thomas, who led Okahoma with nine sacks last season. Combined with an interior defensive line that includes Gracen Halton, Damonic Williams and David Stone, the Sooners could have one of the best defensive lines in the SEC. Expect another elite defensive unit at Oklahoma this year.
1. Texas
Texas linebacker Colin Simmons (11) celebrates with linebacker Ethan Burke (91) and linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. during the first half of the Cotton Bowl College Football Playoff semifinal game against Ohio State, Friday, Jan. 10, 2025, in Arlington, Texas.(Julio Cortez / AP)
Defensive coordinator: Pete Kwiatkowski is back for his fifth season as Texas’ defensive coordinator, and for good reason. The Longhorns boasted arguably the best defense in the country last season in their first SEC campaign. The NFL agreed, as five Texas defenders were drafted in April.
Returning production: 62% (31)
ESPN SP+ projection: No. 1
New additions: Given the high level of high school recruiting at Texas, Steve Sarkisian didn’t have to be too aggressive in the transfer portal, but still landed the No. 17 transfer class in the country. Texas reloaded on the defensive line, adding key transfers like Syracuse’s Maraad Watson, Purdue’s Cole Brevard and North Carolina’s Travis Shaw. Watson could be the Longhorns’ next superstar defensive tackle, as he earned Freshman All-American honors at Syracuse last year. After how amazing Duncanville’s Colin Simmons was as a true freshman, you can’t rule out Texas’ star-studded freshman class producing immediate contributors either.
Summary: Given the incredible level that Sarkisian has been recruiting at, the cupboard is always going to be full of talent for Texas. Despite ranking 31st in returning production, ESPN’s SP+ still projects this unit as the best defense in the country.
While the incoming transfers and freshmen are strong, Texas’ defense will be elite in 2025 because of the superstars that returned for another season. Simmons was a star pass rusher as a true freshman in 2024 with nine sacks and will only improve from there, while Anthony Hill Jr. is an All-American talent and may be the best linebacker in the country. Key defensive backs Michael Taaffe and Malik Muhammad also return, as does star edge rusher Trey Moore. Not only will the Longhorns’ defense be the best among area colleges in 2025, it could be the best in all of college football.
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