Best College Football Defenses in Defense Ratings for 2026
Defense Ratings for 2026
(Power Rate Ranking)
The Defense Rating system combines the current roster & six data sets which are adjusted for opponents played so far; Game Control, Efficiency, Explosiveness, Field Position, Scoring Opportunities and Turnover Margin.  NOTE: The lower number the better Defensive Performance.

Power RatingsOffenseDefenseBlue Chip RatioPredicted Record | 202620252024

1. Notre Dame -9.52  #2
2. Georgia -9.29  #1
3. Ohio State -7.68  #3
4. Miami -5.14  #5
5. Oklahoma -5.05  #9
6. Indiana -4.24  #7
7. Texas Tech -4.19  #6
8. Texas -4.04  #4
9. LSU -3.50  #10
10. Oregon -2.50  #8
11. Alabama -2.42  #12
12. Missouri -1.81  #17
13. Michigan -1.73  #11
14. Texas A&M 0.57  #15
15. Washington 0.86  #13
16. Ole Miss 1.90  #16
17. BYU 2.04  #19
18. Iowa 2.25  #26
19. Florida 2.71  #20
20. Penn State 3.39  #21
21. Tennessee 3.52  #18
22. Wake Forest 3.58  #35
23. Pittsburgh 3.69  #32
24. Virginia 3.98  #29
25. South Carolina 4.02  #33
26. Auburn 4.03  #24
27. San Diego State: 4.24  #38
28. Clemson 4.32  #28
29. USC 4.45  #14
30. Arizona State 5.20  #42
31. TCU 5.31  #33
32. SMU 5.45  #23
33. UCF 6.49  #45
34. Toledo: 6.56  #72
35. Louisville 6.60  #25
36. Utah 6.96  #22
37. Illinois 6.98  #27
38. Minnesota 7.12  #36
39. Iowa State 7.38  #52
40. Houston 7.93  #41
41. Kansas State 8.08  #37
42. Florida State 8.33  #44
43. James Madison: 8.78  #76
44. North Carolina 8.80  #61
45. California 8.96  #39
46. Arizona 9.32  #47
47. UCLA 9.36  #30
48. NC State 9.42  #31
49. Stanford 9.55  #78
50. Georgia Tech 9.62  #40
51. Kentucky 9.83  #43
52. West Virginia 9.90  #55
53. Fresno State: 10.03  #81
54. Vanderbilt 10.16  #49
55. Virginia Tech 10.16  #48
56. Maryland 10.31  #63
57. Baylor 10.48  #54
58. Oklahoma State 10.50  #51
59. Miami (OH): 10.62  #85
60. Colorado 10.67  #57
61. East Carolina: 10.82  #63
62. Boise State: 11.40  #57
63. Washington State: 11.41  #91
64. Wisconsin 11.50  #65
65. Boston College 11.63  #73
66. Western Kentucky: 11.80  #87
67. Nebraska 11.82  #50
68. Duke 12.06  #46
69. South Florida: 12.22  #56
70. Tulsa: 12.23  #71
71. Northwestern 12.42  #74
72. Kansas 12.77  #62
73. Arkansas 12.90  #53
74. Michigan State 13.17  #68
75. Mississippi State 13.27  #59
76. Old Dominion: 13.51  #88
77. Texas State: 13.91  #60
78. New Mexico: 13.98  #77
79. Tulane: 14.05  #80
80. Memphis: 14.06  #67
81. Buffalo: 14.26  #118
82. Florida International: 14.34  #97
83. Syracuse 14.51  #70
84. North Dakota State: 14.61  #101
85. Rutgers 14.78  #66
86. Ohio: 14.80  #112
87. Oregon State: 14.87  #103
88. Cincinnati 14.89  #69
89. Marshall: 14.97  #93
90. Sacramento State: 15.09  #127
91. Wyoming: 15.13  #105
92. Western Michigan: 15.29  #107
93. UTEP: 15.37  #122
94. UTSA: 15.55  #84
95. Hawai'i: 15.71  #86
96. Kennesaw State: 15.79  #104
97. North Texas: 15.82  #79
98. Louisiana Tech: 15.87  #113
99. Central Michigan: 16.19  #106
100. Liberty: 16.19  #96
101. App State: 16.39  #111
102. Louisiana: 16.42  #83
103. Purdue 16.46  #82
104. Akron: 16.55  #120
105. Troy: 16.85  #115
106. UNLV: 17.09  #75
107. Jacksonville State: 17.16  #92
108. Utah State: 17.28  #98
109. Southern Miss: 17.38  #116
110. Bowling Green: 17.42  #124
111. Navy: 17.62  #89
112. New Mexico State: 17.67  #130
113. Army: 17.77  #90
114. Rice: 18.22  #121
115. Eastern Michigan: 18.35  #98
116. Florida Atlantic: 18.41  #110
117. Colorado State: 18.56  #108
118. Delaware: 18.59  #94
119. Missouri State: 18.59  #109
120. Coastal Carolina: 19.01  #125
121. Northern Illinois: 19.50  #126
122. Georgia Southern: 19.76  #102
123. Kent State: 20.31  #128
124. UConn: 20.50  #100
125. South Alabama: 20.53  #119
126. Georgia State: 20.86  #123
127. Sam Houston: 21.13  #134
128. UL Monroe: 21.16  #131
129. Temple: 21.42  #95
130. Nevada: 21.75  #136
131. UAB: 21.97  #114
132. Ball State: 21.99  #137
133. Arkansas State: 22.15  #133
134. San José State: 22.49  #129
135. Middle Tennessee: 24.07  #135
136. Air Force: 24.64  #117
137. Charlotte: 24.90  #132
138. Massachusetts: 26.32  #138