With the College Football Playoff quarterfinals set and the field down to eight, the path to a national title is tightening. While high-powered offenses grab most of the attention, history reminds us of a familiar truth: defense wins championships. That may be especially true this season as the remaining teams feature some of the nation’s best defensive units. Using PFSN’s DEFi season grades, here’s how the eight CFP teams stack up defensively, ranked from worst to first.
8) Ole Miss Rebels
PFSN DEFi Grade: 82.2
Ole Miss checks in last defensively among the quarterfinalists, and the numbers clearly explain why. Their identity in 2025 has been simple: outscore everyone.
The Rebels rank last among the eight in:
- Yards per play allowed (5.2)
- Points per game allowed (20.08)
- First downs allowed (216)
They’ve also surrendered the most passing touchdowns, the most rushing yards (1,806), and the most rushing touchdowns of any team left. Ole Miss’s defense survives largely because opposing teams are forced to keep pace with a terrifying offense. Their most effective defensive strategy is to put pressure on opponents to score quickly and abandon their balance.
7) Georgia Bulldogs
PFSN DEFi Grade: 85.3
By Georgia standards, this is an unusually middling defensive unit. The Bulldogs rank 6th in points per game allowed (15.92) and 7th in first downs allowed (204), making it harder for them to get offenses off the field consistently.
Georgia plays a classic bend-but-don’t-break style. That philosophy is evident in their 54.8% red-zone touchdown rate allowed, one of the better marks among the eight. However, they don’t generate many impact plays, just 12 total turnovers, the 7th fewest, and a shockingly low 4.8% sack rate, the weakest of the group.
For a Kirby Smart–led defense, the lack of pressure stands out and limits their ceiling in this field.
6) Oregon Ducks
PFSN DEFi Grade: 85.6
Oregon’s defense is quietly solid across the board. They rank third in yards per play allowed (4.2) and fifth in points per game allowed (14.83), numbers that would be elite in most seasons, but only middle-of-the-pack among this loaded group.
The Ducks are excellent against the pass, allowing just 144.3 passing yards per game, thanks in large part to a secondary led by star safety Dillon Thieneman. However, the run defense is more vulnerable, allowing the 6th most rushing yards (1,287)Â among the remaining teams.
That imbalance could be problematic against a Texas Tech offense built around star running back Cameron Dickey.
5) Alabama Crimson Tide
PFSN DEFi Grade: 87.3
Alabama’s defense is strong, but not dominant by playoff standards. They allow the 6th most yards per play (4.8) and the 7th most points per game (17.83) among the quarterfinal teams.
The strength of this unit is clearly the secondary. Alabama ranks third-fewest in passing yards allowed per game (157.7). It has surrendered just 11 passing touchdowns, also third-best. Led by safety Bray Hubbard and corner Dijon Lee Jr., the back end is reliable and disciplined.
The weakness is against the run. The Tide allows the 7th most rushing yards and rushing touchdowns of the group. The blueprint to beat Alabama is clear: run the ball, control the clock, and keep Ty Simpson and the offense off the field.
4) Miami Hurricanes
PFSN DEFi Grade: 89.6
Miami enters the quarterfinals playing its best defensive football of the season. Led by a ferocious EDGE duo in Reuben Bain and Akheem Mesidor, the Hurricanes boast the third-highest sack rate (8.9%)Â among the final eight.
They’re stout against the run, allowing just 1,042 rushing yards and eight rushing touchdowns, while also ranking third in total turnovers forced (20). Miami’s defense proved its ceiling in Round 1, holding a potent Texas A&M offense to three points and piling up seven sacks.
Ohio State’s offensive line will need to be on high alert, as pressure was the deciding factor in Julian Sayin’s struggles against Indiana in the Big Ten Championship Game.
3) Texas Tech Red Raiders
PFSN DEFi Grade: 95.6
This is where the elite tier begins. Texas Tech has been one of the most dominant defensive teams in the country all season.
They rank:
- Second in yards per play allowed (4.0)
- Third in points per game allowed (10.92)
- First in points per drive allowed (0.81)
The Red Raiders also hold opponents to just 30.4% on third and fourth downs, the second-best mark among the eight. Against the run, they are the best defense in the nation, allowing only 890 rushing yards and six rushing touchdowns all season.
The one vulnerability is through the air, where they rank 7th in total passing yards allowed (2,417). Still, with Jacob Rodriguez playing with a perpetual chip on his shoulder and edge rushers Romello Heights and David Bailey threatening off the edge, Oregon’s offense faces a massive challenge.
2) Ohio State Buckeyes
PFSN DEFi Grade: 96.6
Ohio State fields a truly historic defense. The Buckeyes allow a ridiculous 3.9 yards per play, the best among the quarterfinalists, and just 8.15 points per game, also first.
They’re elite in every area:
- Fewest passing yards allowed per game (129.1)
- Fewest passing TDs allowed (6)
- Fewest rushing TDs allowed (4)
- Highest sack rate (10.4%)
This unit is loaded with future NFL stars, including Caleb Downs, Arvell Reese, Sonny Styles, and Kayden McDonald, all projected first-round picks in the 2026 NFL Draft. Miami and Carson Beck will be under relentless pressure from the opening snap.
The only proven blueprint against this defense belongs to Indiana: control possessions and turn the game into a grind.
1) Indiana Hoosiers
PFSN DEFi Grade: 97.2
The top-ranked defense belongs to the only undefeated team left. Indiana has been dominant in every phase, complementing the nation’s best offense with the nation’s best defense.
Among the quarterfinalists, Indiana ranks:
- Second-fewest points allowed (10.85)
- Fewest first downs allowed (165)
- Second-fewest passing TDs allowed (7)
- Second-fewest rushing TDs allowed (5)
- Second-fewest rushing yards allowed (1,009)
If there’s a weakness, it’s a relative one: 179.5 passing yards allowed per game, fourth-best of the group. Even that comes with a caveat; they lead all teams with 17 interceptions. Add in a 10.2% sack rate (second-best) and the best red-zone TD defense (27.3%), and it’s clear why Indiana sits atop every major metric.
Any way you slice it, the Hoosiers are elite, or very close to it, in every defensive category.
