TJ Inman

College Football Playoff Expansion: Debating 12 vs 16 Teams

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The Ohio State defense was completely dominant towards the backend of the 2024 season, and despite several personnel losses and a new defensive coordinator in Columbus, the “Silver Bullets” are the top defense in the country. Matt Patricia steps in after Jim Knowles left for Penn State, but don’t expect much to change in how the Buckeyes approach things on that side of the ball. However, the personnel changes could have a much bigger impact, as Ohio State has to replace the starting defensive line. Veterans who have waited their turn, guys like <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/caden-curry/38098">Caden Curry</a> and <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/kenyatta-jackson/38093">Kenyatta Jackson Jr.</a>, will finally become starters, and defensive tackle <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/eddrick-houston/38062">Eddrick Houston</a> is a potential star. Still, this group has some question marks. The rest of the defense looks much more solid with guys like <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/sonny-styles/38074">Sonny Styles</a> and <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/arvell-reese/38052">Arvell Reese</a> at linebacker, several blue-chip recruits ready to join <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/davison-igbinosun/38104">Davison Igbinosun</a> at cornerback, and superstar <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/caleb-downs/63885">Caleb Downs</a> at safety.
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1. Ohio State Buckeyes

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Texas allowed only 15.3 points per game in 2024, and no one is acquiring talent, via high school and the portal, at a higher level than Steve Sarkisian and the Longhorns. They have a lot of quality players to replace, but Texas returns some terrific talent and can reload with more blue-chip prospects ready to become stars. “I think more importantly is who we are on defense and the growth of who we have been as a defensive team from Year 1 through Year 4. Going into Year 5, we have real playmakers on the defensive side of the ball,” Sarkisian told the media in April. <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/anthony-hill/41188">Anthony Hill</a>, <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/colin-simmons/41208">Colin Simmons</a>, and <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/trey-moore/41162">Trey Moore</a> all look like surefire future early NFL Draft picks. Five defensive starters return, along with several other players with plenty of experience in 2024.

2. Texas Longhorns

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As Josh Heupel enters year number five in Knoxville, the biggest surprise might be that the defense is the unit for Tennessee that is on much more solid footing. Defensive coordinator Tim Banks is one of the brightest assistant coaches in the country, and they return eight starters from one of the better defenses in 2024. The pass rush will be the area that causes some concern after James Pearce Jr. and Omarr Norman-Lott were selected early in the NFL Draft (first and second round, respectively). Tennessee plays a lot of bodies upfront, which means they have players with experience who can step into larger roles now. <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/arion-carter/38675">Arion Carter</a> was the team’s leading tackler in 2024 and leads the linebackers again, and star cornerback <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/jermod-mccoy/38616">Jermod McCoy</a>, if he is healthy, is one of the best secondary players in the SEC.

3. Tennessee Volunteers

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This is not a typo. The Indiana Hoosiers had the best rushing defense in the country in 2024 and allowed only 15.6 points per game and just 256.3 yards per game. It was a ridiculous turnaround engineered by defensive coordinator Bryant Haines and head coach Curt Cignetti. IU lost defensive lineman CJ West to the NFL, and it will be tough to replace ultra-athletic linebacker Jailin Walker. Still, Indiana returns an All-American player at each level of the defense: <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/mikail-kamara/42281">Mikail Kamara</a> is on the line, <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/aiden-fisher/42304">Aiden Fisher</a> is at linebacker, and <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/dangelo-ponds/42344">D’Angelo Ponds</a> is in the secondary at cornerback. Add in established returning players like <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/amare-ferrell/50658">Amare Ferrell</a> and another good portal haul with proven and productive players ready to fill roles, and the Hoosiers should be good on defense again.

4. Indiana Hoosiers

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Lost in the discourse surrounding how great Notre Dame’s running game was and how tough Riley Leonard was at quarterback was just how good the Fighting Irish were on defense a season ago. The Irish only surrendered 15.5 points per game and were solid against the run and the pass. Chris Ash is the new defensive coordinator after Al Golden left, but the Irish have recruited well under Marcus Freeman, and they should be even deeper than they were a season ago. <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/drayk-bowen/46107">Drayk Bowen</a> is a fantastic MIKE linebacker, and guys like <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/kyngstonn-viliamu-asa/46090">Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa</a> and <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/jaylen-sneed/46085">Jaylen Sneed</a> give them excellent options around him. <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/adon-shuler/46081">Adon Shuler</a> is one of the best safeties in the country, and Notre Dame will be as good as anyone at cornerback.
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5. Notre Dame Fighting Irish

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Tom Allen takes over as the defensive coordinator for the Clemson Tigers after an uneven defensive performance in 2024. Allen left Penn State after another strong showing and has a lot of talent to work with at Clemson. The defensive line is stout with <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/peter-woods/37145">Peter Woods</a> and <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/tj-parker/37155">T.J. Parker</a> forming a dynamic inside-outside duo. They have a budding star at linebacker, <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/sammy-brown/37218">Sammy Brown</a>, plus the reliable <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/wade-woodaz/37124">Wade Woodaz</a>. The secondary has a lot of talent, and safety <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/khalil-barnes/37268">Khalil Barnes</a> stands out. The biggest issue in 2024 was run defense, which is something Allen should be able to fix pretty quickly. If this unit improves from what they were a season ago, Clemson becomes a genuine title contender.

6. Clemson Tigers

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Dan Lanning continues to recruit at an elite level, and the Oregon Ducks will be a threat until that changes. They lost some pieces, but they have some stars at each level of the defense. On the defensive line, <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/matayo-uiagalelei/29464">Matayo Uiagalelei</a> is an elite pass rusher, and the Ducks have several redshirt freshmen and sophomores behind him ready for a chance to shine (<a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/elijah-rushing/29420">Elijah Rushing</a> is a name to know). <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/bear-alexander/36408">Bear Alexander</a> has a bunch of talent, and early buzz from Eugene suggests he knows it is now or never and that Lanning and his staff are getting the best out of him thus far. If he plays up to his potential, he’s one of the best interior linemen in the nation. The linebackers are excellent, and Purdue transfer <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/dillon-thieneman/26377">Dillon Thieneman</a> is expected to be a rock at safety, helping to strengthen an otherwise relatively young secondary.

7. Oregon Ducks

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The BYU Cougars were an anomaly in a league full of potent offenses and pedestrian defenses. The Cougars were 13th nationally in total defense and return a ton of production ahead of the 2025 season. Kalani Sitake is a great coach, underappreciated nationally, and the Cougars return four of their top five tacklers and enter the season with a real chance to make the College Football Playoff. <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/isaiah-glasker/30237">Isaiah Glasker</a> had the most tackles for loss in the conference, and BYU is full of experienced and veteran players. They are expected to start five seniors and four redshirt juniors.

8. BYU Cougars

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Ohio State, Penn State, and Oregon get a ton of attention from Big Ten fans for their defensive acumen. Indiana and Illinois got some love last season as well. Deservedly so. Don’t sleep on the Minnesota Golden Gophers. PJ Fleck’s squad was fifth in the country in total defense and ninth in scoring defense. The Gophers lost a few pieces, but they should be nearly equal to what they produced in 2024. <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/maverick-baranowski/32139">Maverick Baranowski</a> has a great name and is a terrific linebacker, joined by <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/jeff-roberson/47830">Jeff Roberson</a> from Oklahoma State and <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/devon-williams/32175">Devon Williams</a>. The defensive tackles were superb against the run and occupied blockers so <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/anthony-smith/32089">Anthony Smith</a> could rush the passer. The Gophers lost a pair of good secondary players, but <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/koi-perich/32182">Koi Perich</a> is a budding star, and he’s back to lead that group.

9. Minnesota Golden Gophers

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Jim Knowles jumping from Ohio State to Penn State was not on my offseason bingo card, but college football never ceases to surprise. Tom Allen left for Clemson, and Knowles wanted out at Ohio State after not getting an extension offer early enough for his liking. He contacted Penn State’s James Franklin, and the PSU head coach jumped at the opportunity. PSU loses <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/abdul-carter/49527">Abdul Carter</a>, and you don’t get better after losing a talent like him, but they do have plenty of good pieces returning. <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/dani-dennis-sutton/49471">Dani Dennis-Sutton</a> is back at defensive end. <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/zane-durant/49435">Zane Durant</a> is a tremendous force at defensive tackle, but the other pieces of the interior defensive line are largely unproven. The secondary should be pretty good, albeit a bit thin and unproven at cornerback. The most significant question mark is, surprisingly, linebacker. Penn State is known for having excellent linebackers, but that doesn’t appear to be the case this year, and they are searching for answers heading into the summer.

10. Penn State Nittany Lions

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The Alabama Crimson Tide did not live up to the defensive standard set by Nick Saban’s teams. Still, Kane Wommack’s first season as the defensive coordinator was relatively successful, and there is reason to believe that 2025 will be better. The former South Alabama head coach played a lot of young players in the secondary. They are back with more experience for this coming season. <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/lt-overton/19487">LT Overton</a>, <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/tim-keenan/19409">Tim Keenan</a>, and <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/james-smith/19493">James Smith</a> are all back on the line. <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/deontae-lawson/19415">Deontae Lawson </a>received an injury redshirt, and he chose to forego the NFL Draft to lead the linebacker unit. They got safety <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/keon-sabb/19492">Keon Sabb</a> back from a broken leg. If Sabb can stay healthy, he’s one of the best safeties in the country. Anything but a top ten finish as a unit would be a disappointment for the Crimson Tide.

11. Alabama Crimson Tide

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The Georgia Bulldogs were not “bad” on defense in 2024, but were well below the standards held by Kirby Smart and the UGA fan base. They surrendered 20.6 points per game and gave up 329.9 yards per game after a rebuild, following another exodus to the NFL Draft. After this past season, there was more talent defection, but Smart’s past tells you he won’t tolerate another down year on defense in Athens. <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/christen-miller/22578">Christen Miller</a> and <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/xzavier-mcleod/33434">Xzavier McLeod</a>, plus five-star freshman <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/elijah-griffin/88207">Elijah Griffin</a>, should be stout at defensive tackle, and <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/gabe-harris/22676">Gabe Harris</a> offers many tools as a pass rusher. <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/elo-modozie/44925">Elo Modozie</a> is a transfer from Army, and there is a belief that he’ll be a force at outside linebacker along with a pair of returning starters at the other LB spots. The secondary should be better, and <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/kj-bolden/63793">KJ Bolden</a> is a rising star at free safety.

12. Georgia Bulldogs

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The Iowa Hawkeyes are always good on defense under Kirk Ferentz. We will continue to assume that will be the case until it is proven wrong, and they have a couple of returning studs to add confidence to the defense for 2025. <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/aaron-graves/39665">Aaron Graves</a> is the standout on the defensive line and will be one of the better tackles in the country. <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/max-llewellyn/39545">Max Llewellyn</a> and <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/ethan-hurkett/39626">Ethan Hurkett</a> form a solid, if unspectacular, pair of defensive ends. The other defensive tackle spot is an unknown that could turn into a problem. <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/jaden-harrell/39585">Jaden Harrell</a> is the next outstanding linebacker for the Hawkeyes, and <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/karson-sharar/39654">Karson Sharar</a> emerged as another good outside linebacker. The secondary is inexperienced, but Norm Parker gets the benefit of the doubt as one of the nation’s best defensive coordinators.

13. Iowa Hawkeyes

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Oklahoma’s struggles thus far in the Brent Venables era cannot be laid at the feet of the defense. The unit has not been elite, but they have been good enough to be competitive, and would be much better if the offense could be competent. That should be the case in 2025, as <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/john-mateer/20580">John Mateer</a> should take a ton of pressure off the defense. <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/r-mason-thomas/21216">Mason Thomas</a>, <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/marvin-jones/19706">Marvin Jones Jr.</a>, and <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/danny-okoye/21161">Danny Okoye</a> are good pass rushers on the edge, and <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/jayden-jackson/21226">Jayden Jackson</a> is an emerging force at defensive tackle, giving the Sooners one of the SEC’s top defensive lines. <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/kobie-mckinzie/21158">Kobie McKinzie</a> leads an improved group of linebackers, and the secondary should be adequate. A jump in defensive ranking is expected in Norman, and if that fails to transpire, time could be up for Venables.

14. Oklahoma Sooners

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The Illinois Fighting Illini are getting a ton of hype as a College Football Playoff contender in 2025. That stems from a favorable schedule and a strong base of returning production. The Illini’s reputation on defense has been somewhat inflated as we get further away from the 2024 season. Still, Illinois does return some very talented defensive pieces that offer reason for the buzz. <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/gabe-jacas/22399">Gabe Jacas</a> would have been a relatively early NFL Draft pick, but he elected to return and lead the pass rush, and they landed transfers from Wisconsin and Florida State to bolster depth on the line around him. <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/kenenna-odeluga/22422">Kenenna Odeluga</a> was injured for much of 2024, but Illinois believes he is ready to lead the linebackers in 2025.

15. Illinois Fighting Illini

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Scoring points is a huge deal, but you won't win at the highest level if you don't have a good defense. Which teams will have the best defenses for 2025?

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