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Where SEC defenses rank in yards per play: (Hint, behind Alabama)
By John Hollis
Published:
It should hardly come as a surprise by this point to hear that national champion Alabama boasted one of the nation’s stingiest defenses this season.
But college football analyst Phil Steele adds some new data to further quantify the notion with the release of his Defensive Yards Per Play statistical information.
According to the data, which included bowl games through Jan. 2, the Crimson Tide and Boston College were tied for first nationally with a stalwart 4.1 defensive yards per play average.
Steele came up with the number by taking the total defensive yards allowed by each team and then dividing by the total you get after adding defensive rush attempts and defensive pass attempts.
Alabama, which beat Clemson to win the national championship, finished the season ranked first nationally in rushing defense, tied for second in scoring defense and third in total defense.
Missouri and Florida were the only other SEC teams to finish in the Top 10 of Steele’s compilations. The Tigers ranked third on Steele’s list at 4.3 defensive yards per play, while the Gators finished in a six-way tie for eighth place at 4.7 defensive yards per play.
Here’s where each SEC team ranked.
| Rank | Team | Yards per play |
|---|---|---|
| T1 | Alabama | 4.1 |
| 3 | Missouri | 4.3 |
| T8 | Florida | 4.7 |
| T14 | Georgia | 4.8 |
| T19 | Ole Miss | 4.9 |
| T32 | LSU | 5.2 |
| T32 | Tennessee | 5.2 |
| T32 | Vanderbilt | 5.2 |
| T42 | Miss. State | 5.3 |
| T47 | Auburn | 5.4 |
| T47 | Texas A&M | 5.4 |
| T52 | Kentucky | 5.5 |
| T94 | South Carolina | 6.0 |
| 100 | Arkansas | 6.1 |
John Hollis is a contributing writer for Saturday Down South. He covers Georgia and Florida.
