ESPN has put together a list of all 133 FBS college football teams ranked by tiers.
The top tier includes only the Georgia Bulldogs. The Bulldogs finished last season as undefeated national champions and they are loaded up for another run in 2023.
Tier 2 is labelled “the contenders” and includes the likes of Alabama, Ohio State, Michigan and Clemson.
Kentucky is listed as Tier 3b:
Tier 3b: Teams that should prevent a lot of points from being scored (six teams)
Illinois
Iowa
Kentucky
Minnesota
NC State
Pitt
Illinois led the nation in fewest points allowed per drive last season. Iowa finished second. Kentucky, Minnesota and NC State were among the top 15 too.
Those five plus Pitt all ranked among the 20 best defenses at securing three and outs.
All but Kentucky ranked in the top 15 nationally in defensive success rate. All five ranked among the top 25 in defensive expected points added.
Pitt’s 48 sacks were second most nationally. Illinois’ 24 interceptions led the country. Iowa allowed the fewest yards per rush of any Power 5 defense. Kentucky allowed more than 24 points in a game just once, including holding eventual national champion Georgia to just 16.
In other words, there are six potentially elite defenses here.
The offenses, on the other hand?
Illinois won a game 9-6. It came against Iowa.
Iowa won a game 7-3. It came against an FCS opponent.
Kentucky topped 24 points just once after Oct. 1.
NC State trailed FSU 17-10 when the Wolfpack’s starting QB got hurt. It didn’t complete a pass for positive yardage and still won 19-17.
Minnesota won every game in which it scored 20 points. The Gophers still lost four games.
All six of these squads hope to have better offensive production in 2023 — at least 25 points per game, in Iowa O-coordinator Brian Ferentz’s case — but the defenses are the foundation on which their success is likely to be built.
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