The Bill and Doug Show: Drafting the Best College Football Playoff Defenses

Podcast: The Bill and Doug Show: Ohio State Football Talk
Hosts: Doug Lesmerises & Bill Landis
Episode Theme: Ranking and analyzing the best defenses among the eight remaining College Football Playoff teams, with deep dives into Ohio State, Texas Tech, Indiana, Miami, and others.
Date: December 26, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode is a detailed, roundtable-style "draft" of the defenses among the College Football Playoff’s eight quarterfinalists. Doug and Bill use advanced stats, eye test, team identity, and personnel evaluation to not only pick the best units but debate defense-first versus offense-first philosophies. They spotlight what makes top defenses like Ohio State and Texas Tech so dominant, break down statistical anomalies, and call out the declining defensive profile of traditional SEC powers. The discussion is rich with specific data, coaching insights, and fun fan banter.

Main Theme:

"Which College Football Playoff team has the best defense, and what makes that unit elite—or vulnerable—at this stage?"

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Playoff is Defense-Heavy

• Both hosts agree the playoff field in 2025 is stacked with defense-first teams.
• Only one team is “definitively offense-first” (Ole Miss), most others are driven by defense or have balanced identities.
• Bill:

  "Whoever wins the national title, like, their defense is going to be what leads them there." (03:08)

2. Sorting Teams by Defensive Identity

• Rapid breakdown of each playoff team on offense/defense balance (03:41–04:28):
  • Ohio State, Texas Tech, Indiana, Miami: "Defense-first, no doubt about it."
  • Alabama & Georgia: Balanced, maybe slight lean to defense.
  • Oregon: Leans offense, but still a strong defense.
  • Ole Miss: Clearly offense-first.

3. Drafting the Best Defenses: Analytical Deep Dive

Advanced Metrics Used:

• FEI (Efficient Drive Metrics)
• SP+ (Comprehensive rating by Bill Connelly)
• Stop Rate (Ending drives w/o points)
• Success Rate (Preventing play-by-play gains)
• Havoc Rate (Tackles for loss, turnovers, sacks)
• Points Allowed

Comparative Data:

• Ohio State, Texas Tech, Indiana: Top 3 in FEI, SP+, Stop Rate, Points Allowed.
• But Indiana & Texas Tech have far higher havoc rates:
  • Indiana: #1
  • Texas Tech: #2
  • Ohio State: #53 (06:06–07:27)

Why Texas Tech and Indiana Are More Disruptive:

• Turnovers tell the story:
  • Ohio State: Only 14 takeaways (85th nationally)
  • Texas Tech: 31 (1st)
  • Indiana: 25 (T-6th)
• "Stylistic differences... Texas Tech and Indiana hunt turnovers, Ohio State doesn't." — Bill (09:13)

Ohio State’s Approach:

• Sacrifice “havoc” for elite soundness, limit big plays, and allow the fewest points nationwide.
• "They're giving up the fewest points anybody's given up since Alabama 2011... fewer than 10 ppg." — Doug (07:27)

Red Zone & Big Plays:

• Ohio State, Indiana, Texas Tech all comparable in limiting big gains, but Texas Tech falters in red zone TD rate (59% vs. 27% for Indiana, 33% for OSU); however, some host uncertainty on the final #1 pick.

4. Draft Order and Justification

(From 16:23 onward—the "defense draft")

Final Draft Order:

1. Texas Tech
   • "Have guys up front who will destroy you... seem to be pretty sound for sure." — Doug (12:35)
   • Best stop/success rate, most turnovers created; big-play potential.
2. Ohio State
   • "Literally top 10 in everything except havoc rate... Their talent is a little more balanced throughout the defense." — Bill (17:10)
   • Elite in preventing TDs & big plays, just less disruptive.
3. Indiana
   • Scheme + production, but key injury to Stephen Daly, a slight step below top two.
   • "If you're having that conversation, it's Indiana and Ohio State. Brian Haynes and Matt Patricia are the two best defensive coordinators." — Bill (24:27)
4. Miami
   • “The front's ridiculous. Not just Bane and Mezador... the defensive tackle group is insanely good.” — Bill (25:22)
   • Complete, but not quite as elite at cornerback.
5. Oregon
   • Very solid, but red zone defense is a major issue (allowing TDs 70% of the time—outlier stat) (29:44–31:11).
6. Alabama
   • More disruptive than Georgia, especially up front.
7. Georgia
   • Disappointingly low tackles for loss, havoc; not the '21 juggernaut, perception > current reality.
8. Ole Miss
   • Simply “okay” statistically; only real subpar defense among the playoff teams. (39:23–40:04)

Standout Statistical Quotes

• “Ohio State has given up the fewest plays of 20 yards or more—26. Texas Tech: 33, Indiana: 39.” — Doug (10:57)
• “Georgia has the fewest tackles for loss of any playoff team—56. Indiana has 112, literally double.” — Doug (36:21)
• “Oregon, you’re scoring a touchdown in the red zone 70% of the time. That sticks out like a sore thumb.” — Doug (29:44)
• “Ohio State is first in FEI and SP+, but Texas Tech is first in stop rate and success rate.” — Doug (11:28)

Memorable Moments & Exchanges

• The “Trade-Off” Debate:
  Are “havoc” stats worth potential exposure to big plays, or does shutdown consistency win out? Hosts admit it's “a matter of preference.”
  “Would you rather have a defense that you could guarantee will get you a takeaway or two… or the impenetrable nature of Ohio State’s defense?” — Bill (22:04)

• SEC Not What It Used to Be:
  Stunned realization: Only one SEC defender (Bill Ray Hubbard, Alabama) in the top 22 defensive grades (28:28).
  “The SEC has seceded from PFF!” — Doug (28:56)

• Georgia’s Reputation Problem:

  • “I don’t know why people are picking Georgia in the national championship. No offense. This is just not where it is right now.” — Doug (36:21)
  • “There is a perception of Georgia... It’s like, I don’t know that they do [have a great defense] right now.” — Bill (37:35)

• Ole Miss: The Outlier

  • “Ole Miss... who really might have a defense that is actually not that good, that’s the only defense you could apply that to.” — Doug (38:28)
  • “If they win, they’re going to have to outscore Georgia. They’re not going to stop anybody in this playoff run.” — Doug (38:28)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [02:02] — Introduction to the “defense draft” concept
• [03:41] — Sorting teams by defense/offense balance
• [06:06] — Deep dive on advanced defensive stats
• [12:35] — Texas Tech’s disruptive edge explained
• [16:23] — Draft begins: Texas Tech vs Ohio State debate
• [17:29] — Why Ohio State is still arguably #1
• [21:58] — The "fun conversation" about defensive preference—havoc vs. consistency
• [25:17] — Indiana’s placement and scheme talk
• [27:01] — Miami’s D-line dominance
• [29:44] — Oregon’s strange red zone woes
• [32:41] — Alabama vs. Georgia for "best of the rest"
• [38:28] — Ole Miss: Only truly sub-elite defense

Tone & Style

• The hosts balance deep statistical analysis with friendly banter and a clear, passionate fan’s perspective.
• Strong emphasis on putting stats in context and challenging the “old” narratives about SEC dominance.

Additional Notable Quotes

• “Texas Tech is number one in our ‘defense draft,’ very close with Ohio State... both national championship quality defenses.” — Doug (41:53)
• “We think the two weakest units in the playoff are the Ole Miss defense and the Texas Tech offense. Texas Tech needs the best defense to win.” — Doug (22:38)
• “We might get out of this season without figuring [Ole Miss] out. I wish we had a way to do it.” — Doug (42:01)

Summary Table: Playoff Defense Draft Results

| Rank | Team | Key Defensive Identity/Edge | |------|-------------|----------------------------------------------------------| | 1 | Texas Tech | Disruptive, turnover-focused with stifling front seven | | 2 | Ohio State | Elite consistency, minimal big plays/TDs allowed | | 3 | Indiana | Creative, aggressive scheme; slightly less talent depth | | 4 | Miami | Elite defensive line, balanced unit | | 5 | Oregon | Solid all-around, red zone a weak spot | | 6 | Alabama | Better front seven than Georgia | | 7 | Georgia | Pedestrian production, not vintage Bulldog D | | 8 | Ole Miss | Explosive offense covers for undermanned defense |

For Listeners Who Haven’t Tuned In:

This episode is a must for college football fans wanting a primer on the “real” playoff defensive powerhouses (not just the blue blood names). It’s perfect for Buckeye, Red Raider, or Hoosier fans hoping to learn why their teams are thriving, and for skeptical viewers who want to see SEC-centric narratives challenged in detail.

If you only listen to one segment, jump to [12:35]–[22:38] for the Texas Tech vs. Ohio State debate—where the philosophical dividing lines about defense are at their sharpest.

Final Takeaway

Doug & Bill’s meticulous, stats-rich approach exposes not only who the top defenses are, but why they thrive in distinct ways—and, crucially, punctures the notion that SEC defense still rules the playoff landscape.

“Ohio State the soundest, Texas Tech the most dangerous... Both are national championship caliber—but which would you pick?”