The Best Defenses Of The BCS Era

Which college football team had the best defense of the the BCS era, which is now 14 years old?

We should point out that defenses in the 2011 season are ineligible, thereby eliminating LSU and Alabama.

Is it the 2001 Miami Hurricanes, which featured nine first round NFL draft choices, including Phillip Buchanon, Ed Reed, Mike Rumph, Jerome McDougle, William Joseph, Sean Taylor, Jonathan Vilma, Vince Wilfork, and D.J. Williams?

That defense allowed a mere 9.4 ppg in 2001.

Was it the 2009 Alabama Crimson Tide, who featured Butkus Award winner Rolando McClain and a great  defensive line, headlined by Terrence Cody?

Maybe you think the answer is the 2003 LSU Tigers, who had one of the best defensive lines in college football history, anchored by Marquise Hill, Chad Lavalais, Marcus Spears, Kyle Williams and Melvin Oliver.

Braden Gall, of Athlon Sports, ranks the top ten defenses of the BCS era.