Auburn Football: The Best Defenses Will Muschamp Has Ever Coached
3. 2012 Florida Gators
Will Muschamp’s best team during his four-year stint as head coach of the Florida Gators was the 2012 squad that finished 11-2 and played in the Sugar Bowl. It should come as no surprise that it was also Muschamp’s best defense while he was in Gainesville.
The Gators ranked fifth nationally in both scoring defense (14.5 points per game) and total defense (287.5 yards per game) and held opponents to just 94.9 rushing yards on average. Muschamp’s defense allowed only seven passing touchdowns all season, which were the second fewest in the country, and the Gators allowed only 32 points in the fourth quarter all season. Florida ranked second nationally in pass efficiency defense (95.55) and seventh in turnover margin (plus-15)
The Gators beat three top ten opponents in 2012. Florida beat No. 4 LSU 14-6 in October, dominated 9th ranked South Carolina 44-10 two weeks lates and beat rival Florida State 37-26 on the road to cap an 11-1 regular season against the nation’s third toughest schedule.
Also, before most of America knew who he was, Florida held eventual Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel to 173 passing yards and 60 rushing yards in a 20-17 Florida win over Texas A&M. Johnny Football was responsible for only one rushing touchdown.
CBSSports.com and the league’s coach named Muschamp the SEC Coach of the Year. Only a 17-9 loss to Georgia in Jacksonville cost Florida a spot in the SEC Championship Game and out of consideration for a spot in the national title game.
2012 Florida vs. LSU Highlights:
Next: 2. 2009 Texas Longhorns