Auburn Football: The Best Defenses Will Muschamp Has Ever Coached
2. 2009 Texas Longhorns
Will Muschamp’s second best defense to date was the unit that led the Texas Longhorns to the 2009 Big 12 title, a 13-0 regular season and a spot in the BCS National Championship Game.
In 2009, the Longhorns allowed only 73 rushing yards, which not only made them the nation’s best rushing defense, but the best rushing defense in a three-year period from 2008-10.Overall, the Longhorns ranked third in total defense (251.9 yards per game), 12th in scoring defense (16.7 points per game) and 19th in pass defense (179.6 yards per game).
Led by Thorpe Award finalist and consensus first team All-American safety Earl Thomas’s eight interceptions, Muschamp’s ball-hawking defense had 25 picks and forced 37 turnovers (tied with Ohio), both of which led the nation. Opponents converted just 26.5% of the time on third down, which also ranked tops in the country.
Among the season’s most memorable games were a 16-13 victory over No. 20 Oklahoma in the Red River Shootout in which Aaron Williams injured Sooners quarterback Sam Bradford and Texas forced two interceptions to seal the victory. Texas also earned an impressive 41-14 win over No. 13 Oklahoma State and a 13-12 victory over Nebraska in the Big 12 Championship Game.
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Next: 1. 2003 LSU Tigers