Ranking the 10 best CFB defenses ahead of the 2023 season

The spring has been spent breaking down which offenses (quarterbacks, running backs and wide receivers) will define the upcoming college football season, so it’s now time to look at what ultimately wins championships: the defenses.

The Georgia Bulldogs broke their 41-year title drought, then followed it up by becoming the first back-to-back champion in a decade, behind a stellar defense featuring a number of future NFL players. It comes as no surprise that the Bulldogs come in ranked No. 1 in ESPN’s top 10 defenses, but which teams, if any, can challenge the reigning champs defensively?

The SEC is known for its defense, but the Big Ten put just as many teams in our top 10, while the Pac-12 and Big 12 were nowhere to be found. See who our reporters think will be the top defensive units during the 2023 college football campaign.

Ten writers voted on a ballot with 10 points to the first-place defense down to one point for a 10th-place vote.

Points: 100 (10-of-10 first-place votes)

Defense has been Georgia’s calling card during the past two seasons that have resulted in back-to-back College Football Playoff national championships. Naturally, many will look to that side of the ball when trying to forecast the Bulldogs’ success for 2023, which is why people still have high expectations for their defense.

Despite losing key players to the NFL draft again this season in Jalen Carter, Kelee Ringo, Nolan Smith and Christopher Smith — as well as Bear Alexander to the transfer portal — Georgia’s defense is still stacked. The defensive line is anchored by veterans Zion Logue, Nazir Stackhouse, Tramel Walthour and Warren Brinson. Mykel Williams is coming off a minor foot surgery and will also be a big part of this group after leading the team in sacks last year. The Bulldogs are also hoping for development from the likes of Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins and Christen Miller.

Outside on the second level, you have Chaz Chambliss with the most experience, and hopes that Marvin Jones Jr. gets healthy. Inside will be strong for Georgia, where Smael Mondon Jr. and Jamon Dumas-Johnson (who were No. 1 and No. 2 on Georgia in tackles last season) return. Jalon Walker will also be a key player among the group, having worked both inside and outside. The secondary is led by familiar faces in Javon Bullard, Malaki Starks (third in tackles) and Kamari Lassiter.

In total, you’ve got a defense that once again is expected to compete to be the best in the country, and we didn’t even get to the Bulldogs’ highly rated recruits coming in this season. Given how Georgia has been recruiting, it’s hard not to see it this way not only this year, but for the foreseeable future. — Harry Lyles Jr.

​Points: 80