3. 2000 Oklahoma Sooner defense
Oklahoma won its seventh and most recent national championship in the 2000 season in Bob Stoops’ second year on the Sooner sidelines. The Sooners were the biggest surprise in college football that season, finishing a perfect 13-0 and a lockdown defense was a major contributor to that undefeated national championship season.
Oklahoma’s offense that season averaged 425 yards a game, 18th best in college football, but the defense was even better, holding opponents to just 278 yards per contest, which ranked No. 8 among Division I teams. The 2000 Sooner defensive unit ranked 23rd in rushing defense (108 yards per game) and 9th in pass defense (170 yards per game). It also tied for 5th nationally in turnovers gained (33).
You don’t hold the country’s best offense (Florida State) to just two points in the national championship game if you’re not pretty darn good on defense.