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Ohio State Football: Big Ten defensive power rankings

By Alex Austin

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - DECEMBER 07: Caesar Williams #21 of the Wisconsin Badgers tackles Chris Olave #17 of the Ohio State Buckeyes during the Big Ten Football Championship at Lucas Oil Stadium on December 7, 2019 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Ohio State defeated Wisconsin 34-21. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - DECEMBER 07: Caesar Williams #21 of the Wisconsin Badgers tackles Chris Olave #17 of the Ohio State Buckeyes during the Big Ten Football Championship at Lucas Oil Stadium on December 7, 2019 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Ohio State defeated Wisconsin 34-21. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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IOWA CITY, IOWA- OCTOBER 19: Linebacker Djimon Colbert #32 of the Iowa Hawkeyes makes a tackle during the second half on wide receiver Jared Sparks #12 of the Purdue Boilermakers on October 19, 2019 at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa. (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images)
IOWA CITY, IOWA- OCTOBER 19: Linebacker Djimon Colbert #32 of the Iowa Hawkeyes makes a tackle during the second half on wide receiver Jared Sparks #12 of the Purdue Boilermakers on October 19, 2019 at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa. (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images) /

Defense wins championships, and the Big Ten has no shortage of teams with outstanding defenses that will hope to compete for a conference title. Here is a projection of teams that will have the best defenses this season.

The Big Ten is known for playing smash-mouth defensive football. Although teams have gotten faster and better at scoring points, defenses can still reign king.

Here are the teams I believe will have the best defenses in 2020.

No. 5 Iowa

Iowa is a team that is still living in 1980. The Hawkeyes rely heavily on the run and shutting teams down on defense.

Year after year Iowa contends in the Big Ten West and that is usually because teams just can’t get going against them.

That was a big part of the recipe used in 2017 when playing Ohio State. For most of the game the Buckeyes were held down and only scored 17 points before a garbage touchdown gave them 24 points at the end.

The Hawkeyes will have a few pieces to replace, especially after losing A.J. Epenesa to the NFL, but should still have a strong unit in 2020.

Next a look at two outstanding defenses in the Big Ten East.

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