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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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ARLINGTON, TEXAS – DECEMBER 28: Micah Parsons #11 of the Penn State Nittany Lions sacks Brady White #3 of the Memphis Tigers during the first half of the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic at AT&T Stadium on December 28, 2019 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TEXAS – DECEMBER 28: Micah Parsons #11 of the Penn State Nittany Lions sacks Brady White #3 of the Memphis Tigers during the first half of the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic at AT&T Stadium on December 28, 2019 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /

No. 4 Penn State

Last year, Penn State was the only team in the Big Ten to hold Ohio State under 30 points. In fact, the Nittany Lions’ defense was able to hold most of their opponents under 30 points and kept them in many games.

Penn State ended the season ranked in the top 10 in total defense.

The Nittany Lions lost defensive stalwarts Yetur Gross-Matos and Cam Brown to the draft as well as a few other guys who helped secure this team. There is no shortage of talent waiting to play, however, and if Penn State can hold up against the big plays James Franklin’s defense should be one of the best again this season.

No. 3 Michigan

Michigan tends to have a really good defense…until they play good teams. Don Brown capitalizes on shutting down many opponents, but in 2019 the only times the Wolverines lost were when they gave up more than 25 points.

I expect Michigan to once again take advantage of smaller programs, but eventually something has to change against bigger teams. This may be the year that someone else gets the tasks of “helping” Don Brown in big games.

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