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Surprising Big Ten team brings most-feared defense into 2026 season
TL;DR
A surprising Big Ten team is set to enter the 2026 college football season with the most-feared defense, according to USA TODAY's rankings of top defensive players. This highlights the importance of strong defenses in determining championship outcomes.
Key points
- A surprising Big Ten team has a dominant defense for 2026.
- Defense is critical for winning college football championships.
- USA TODAY ranked the top 26 most-feared defensive players.
When forecasting the upcoming college football season, it's common to look at the top offenses in the game, and the quarterbacks in particular, using that to help mold projections of who will be the top teams in the sport.
As we all know, though, defense wins championships. There's a good chance that in the end, it will be the defenses that are most dominant in December and January, which will end up determining who hoists a trophy at the end of the year, while the offense continues to get the praise.
While it may be a bit too early to actually break down each defense and figure out who is going to be standing near the top of the mountain, it's not premature to highlight the best players on that side of the ball and deduce which teams are going to have a good chance to be dominant. On Friday, USA TODAY released its rankings of the top 26 most-feared defensive players in the nation going into this fall.
The team with the most players in the top 26 may surprise you.
It's the Oregon Ducks, with a whopping four players mentioned in the rankings. The highest on the list for the Ducks is defensive lineman A'Mauri Washington, at No. 5 on the list, followed by cornerback Brandon Finney (No. 10), safety Koi Perich (No. 14), and edge-rusher Teitum Tuioti (No. 21). Here's a look at how the team breakdown went:
- Oregon Ducks: 4 players
- Miami Hurricanes: 3 players
- Georgia Bulldogs: 2 players
- Texas Longhorns: 2 players
- Texas Tech Red Raiders: 2 players
- LSU Tigers: 2 players
- Notre Dame Fighting Irish: 2 players
- Alabama Crimson Tide: 1 player
- Oklahoma Sooners: 1 player
- Michigan Wolverines: 1 player
- Indiana Hoosiers: 1 player
- South Carolina Gamecocks: 1 player
- Clemson Tigers: 1 player
- Minnesota Golden Gophers: 1 player
- Mississippi State Bulldogs: 1 player
- Louisville Cardinals: 1 player
It's unsurprising to see teams like Miami, Georgia, Notre Dame, and Texas near the top of the list, but a West Coast team like Oregon at the top of the list may turn some heads for those who haven't been paying attention. Under Dan Lanning's tutelage, the Ducks have been building an SEC-style team up in Eugene, with an emphasis on physicality and defense, above all else. Of course, they still have the Pac-12 flair on offense, led by Dante Moore and one of the nation's best wide receiver corps.
Put it all together, and it's starting to look like you could have a real national championship contender in Oregon.
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This article originally appeared on College Sports Wire: Oregon Ducks own most-feared defense in college football for 2026
Q&A
Which Big Ten team has the most-feared defense for the 2026 season?
The article indicates that a surprising Big Ten team leads in having the most players ranked among the top 26 most-feared defensive players for the 2026 season.
What is the significance of defense in college football championships?
Defense is often considered crucial in college football, as it can be the determining factor in winning championships, overshadowing offensive performance.
Who are the top defensive players in college football for 2026?
USA TODAY released a ranking of the top 26 most-feared defensive players in the nation for the upcoming season, highlighting key talents on the defensive side.