J.D. PicKell of On3 ranked Miami as the No. 6 defense in college football entering the 2026 season. His top five had Oregon, Oklahoma, Notre Dame, Georgia and Texas ahead of the Hurricanes, with Texas Tech, Ohio State, Iowa and Indiana rounding out the top 10.
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J.D. PicKell ranked Miami as the No. 6 defense in college football
The Hurricanes finished fifth nationally in scoring defense in 2025, allowing 14.8 points per game. They were also No. 12 nationally in total defense at 294.1 yards per game. That was better than several teams ranked ahead of them in PicKell's projection, including Oregon, Notre Dame, Georgia and Texas in scoring defense.
Even with losing Rueben Bain Jr., Keionte Scott, Akheem Mesidor and others, Miami has plenty of returning production that could even make the 2026 unit better than the one in 2025.
Damon Wilson II comes in from Missouri after putting up 23 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss and nine sacks in 2025. Ahmad Moten returns after earning second-team All-ACC honors and starting all 14 games he played in last season. And the secondary will be led by Bryce Fitzgerald who was tied for the ACC lead with six interceptions in 2025.
Biggest storylines for the defenses ranked 1-10
1. Oregon Ducks
Oregon was seventh nationally in total defense last season, allowing 273.7 yards per game, and 12th nationally in scoring defense at 17.9 points per game. The Ducks have recruited well under Dan Lanning so the projection is of a No. 1 defense could become reality.
2. Oklahoma Sooners
The Sooners allowed 15.5 points per game in 2025, good for seventh nationally, and finished sixth nationally in total defense at 272.5 yards per game.
3. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Notre Dame allowed 17.6 points per game last season, and the Irish checks the box at every level entering 2026.
4. Georgia Bulldogs
Georgia being in the top five should never surprise anyone. The Bulldogs were strong last season, allowing 17.6 points per game and ranking 14th nationally in total defense at 298 yards per game.
5. Texas Longhorns
Texas lands one spot ahead of Miami despite allowing more points and yards per game than the Hurricanes last season. The Longhorns allowed 20.3 points per game and 338.8 yards per game in 2025. The reason they stay this high is the returning talent, specifically Colin Simmons who leads the nation in career sacks among returning players.
7. Texas Tech Red Raiders
The Red Raiders allowed 11.8 points per game last season, third nationally, and ranked third nationally in total defense at 258.3 yards per game.
8. Ohio State Buckeyes
Ohio State had the best scoring defense in the country last season, allowing 9.3 points per game, and the best total defense at 219.1 yards per game.
9. Iowa Hawkeyes
The Hawkeyes were eighth nationally in scoring defense last season at 16.1 points per game and ninth in total defense at 280.4 yards per game.
10. Indiana Hoosiers
Indiana finished second nationally in scoring defense last season at 11.7 points per game and fourth in total defense at 266 yards per game.
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