Ohio State’s 2025 defense allowed the fewest points and yards per game of any FBS defense in the last 14 years.
Across its 14-game 2025 season, Ohio State limited its opponents to 9.3 points per game and 219.1 yards per game. The last team to allow fewer points and yards per game in a season than the 2025 Buckeyes was the 2011 Alabama Crimson Tide, which held opponents to just 8.2 points and 183.6 yards per game.
It’s the second year in a row that Ohio State led the nation in both scoring defense and total defense. No other team in college football held opponents to fewer than 11.7 points per game (Indiana) or 254.3 yards per game (Toledo) this season.
In Matt Patricia’s first season as defensive coordinator, Ohio State also led the nation in passing yards allowed per game (129.7), opposing red-zone percentage (66.7%) and first downs allowed per game (13.1). Led by a trio of consensus All-Americans in Caleb Downs, Kayden McDonald and Arvell Reese, the Buckeyes allowed fewer 10-yard plays (101), 20-yard plays (26) and 40-yard plays (three) than any other team in college football.
| Stat Category | Total | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Points Allowed Per Game | 9.3 | 1st |
| Yards Allowed Per Game | 219.1 | 1st |
| Passing Yards Allowed/Game | 129.7 | 1st |
| Rushing Yards Allowed/Game | 89.4 | 7th |
| First Downs Allowed/Game | 13.1 | 1st |
| Opponent Third-Down % | 30.7 | 10th |
| Opponent Fourth-Down % | 39.3 | 12th |
| Opponent Red-Zone Scoring % | 66.7 | 1st |
| Opponent Red-Zone TD % | 37.1 | T-2nd |
| Sacks | 35 | T-21st |
| Tackles for Loss | 78 | T-44th |
| Takeaways | 15 | T-75th |
| 10-Yard Plays Allowed | 101 | 1st |
| 20-Yard Plays Allowed | 26 | 1st |
| 30-Yard Plays Allowed | 10 | T-1st |
| 40-Yard Plays Allowed | 3 | 1st |
| 50-Yard Plays Allowed | 3 | T-11th |
Unlike in 2024, Ohio State’s defense wasn’t able to lead the Buckeyes to a national championship, as Ohio State’s season ended with a loss to Miami in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals. Nevertheless, the statistics show that Ohio State had not only the best defense in college football this season, but one of the most dominant defenses in recently college football history.
