We’ve been over this already, but we’re going back at it: Defense wins championships. And in EA Sports College Football 25, it’s not easy to play defense.
So, if you’re not looking for a challenge defensively, you’re probably looking for the best defenses in EA Sports College Football 25 to play with.
Ranking the Defenses in EA Sports College Football 25
Going down the list, the top defenses are pretty much who you’d think they are. If you know college football, you’ll understand why these units sit atop the leaderboard in terms of overall rating on the defensive side of the ball.
If you’ve played the game and have had the misfortune of trying to throw or run on these defenses, you probably understand, due to different reasons, just how good these defenses are.
We’ll give you the top defenses to play with in the game below, and we’ll even follow that up with ranking them by their defensive rating by conference just below that.
MAKE YOUR DEFENSE UNSTOPPABLE: Ranking the Best Defensive Playbooks in the Game
Let’s list them out from 1 to 134; here are the best defenses in the game:
- 1) Ohio State (Defense Rating: 96)
- 2) Georgia (Defense Rating: 94)
- 3) Michigan (Defense Rating: 90)
- 4) Notre Dame (Defense Rating: 90)
- 5) Clemson (Defense Rating: 90)
- 6) Alabama (Defense Rating: 90)
- 7) Oregon (Defense Rating: 90)
- 8) Iowa (Defense Rating: 88)
- 9) Oklahoma (Defense Rating: 88)
- 10) Florida State (Defense Rating: 88)
- 11) Penn State (Defense Rating: 88)
- 12) Utah (Defense Rating: 88)
- 13) Texas (Defense Rating: 88)
- 14) Auburn (Defense Rating: 86)
- 15) Virginia Tech (Defense Rating: 86)
- 16) USC (Defense Rating: 86)
- 17) Wisconsin (Defense Rating: 86)
- 18) Kentucky (Defense Rating: 84)
- 19) Louisville (Defense Rating: 84)
- 20) North Carolina (Defense Rating: 84)
- 21) Kansas State (Defense Rating: 84)
- 22) Florida (Defense Rating: 84)
- 23) Oklahoma State (Defense Rating: 84)
- 24) Texas A&M (Defense Rating: 84)
- 25) Colorado (Defense Rating: 84)
- 26) LSU (Defense Rating: 84)
- 27) Rutgers (Defense Rating: 82)
- 28) Nebraska (Defense Rating: 82)
- 29) South Carolina (Defense Rating: 82)
- 30) Iowa State (Defense Rating: 82)
- 31) Syracuse (Defense Rating: 82)
- 32) Arkansas (Defense Rating: 82)
- 33) Memphis (Defense Rating: 82)
- 34) SMU (Defense Rating: 82)
- 35) NC State (Defense Rating: 82)
- 36) Arizona (Defense Rating: 82)
- 37) Kansas (Defense Rating: 82)
- 38) Ole Miss (Defense Rating: 82)
- 39) Miami (FL) (Defense Rating: 82)
- 40) Maryland (Defense Rating: 80)
- 41) Boise State (Defense Rating: 80)
- 42) Boston College (Defense Rating: 80)
- 43) Wake Forest (Defense Rating: 80)
- 44) Texas Tech (Defense Rating: 80)
- 45) Tennessee (Defense Rating: 80)
- 46) Northwestern (Defense Rating: 78)
- 47) Miami (OH) (Defense Rating: 78)
- 48) UNLV (Defense Rating: 78)
- 49) Illinois (Defense Rating: 78)
- 50) BYU (Defense Rating: 78)
- 51) UTSA (Defense Rating: 78)
- 52) Pittsburgh (Defense Rating: 78)
- 53) TCU (Defense Rating: 78)
- 54) California (Defense Rating: 78)
- 55) Stanford (Defense Rating: 78)
- 56) Minnesota (Defense Rating: 78)
- 57) Indiana (Defense Rating: 78)
- 58) Tulane (Defense Rating: 78)
- 59) UCF (Defense Rating: 78)
- 60) FIU (Defense Rating: 76)
- 61) Oregon State (Defense Rating: 76)
- 62) Houston (Defense Rating: 76)
- 63) USF (Defense Rating: 76)
- 64) Duke (Defense Rating: 76)
- 65) Western Kentucky (Defense Rating: 76)
- 66) Michigan State (Defense Rating: 76)
- 67) Baylor (Defense Rating: 76)
- 68) Purdue (Defense Rating: 76)
- 69) Washington (Defense Rating: 76)
- 70) Liberty (Defense Rating: 76)
- 71) West Virginia (Defense Rating: 76)
- 72) UCLA (Defense Rating: 76)
- 73) Missouri (Defense Rating: 76)
- 74) Navy (Defense Rating: 74)
- 75) Central Michigan (Defense Rating: 74)
- 76) East Carolina (Defense Rating: 74)
- 77) Florida Atlantic (Defense Rating: 74)
- 78) Vanderbilt (Defense Rating: 74)
- 79) North Texas (Defense Rating: 74)
- 80) Middle Tennessee (Defense Rating: 74)
- 81) Sam Houston (Defense Rating: 74)
- 82) Colorado State (Defense Rating: 74)
- 83) Utah State (Defense Rating: 74)
- 84) Arizona State (Defense Rating: 74)
- 85) Cincinnati (Defense Rating: 74)
- 86) Washington State (Defense Rating: 74)
- 87) Toledo (Defense Rating: 74)
- 88) Mississippi State (Defense Rating: 74)
- 89) Appalachian State (Defense Rating: 74)
- 90) Virginia (Defense Rating: 74)
- 91) Georgia Tech (Defense Rating: 74)
- 92) Texas State (Defense Rating: 74)
- 93) Old Dominion (Defense Rating: 72)
- 94) La Tech (Defense Rating: 72)
- 95) Hawaii (Defense Rating: 72)
- 96) UConn (Defense Rating: 72)
- 97) San Diego State (Defense Rating: 72)
- 98) Southern Miss (Defense Rating: 72)
- 99) Charlotte (Defense Rating: 72)
- 100) Wyoming (Defense Rating: 72)
- 101) Rice (Defense Rating: 72)
- 102) UAB (Defense Rating: 72)
- 103) Bowling Green (Defense Rating: 72)
- 104) Louisiana (Defense Rating: 72)
- 105) Fresno State (Defense Rating: 72)
- 106) Kennesaw State (Defense Rating: 70)
- 107) Buffalo (Defense Rating: 70)
- 108) New Mexico (Defense Rating: 70)
- 109) UMass (Defense Rating: 70)
- 110) Nevada (Defense Rating: 70)
- 111) South Alabama (Defense Rating: 70)
- 112) Jacksonville State (Defense Rating: 70)
- 113) Arkansas State (Defense Rating: 70)
- 114) Western Michigan (Defense Rating: 70)
- 115) Ohio (Defense Rating: 68)
- 116) Georgia State (Defense Rating: 68)
- 117) Akron (Defense Rating: 68)
- 118) Army (Defense Rating: 68)
- 119) New Mexico State (Defense Rating: 68)
- 120) Marshall (Defense Rating: 68)
- 121) Kent State (Defense Rating: 68)
- 122) Troy (Defense Rating: 68)
- 123) Tulsa (Defense Rating: 68)
- 124) Temple (Defense Rating: 66)
- 125) Georgia Southern (Defense Rating: 66)
- 126) UTEP (Defense Rating: 64)
- 127) Air Force (Defense Rating: 64)
- 128) Northern Illinois (Defense Rating: 64)
- 129) Coastal Carolina (Defense Rating: 64)
- 130) San Jose State (Defense Rating: 64)
- 131) JMU (Defense Rating: 64)
- 132) UL-Monroe (Defense Rating: 62)
- 133) Eastern Michigan (Defense Rating: 62)
- 134) Ball State (Defense Rating: 60)
Now, let’s get to the best defenses by their conference.
AAC’s Best Defenses in EA Sports College Football 25
1) Memphis (Defense Rating: 82)
2) UTSA (Defense Rating: 78)
3) Tulane (Defense Rating: 78)
4) USF (Defense Rating: 76)
5) Navy (Defense Rating: 74)
6) East Carolina (Defense Rating: 74)
7) Florida Atlantic (Defense Rating: 74)
8) North Texas (Defense Rating: 74)
9) Charlotte (Defense Rating: 72)
10) Rice (Defense Rating: 72)
11) UAB (Defense Rating: 72)
12) Army (Defense Rating: 68)
13) Tulsa (Defense Rating: 68)
14) Temple (Defense Rating: 66)
ACC’s Best Defenses in EA Sports College Football 25
1) Clemson (Defense Rating: 90)
2) Florida State (Defense Rating: 88)
3) Virginia Tech (Defense Rating: 86)
4) Louisville (Defense Rating: 84)
5) North Carolina (Defense Rating: 84)
6) Syracuse (Defense Rating: 82)
7) SMU (Defense Rating: 82)
8) NC State (Defense Rating: 82)
9) Miami (FL) (Defense Rating: 82)
10) Boston College (Defense Rating: 80)
11) Wake Forest (Defense Rating: 80)
12) Pittsburgh (Defense Rating: 78)
13) California (Defense Rating: 78)
14) Stanford (Defense Rating: 78)
15) Duke (Defense Rating: 76)
16) Virginia (Defense Rating: 74)
17) Georgia Tech (Defense Rating: 74)
Big Ten’s Best Defenses in EA Sports College Football 25
1) Ohio State (Defense Rating: 96)
2) Michigan (Defense Rating: 90)
3) Oregon (Defense Rating: 90)
4) Iowa (Defense Rating: 88)
5) Penn State (Defense Rating: 88)
6) USC (Defense Rating: 86)
7) Wisconsin (Defense Rating: 86)
8) Rutgers (Defense Rating: 82)
9) Nebraska (Defense Rating: 82)
10) Maryland (Defense Rating: 80)
11) Northwestern (Defense Rating: 78)
12) Illinois (Defense Rating: 78)
13) Minnesota (Defense Rating: 78)
14) Indiana (Defense Rating: 78)
15) Michigan State (Defense Rating: 76)
16) Purdue (Defense Rating: 76)
17) Washington (Defense Rating: 76)
18) UCLA (Defense Rating: 76)
Big 12’s Best Defenses in EA Sports College Football 25
1) Utah (Defense Rating: 88)
2) Kansas State (Defense Rating: 84)
3) Oklahoma State (Defense Rating: 84)
4) Colorado (Defense Rating: 84)
5) Iowa State (Defense Rating: 82)
6) Arizona (Defense Rating: 82)
7) Kansas (Defense Rating: 82)
8) Texas Tech (Defense Rating: 80)
9) BYU (Defense Rating: 78)
10) TCU (Defense Rating: 78)
11) UCF (Defense Rating: 78)
12) Houston (Defense Rating: 76)
13) Baylor (Defense Rating: 76)
14) West Virginia (Defense Rating: 76)
15) Arizona State (Defense Rating: 74)
16) Cincinnati (Defense Rating: 74)
Conference USA’s Best Defenses in EA Sports College Football 25
1) FIU (Defense Rating: 76)
2) Western Kentucky (Defense Rating: 76)
3) Liberty (Defense Rating: 76)
4) Middle Tennessee (Defense Rating: 74)
5) Sam Houston (Defense Rating: 74)
6) La Tech (Defense Rating: 72)
7) Kennesaw State (Defense Rating: 70)
8) Jacksonville State (Defense Rating: 70)
9) New Mexico State (Defense Rating: 68)
10) UTEP (Defense Rating: 64)
MAC’s Best Defenses in EA Sports College Football 25
1) Miami (OH) (Defense Rating: 78)
2) Central Michigan (Defense Rating: 74)
3) Toledo (Defense Rating: 74)
4) Bowling Green (Defense Rating: 72)
5) Buffalo (Defense Rating: 70)
6) Western Michigan (Defense Rating: 70)
7) Ohio (Defense Rating: 68)
8) Akron (Defense Rating: 68)
9) Kent State (Defense Rating: 68)
10) Northern Illinois (Defense Rating: 64)
11) Eastern Michigan (Defense Rating: 62)
12) Ball State (Defense Rating: 60)
Mountain West’s Best Defenses in EA Sports College Football 25
1) Boise State (Defense Rating: 80)
2) UNLV (Defense Rating: 78)
3) Colorado State (Defense Rating: 74)
4) Utah State (Defense Rating: 74)
5) Hawaii (Defense Rating: 72)
6) San Diego State (Defense Rating: 72)
7) Wyoming (Defense Rating: 72)
8) Fresno State (Defense Rating: 72)
9) New Mexico (Defense Rating: 70)
10) Nevada (Defense Rating: 70)
11) Air Force (Defense Rating: 64)
12) San Jose State (Defense Rating: 64)
Pac-12’s Best Defenses in EA Sports College Football 25
1) Oregon State (Defense Rating: 76)
2) Washington State (Defense Rating: 74)
SEC’s Best Defenses in EA Sports College Football 25
1) Georgia (Defense Rating: 94)
2) Alabama (Defense Rating: 90)
3) Oklahoma (Defense Rating: 88)
4) Texas (Defense Rating: 88)
5) Auburn (Defense Rating: 86)
6) Kentucky (Defense Rating: 84)
7) Florida (Defense Rating: 84)
8) Texas A&M (Defense Rating: 84)
9) LSU (Defense Rating: 84)
10) South Carolina (Defense Rating: 82)
11) Arkansas (Defense Rating: 82)
12) Ole Miss (Defense Rating: 82)
13) Tennessee (Defense Rating: 80)
14) Missouri (Defense Rating: 76)
15) Vanderbilt (Defense Rating: 74)
16) Mississippi State (Defense Rating: 74)
Sun Belt’s Best Defenses in EA Sports College Football 25
1) Appalachian State (Defense Rating: 74)
2) Texas State (Defense Rating: 74)
3) Old Dominion (Defense Rating: 72)
4) Southern Miss (Defense Rating: 72)
5) Louisiana (Defense Rating: 72)
6) South Alabama (Defense Rating: 70)
7) Arkansas State (Defense Rating: 70)
8) Georgia State (Defense Rating: 68)
9) Marshall (Defense Rating: 68)
10) Troy (Defense Rating: 68)
12) Georgia Southern (Defense Rating: 66)
12) Coastal Carolina (Defense Rating: 64)
13) JMU (Defense Rating: 64)
14) UL-Monroe (Defense Rating: 62)
Independents’ Best Defenses in EA Sports College Football 25
1) Notre Dame (Defense Rating: 90)
2) UConn (Defense Rating: 72)
3) UMass (Defense Rating: 70)
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