Ranking the best defenses in college football history

AP Photo/File
The Head Coach: Paul Dietzel and John Vaught, respectively
Scoring Defense: 4.5 and 1.9 PPG
Registration: 9-2 and 10-1 (third and second in AP poll)Here are the three touchdowns allowed by Ole Miss in 1959:
1. In Game 5 of the season, Tulane became the first team to score against the Rebels after recovering a fumble near midfield, a clearance, then recovering another fumble at the Ole Miss 5.
2. Tennessee, ranked ninth, blocked a quick kick, recovered it at Ole Miss 7 and scored from there.
3. LSU’s Billy Cannon possibly housed greatest punt return of all time.
That’s it. The Rebels haven’t allowed a touchdown over 7 yards all season. They were nearly perfect, and Cannon’s punt return — along with missed scoring opportunities that contributed to a 7-3 loss to LSU — were the only things that kept them from having a perfect season.
Somehow, LSU’s defense was only marginally inferior. Before being beaten 21-0 by Ole Miss in a Sugar Bowl rematch, the Tigers had allowed three touchdowns: on a Tulane punt return, a Tennessee pick-six and a 29-yard Tennessee touchdown after an escape.
If the Ole Miss and LSU offenses weren’t doing you a favor, the Ole Miss and LSU defenses wouldn’t let you score. Even at a time when defense was heavy, Rebels and Tigers were amazing.