Despite frustrating loss to Vanderbilt - Kentucky still a top 5 defense in the nation

Kentucky's defense has played some really poignant offenses this year and yet they continue to rise as one of the top defenses in all of college football. This week, they may have lost to Vanderbilt in a frustrating game, but they actually rose the rankings in terms of defensive performance. During their bye week, they actually broke into the top 5 defenses in yards allowed per game, after thier performance against the Commodores they are now number 4.

They are the fourth-best team in the nation in terms of yards allowed, with only 251.5. Texas now leads the way with 229.7. The Tennessee Volunteers are the only SEC team that currently outranks them in this category, with 249.3. The impressive part about this is that Kentucky has played the second-best offense (in yards gained) in the Ole Miss Rebels and the 28th-best offense in the Georgia Bulldogs.

They rank in the top 10 in points allowed per game. They are now sitting squarely at number 9 with only 14.5 points allowed per contest. They are also in the top 10 in rushing yards allowed per game, at 10th overall in the nation, with only 89.3 yards given up on the ground. And if you are curious, because I was, they are 13th in passing yards allowed per game.

This defense is elite, and even though the offense is a mess with penalties and miscues, the defense continues to perform at a rate that is more than impressive. The defensive coordinator, Brad White, has put on a clinic on how to slow down offenses and how to get off the field. Even their turnover production has been helpful, with 5 interceptions and 5 forced fumbles (only 2 were recovered).

This Kentucky team needs to avoid shooting themselves in the foot and have an even semi-productive offense. This would allow them to win games instead of losing them. The defense is doing its part, and they are impressing on a national level.