The Big XII is not well known for its dominant defensive play. The best example of this was the shooutout last season between West Virginia and Baylor, when the Mountaineers won 70-63. In a league with teams that are well-known because of their incredible offense, it tends to be difficult to build a dominant defense statistically, no matter how good the players are. However, 2013 has a chance for the defenses to shine, as many of the teams' defensive units carry at least one dominant player.
Here is how the Big XII schools' defenses stack up against each other.
10. Kansas
Key player: Chris Martin, defensive end, junior
Kansas had an abysmal season, finishing 1-11 in 2012, and their defense had a huge role in that. Their best statistic from 2012? They finished 91st in run defense. Everything else, Kansas was ranked in the 100’s. Now, they enter 2013 with a clean slate, only returning two starters from last year, and a former four-star recruit, Chris Martin. Martin originally was committed to Notre Dame when Charlie Weis was still the coach, and after becoming a journeyman of sorts in college football, he has finally settled in Lawrence, back with Weis.
9. West Virginia
Key player: Karl Joseph, safety, sophomore
The Mountaineers are notorious for having a bad defense. However, 2013 could be a different story. Coach Dana Holgorsen fired many of his defensive coaches and brought in new ones. Also, their best player on defense, safety Karl Joseph, will be leading a secondary that was nearly the worst in all of the FBS last season. West Virginia also returns five other starters that will look to improve entering 2013.
8. Iowa State
Key player: Jeremiah George, linebacker, senior
Iowa State heads into 2013 without its two best players on defense from a year ago: A.J. Klein and Jake Knott. They are going to be tough to replace, so the Cyclones coaching staff decided to move safety Jared Brackins up to fill one of the holes left. Iowa State did a good job limiting scoring last season, only allowing 24.5 points per game in the scoring-happy Big XII, so it will be interesting to see how they fill their holes entering the season.
7. Baylor
Key player: Bryce Hager, linebacker, junior
Baylor had one of the worst defenses in the FBS last season, finishing 119th in pass defense and total defense, as well as allowed nearly 45 points per game. The advantage for the Bears is that they return eight starters, who are now more comfortable in the scheme and are set to improve as a unit.
6. Texas Tech
Key player: Pete Robertson, linebacker, sophomore
More known for their pass happy offense, Texas Tech enters 2013 with a surprisingly solid defense. They finished 2012 as the 15th best team against the pass and 38th overall. They return their entire front seven, a unit coach Kliff Kingsbury has praised. The secondary will contain all new starters, but with three of them being seniors, the Red Raiders will look to continue improving as a unit into a more dominant defense, to complement an offense that scored nearly 38 points per game last season.
5. Kansas State
Key player: Ty Zimmerman, safety, senior
Kansas State will begin 2013 without their key player from last year, Arthur Brown, as well as eight other starters. Luckily, Zimmerman returns and will lead the secondary in 2013. They will have to try and recreate the defense from last season that helped the Wildcats carry a +19 turnover margin, third in the FBS.
4. Oklahoma State
Key player: Justin Gilbert, cornerback, senior
The Cowboys defense will benefit this season, returning seven starters from last season’s team. The key players will be Gilbert at corner, who has a few improvements he needs to make in his technique, but is a playmaker, and defensive tackle Calvin Barnett. Barnett will be the leader of a front seven that finished in the top 30 in the FBS in run defense. While Oklahoma State is known for their incredible offense, this season has the potential to be a good one for their defense.
3. Oklahoma
Key player: Aaron Colvin, cornerback, senior
This pick is a stretch, as the Sooners only return three starters from last year’s team that finished in the middle of the pack defensively. However, Coach Stoops is known for building strong defensive units, and this young defense has a lot to live up to from recent Oklahoma defenses. Aaron Colvin returns as they key player of this defense, and has the ability to control a good portion of their opponent’s passing game, as he will line up against opponent’s top receiver every week.
2. TCU
Key player: Jason Verrett, cornerback, senior
The Horned Frogs return their top two players on defense this season, corner Jason Verrett and defensive tackle Devonte Fields. TCU was strong defensively last season, finishing in the top-10 in run defense and 16th overall in total defense.
1. Texas
Key player: Jackson Jeffcoat, defensive end, senior
The Longhorns enter 2013 with the most talented defense. Jeffcoat will lead the pass rush, returning after an injury-ridden season. Also returning from injury is linebacker Jordan Hicks, who will be the leader of the front seven. The secondary loses Kenny Vaccaro to the NFL, but returns cornerbacks Carrington Byndom and Quandre Diggs. Assuming Hicks and Jeffcoat stay healthy, the Big XII offenses will have their hands full against Texas every week.