"This season belongs to the trenches. It's what my eyes have been seeing and Week 7 of college football confirmed. The best teams in the country aren't quarterback-driven. They are line-driven. I thought rushing success was the common thread, but it's really trench superiority -- elite run blocking, relentless pass rushing and coverage units that erase passing windows. That's the true power curve of 2025."
"Every one of these teams besides Bama grades top 20 nationally in run defense and pass rush, and four of them sit top 15 in run blocking. It's no coincidence that five of those six are undefeated. The separation isn't coming from quarterback play, it's coming from line integrity. Line play is the new quarterback Let's start with Indiana. The Hoosiers have allowed just one red-zone touchdown all season, on six opponent trips. That's absurd."
Trench play defines the 2025 college football hierarchy, with elite run blocking, relentless pass rushing and coverage that eliminates passing windows. Ohio State, Indiana, Texas Tech, Miami and Texas A&M lead the landscape, while Alabama's ranking is questioned. Every team except Alabama ranks top 20 nationally in run defense and pass rush, and four rank top 15 in run blocking. Five of the six top teams are undefeated, indicating the importance of line integrity over quarterback performance. Indiana has allowed one red-zone touchdown on six opponent trips and ranks top 10 in run defense, pass rush and coverage. Ohio State has allowed two touchdowns on 11 red-zone possessions and features top-10 pass protection for its offense.
Read at ESPN.com
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