Sacks are thrilling. The sight of edge rushers assailing quarterbacks is exhilarating.
Interceptions are thrilling, too. There’s something mischievously satisfying about taking what’s not yours.
Long runs bring football fans to their feet. Long passes take breath away.
By comparison, run defense is almost boring. There’s nothing exciting about creating gridlock.
But the results of run defense often produce the most excitement.
Want to win a championship? Play strong run defense.
Six of the 12 teams in last season’s College Football Playoff were ranked among the nation’s top 20 in run defense.
National champion Ohio State was No. 3. Indeed, the last four champions were ranked among the nation’s top 10 in run defense. Michigan was sixth in 2023, Georgia was first in 2022 and second in 2021.
Run defense is arguably the primary reason fourth-ranked Texas A&M has emerged as a championship contender.
A&M is ranked 22nd in the nation in rush defense and is rising quickly. The Aggies have held four of their last opponents to 78 rushing yards or less. The other opponent in that span — Notre Dame —managed just 136 rushing yards.
It’s no coincidence that A&M also leads the nation in third-down defense. Opponents have a mere 20.78 percent success rate on third down. A&M has allowed its last three opponents to convert only twice on 33 third-down situations.
That success typically starts with stout run defense.
“I think what (run defense) does is it puts people in off-yardage situations,” A&M coach Mike Elko said. “I think if you look at the third-and-off-yardage situations that we've been able to put people in ... a lot of that is a testament to the run defense and the ability to just keep people off schedule.
“You know, if people can run the ball for five, six yards and stay in that third-and-3, third-and-4 world, I'm sure we're not talking about the success that we're having on third down defense.
“It’s part of the success. A large part of the success is the distance. The distance plays a huge role, and I think a large part of that is tied into your run defense.”
The obvious question then is, why are the Aggies so adept at stopping the run?
Perhaps it’s the high-level play of linebackers Taurean York and Daymion Sanford. They’re stepping in to fill holes better and more consistently than they’ve ever before in their careers.
Maybe it’s a credit to defensive backs providing run support.
Or it could be that A&M’s defensive front is just dominating the line of scrimmage.
Defensive tackle Albert Regis is playing at an elite level. Transfer Tyler Onyedim has been an incredible find. So has end Dayon Hayes. Tackle DJ Hicks seems to be having the best year of his career, too.
“I feel like it's everybody on the D-line,” Onyedim said. “Everybody on the defense, to be honest. You know, just being what we’re supposed to be at the right time. That’s it.”
That’s enough. And it could be a big factor in A&M staying in the championship picture for a while.
Heisman watch (If my ballot was due today)
1. Ty Simpson, Alabama, QB: He had a solid, though unspectacular, showing in the Crimson Tide’s big win over Missouri. Simpson completed 23 of 31 passes for 200 yards and three touchdowns. He also had a 20-yard run. Thus far this season, Simpson has thrown for 1,678 yards and 16 touchdowns, while completing 70.9 percent of his attempts.
2. Fernando Mendoza, Indiana, QB: Mendoza led the surging Hoosiers to a 30-20 victory at No. 3 Oregon. He completed 20 of 31 passes for 215 yards and an 8-yard touchdown pass with 6:23 remaining for the winning points. He also rushed for 31 yards. Overall, Mendoza has passed for 1,423 yards and 17 touchdowns and has rushed for 133 yards and two scores.
3. Carson Beck, Miami, QB: The Hurricanes were idle last week, but Beck continues to be idolized by Miami fans. Most recently, he led the No. 2 Hurricanes to a big win over Florida State. So far this season, Beck has passed for 1,213 yards and 11 touchdowns while completing 73.4 percent of his attempts. He has also run for a touchdown.
4. Haynes King, Georgia Tech, QB: Last week, King completed 20 of 24 passes for 213 yards and a touchdown to keep the Yellowjackets undefeated with a 35-20 victory over Virginia Tech. He also scored touchdowns on runs of 26 and two yards. The dual threat King has passed for 971 yards and four touchdowns. He has rushed for 440 yards and nine touchdowns. He has accounted for at least three touchdowns in four of his five games.
5. Trinidad Chambliss, Ole Miss, QB: The former backup threw two touchdown passes and ran for another as Ole Miss avoided an upset with a 24-21 victory over Washington State. Chambliss passed for 253 yards. His 35-yard touchdown pass with 6:51 remaining in the game provided the winning points. He also had a 17-yard touchdown run with 32 seconds left in the third quarter to give Ole Miss a 17-14 lead. In his four starts, Chambliss has passed for 1,227 yards and six touchdowns. He has also rushed for 260 yards and three touchdowns.
Predicted playoff participants (Alphabetical order)
Alabama: Big win over Missouri boosted the Tide’s resume, but there’s still a lot of work to be done. Tennessee, LSU, Oklahoma and Auburn still loom.
Georgia: If the Bulldogs get by Ole Miss, the path gets smoother. That is until the finale vs. Georgia Tech.
Georgia Tech: Duke, Pitt and Georgia will provide challenges, but the Yellowjackets can afford to drop one. Maybe two.
Indiana: With wins over Illinois and Oregon in the bank, Hoosiers just have to avoid a collapse.
Memphis: The Tigers have the lead in the race among Group of Five contenders, but it’s fragile. South Florida and Navy — yes, Navy — could be problems.
Miami: No. 2 Hurricanes are the class of the ACC, but there are remaining opponents capable of pulling off an upset.
Notre Dame: A win over USC will almost guarantee a 10-win season. But a loss likely eliminates the Irish.
Ohio State: The nation’s best defense has not allowed any opponent more than 16 points.
Ole Miss: Rebels keep finding ways to win. The search may be more difficult at Georgia this week.
Oregon: The loss to Indiana hurt, but the Ducks will be favored in their remaining games.
Texas A&M: Aggies making a case for being the best team in the SEC.
Texas Tech: Undefeated Red Raiders have beaten every opponent by at least 24 points.
Games to watch
No. 5 Ole Miss at No. 9 Georgia: Four Ole Miss wins have been by a touchdown or less. Georgia is the best team the Rebels will have faced.
No. 11 Tennessee at No. 6 Alabama: Volunteers lead the nation in scoring, but can its soft defense (ranked 100th nationally) stop the Tide
No. 10 LSU at No. 17 Vanderbilt: OK, comparing scores vs. common opponents is meaningless. But Vandy beat South Carolina by 24, and LSU beat South Carolina by 10. Just sayin’.
No. 20 USC at No. 13 Notre Dame: The nation’s second-ranked passing attack threatens Notre Dame’s playoff hopes. The Irish rank 104th in pass defense, but they can score. Take the over.
No. 23 Utah at No. 15 BYU: Not only is this a matchup of ranked teams, but they honestly hate each other.
