FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. — Defense has been the cornerstone of Alabama's dynasty in college football under Nick Saban.
Players such as Terrence Cody, Rolando McClain, Mark Barron, Landon Collins, Reggie Ragland and Minkah Fitzpatrick have made the Crimson Tide's defense the stingiest in the SEC over the last decade-plus.
This year, though, with the way Saban has revamped the offense — with the help of Heisman Trophy runner-up Tua Tagovailoa at quarterback — the defense has become almost an afterthought going into Saturday's Orange Bowl against Oklahoma (7 p.m., ESPN).
But Alabama's defense still has plenty of teeth — a unanimous All-American at defensive tackle in Quinnen Williams, a consensus All-American at safety in Deionte Thompson, an overall unit that had two shutouts and two more games where the opponent scored just a single touchdown.