In 2020, during one of the strangest, most unpredictable seasons of college football, another twist occurred in the midst of the chaos of playing during the pandemic.
Big 12 defenses were good.
Yes, the Big 12 -- the conference that produced Patrick Mahomes and earned a reputation as having high-flying offenses and porous defenses -- led the Power 5 last year with the fewest yards allowed per game (383.1) and was second to the Big Ten, allowing 5.49 yards per play. The SEC was last in both categories, according to ESPN's Stats & Information Group.