Berry Tramel

Tulsa World Sports Columnist

The prominent scores of college football 2025 so far has a distinct 1966 feel: 14-7 (Ohio State over Texas), 17-10 (Louisiana State over Clemson), 24-11 (South Carolina over Virginia Tech, with just two offensive touchdowns), 20-17 (Nebraska over Cincinnati), 24-21 (Iowa State over Kansas State , but it was 14-7 through three quarters).

Defense is back, baby.

In 2023, major-college football teams averaged 27.78 points per game, the lowest since 2009, and that ticked up to just 28.01 in 2024. The last two seasons have produced the two lowest yards-per-game averages since 2010.

Timing rules have shortened games. Hurry-up offenses are less in vogue. Defenses are catching up with the spread offenses, in everything from exotic blitzes to bigger def

See Full Page