Texas might be the best top-10 defense Kentucky has faced this season

by:Adam Luckett•about 10 hours•

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The Texas Longhorns mascot performs at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-USA TODAY Sports

Tennessee (No. 4), Ole Miss (No. 5), and Georgia (No. 8) are all top-10 defenses that Kentucky has faced, according to ESPN’s SP+ rankings. There is one more left on the schedule. Texas has a case to be the best defense that Kentucky has faced.

The Longhorns currently rank No. 2 overall in SP+ defense behind only Ohio State. Defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski has built a dominant unit in year four on the Forty Acres. Texas currently ranks inside the top 10 in numerous defensive metrics.

Yards Per Play: 3.95 (No. 1 overall)
Yards Per Dropback: 4.56 (No. 1 overall)
Points Per Drive: 0.93 (No. 2 overall)
Havoc Rate: 15.3% (No. 2 overall)
Success Rate: 35.4% (No. 7 overall)
Yards Per Rush: 4.07 (No. 11 overall)

Georgia scored 30 points against this defense but only produced 283 offensive yards and had three scoring drives begin inside the Texas 35. Vanderbilt reached 24 points but no one else has gotten to 20 points against the Horns. Michigan, Mississippi State, Oklahoma, and Arkansas were all held under 14 points.

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Kentucky enters this week ranked sub-100 in points per drive and has had issues creating explosive plays all season. Scoring points this week could be extra difficult playing against a Texas defense that is playing as good as anyone in college football in late November.

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